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Woman charged in puppy mill case |
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Sunday, 05 October 2008 |
Alicia King of 3715 Silica Heights Road in Benton has been charged with 53 counts of animal cruelty in conjunction with a puppy mill operation, authorities said.
Investigators of the Humane Society of Saline County, Pulaski County Humane Society and Benton Animal Control on Friday confiscated nine living animals and the carcasses of four puppies whose deteriorating remains were visible in an open garage adjacent to King’s house.
King and others at the home claimed they didn’t know how the dead puppies got there.
King, 28, was at her residence Friday when investigators arrived in response to numerous complaints, according to Kay Simpson, director of the Pulaski County Humane Society, and Ann Ann Sanders, director of the Humane Society of Saline County.
Also responding to the scene were Deidre Young and William McClendon of Benton Animal Control; King’s parole officer, John Woolem; and another officer with Woolem.
Information about King’s previous conviction was not immediately available.
On Friday, investigators found an emaciated, frightened Chihuahua in a kennel in the basement of the home, where there was no food or water. Several sick puppies were found in cages in an upper story of the structure.
There was no mother dog with the pups, which appeared to be from different litters. Their eyes were matted, they were dehydrated and whimpering.
Although the pups were quickly gathered up and taken to a veterinarian, one — a tiny black and tan dachshund — died while being treated in the veterinary clinic, Simpson said.
A bearded dragon found in the home also was judged unwell because its body temperature was below normal, Young said.
The dragon, the Chihuahua and the other puppies were being treated over the weekend by Dr. Kim Miller, Simpson said.
Only two of the animals rescued Friday — two boxer-mix pups — appeared to be in good condition, Simpson said.
King reportedly denied ownership of all of the animals, but admitted to investigators at the scene that she had sold a Chihuahua puppy for $150 on Friday.
A woman who is believed to have purchased that particular puppy called the Courier office. She reported that after taking the pup to her home, she noticed its gums were pale and it did not appear to be healthy otherwise. She took it to a veterinarian and it was being treated for a flea infestation, she said.
She said she believes the puppy is one that came from the puppy mill operation she had read about in Thursday’s Courier.
Several days ago representatives of the two Humane Societies and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office rescued 40 dogs at a Lonsdale site believed to be being used as breed animals in King’s operation.
Sanders said the conditions at the Lonsdale site were “deplorable.” Twenty of the animals were taken to the Saline County animal shelter in Bauxite and the other 20 were taken to Pulaski County’s shelter, Sanders said.
A Shih Tzu that was among the Pulaski County group died, Simpson said.
Sanders said all of the dogs at the Saline County shelter in Bauxite are still “terribly frightened. They huddle at the back of their cages. All of them are being treated, but their eyes are especially bad.”
She said she is fearful that some will lose their sight.
“They were being kept in a shed in a tiny, nasty kennel, where there was one window and it was boarded up,” Sanders said. “Their coats were soaked with urine and feces, and the odor was overpowering.”
“If anyone has bought a puppy recently that they think may have come from a puppy mill, we’re asking that they call either us at 557-5518 or Pulaski County Humane Society at 227-6166,” Sanders said.
She explained how a transaction with the operator of a puppy mill traditionally works. “They advertise the dogs in the newspaper and then they arrange to meet the prospective buyer on a parking lot. They will sell for cash only, and they will not allow the buyer to come to their site to see the parents.”
The investigation into the case is continuing.
Donations to assist with the care of these animals may be mailed to the Humane Society of Saline County at P.O. Box 305, Benton, AR 72018.
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