115 Chihuahuas rescued in TX :(

[micki76]

*Graphic warning*

There are graphic photos if you follow the link to the story and click on "rescue photos". The picture on the intial page of the story is disturbing too, so I just posted the majority of the story here.

I swear to God, I hate humans.

http://www.spca.org/site/PageServer?...uahua_115_2004

Dogs awarded to SPCA in late afternoon custody hearing;

Lead SPCA investigator calls case “Worst we've ever seen."

The SPCA of Texas was awarded custody late this afternoon of 115 neglected and filthy Chihuahuas that were rescued this morning at a residence in Honey Grove.

The SPCA, in conjunction with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and Bonham Animal Control, rescued 115 neglected and cruelly treated Chihuahuas and small breed dogs living in squalor at a residence in Honey Grove, Texas, just east of Bonham in Fannin County.

The dogs were transferred to the SPCA in McKinney where they have been vaccinated and will be examined by veterinarians before being spayed and neutered and made available for adoption in the near future. An adoption date has not been set; the SPCA suggests interested potential adopters stay tuned to www.spca.orgfor updates.

Many of the dogs are suffering from hair loss, poor skin conditions and congestion resulting from living in a filthy environment. Most also have fleas, severely overgrown nails and bad or no teeth. Some are also pregnant and many may be inbred. Ages range from just a few days to ten years. While the dogs were said to have been fed and watered daily, they appear to never have had any veterinary care.

In addition, many of the dogs have not been well socialized, and the majority will probably be special needs cases, which means they will need a quiet and predictable environment in which to live, lots of patience and TLC and extra time for socialization.

Representatives from the Fannin County Sheriff’s Department and an animal control officer from Bonham visited the property last Thursday, August 26. More than 100 dogs—including puppies and adults of varying ages, were living in a 1,400-sq.-ft. home where debris including newspapers and fecal matter is stacked as high as countertops, tabletops and ceilings.

Linda Wade Crossland, 48, was living out of her car and in the garage of the residence. According to officials, she acquired at least two dogs in 1998 and since then, they multiplied and others were acquired.

Ms. Crossland could be called an animal “hoarder,” a person who, in simplest terms, acquires more animals than he or she can properly care for. Now recognized as symptomatic of an addictive personality, an obsessive compulsive disorder or other delusional disorder, animal hoarders also collect objects, such as newspapers and bottles, and live in cluttered, filthy conditions. There is often a profound denial that any problem exists, or justification or blaming others for the situation. Hoarders are often more interested in maintaining control over the animals than alleviating their suffering.

“The sheer magnitude of squalor in which these animals lived makes this the worst case we’ve ever encountered,” said Dave Garcia, Vice President of Operations and Rescue & Investigations for the SPCA of Texas who has investigated animal abuse for 22 years.

[PJ's Mom]

Oh my God.

I hope they are all adoptable. They all deserve a second chance.


Too bad that woman can't be kept the same way.

[QueenScoopalot]

Poor chihuahuas. Thank God another puppy mill was shut down though. If only the people walking into those petstores could see where those puppies come from. And I really hope they throw the book at this piece of work!

[micki76]

Originally posted by QueenScoopalot
Poor chihuahuas. Thank God another puppy mill was shut down though. If only the people walking into those petstores could see where those puppies come from. And I really hope they throw the book at this piece of work!

It wasn't actually a puppy mill. She is a horder with a mental illness. I don't think she ever sold a puppy, and I'm sure she had good intentions in the beginning. This happens a lot.

[robinh]

Those poor creatures! I hope they find homes.

[cloverfdx]

How heartbreaking I stupidly looked at the photos, i hope that the poor babies are able to go to loving new homes that they deserve.

*Sigh* The human race (Some of) makes me sick.

[Jamieejo85]

I would love to adopt one when the time comes, wish I lived in Texas

[flamepony12]

OMG that 1st pic on the front page... and those toenails.... POOR CHIHUAHUAS!!!!

[lute]

OMG! that's terrible! i really hope they all get loving homes! i can't beleive things like this actually happen!

[LaRana]

Those poor little toenails I've never seen nails that long on a dog! Nor any animal, for that matter!

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by micki76
It wasn't actually a puppy mill. She is a horder with a mental illness. I don't think she ever sold a puppy, and I'm sure she had good intentions in the beginning. This happens a lot.

That's exactly right. There is a HUGE difference in a puppy mill and a hoarder.

A puppy mill is a business run for the sole purpose of making the most money possible in the shortest amount of time. Dogs are bred as often as possible, puppies are sold as young as possible, and corners are cut as often as possible on vet care, food, shippng, etc. Puppy millers are the lowest of the low, because they mistreat and abuse animals for the simple reason that they can make money off of them. A puppy miller is simply a greedy person with no morals or ethics.

A hoarder, however, is a totally different thing. A hoarder is mentally ill. She can no more help what she does than someone with any other mental illness. She truly and honestly believes she is helping animals, that they would be worse off without her, and that things aren't so bad. Through a hoarder's eyes, she is the savior of these animals and they would die without her. As hard as it is to see the way these animals live, we have to remember that the hoarder herself lives the same exact way, sharing those horrific living quarters. What is needed for hoarders is quick intervention, not only for the animals but for the person. Compassion and help are needed, not blame and anger. It is truly not a hoarders fault that she hoards, anymore than it is a depressed person's fault that she is sad.