Puppy mill survivors find new adoptive homes
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Last month, 10 puppy mill survivors confiscated in June by the L.A. County public health department became available for adoption.
The puppies -- five Maltese and five Yorkshire terriers -- were the only survivors out of three confiscated shipments from a Seoul puppy mill. Ed Boks, general manager of the L.A. Department of Animal Services, gave the details:
These 8 week old animals arrived at LAX ill and seriously dehydrated, having just survived over 14 hours of transport in tiny carriers with no food or water.
With interest high in the tiny puppies, an auction was held to determine who would take them home. Hundreds of bidders turned out at the East Valley shelter on Dec. 20. NPR’s ‘Morning Edition’ reports that the event was a success:
One winning bidder was Debbie Garringer. ‘I was really lucky, and I’m happy, so happy, and I will take care of it so much and it will have a beautiful home,’ she said. All 10 of the purebred puppy-mill survivors got new homes, as did 52 other pets from the shelter. In all, Animal Services raised more than $20,000 and got its message out: Adopt, don’t shop.
Puppy mills have been a hot issue in L.A. of late, with local pet stores, including the Beverly Center’s well-known Pet Love, facing eviction over allegations that they sell mill-purchased puppies.
--Lindsay Barnett