From the Anti-Cruelty Society's Web site. How big a deal is a luxating patella - is it painful to the dog; does it limit his/her mobility; can it be repaired surgically? What do you do about poor dental health other than feed the proper diet and get regular check-ups - how do problems with existing teeth get fixed (do bad doggie teeth always require extraction)? What about heart murmurs- what could those be a symptom of?

Thanks,
elyse


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80 of the 220 poodles and poodle mix dogs from the puppy mill raid in Sparta, Tennessee (April 23, 2010) were received by The Anti-Cruelty Society representatives Monday, April 26, 2010.

The dogs are being given time to adjust to their surroundings. They have been bathed and our staff veterinarians are in the process of examining the dogs. Our staff behaviorists will then perform a behavior screening on each of the dogs. As they are cleared medically and behaviorally, the dogs will be made available for adoption.

These are adorable dogs, many of them have medical conditions, such as heart murmurs, luxating patellas (kneecap), and/or poor dental health due to improper diets. Many of these dogs will need extra care throughout their lives. This means in addition to the normal annual cost of having a pet (which is approximately $800 for a cat and $1,000 or more for a dog) the adopter can expect to incur additional veterinary costs. The dogs have been living in conditions that did not provide proper socialization, so if you are considering adopting one of these dogs, you will need patience, love, and understanding as they experience a whole new world and life.

As they are made available for adoption, their photos will be included on our Web site as well as on Pet Tango, our adoption partner Web site. Please DO NOT CALL us. We are not able to put any of these dogs on hold. We are open for adoptions Monday through Friday from Noon until 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays from Noon until 5 p.m.