Doodle Puppy mill raid 10 minutes from my house...2 minutes from my moms house!!!

[katie St Marie]

This makes me sick....im so angry that they didnt take every single animal off that property!! WTH??? this is literally right down the street from my moms neighborhood, im trying to see where they have taken the dogs to. hopefully they are all rescued soon

CDA press online

Posted: Saturday, July 31, 2010 12:00 am |
Updated: 1:20 am, Sun Aug 1, 2010.

By TOM HASSLINGER/Staff writer | 8 comments

HAUSER LAKE — Nearly 40 emaciated and infected dogs were removed from a breeder’s home near Hauser Lake on Friday.

The property, the Iron Horse Ranch, located at 26727 N. Hauser Lake Road on the Washington-Idaho state line, had 133 dogs on the property at the time Spokane County Regional Animal Protection
Service and other officers arrived at the scene following a tip of
animal abuse.

During the removal, the property’s owner, Wilma L. Turner, 61, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm. Turner had previous felonies on her record and wasn’t allowed to have weapons,
the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.

“There were infections, and extreme grooming issues,” said Nancy Hill, Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service director, on the 38 dogs taken from the property.

Earlier in the week, officers had received a complaint from a concerned citizen.

The licensed kennel had passed its annual compliance check back in November, but when officers arrived after the tip they noticed the condition of some of the animals, Hill said, which led to a
warrant. During Friday’s daylong search, they found three weapons
and Hill was arrested. The weapons were described as a pistol and
two long guns.

Two dozen workers spent all day Friday examining the animals.

Officers taped off the driveway, but many dogs could be heard constantly barking. Horses on the property were also examined, Hill said. Turner could face charges relating to the animals by next
week.

Most of the dogs were poodles and labradoodles. Washington state law allows up to 50 adult dogs on a property, under new legislation that went into effect Jan. 1. The old rule allowed more depending
on property zoning. Hill said they were looking into seeing if the
new legislation had a grandfather clause for those with more
animals.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It's all about the money. As long as there's a demand, people will be greedy, and dogs will suffer horribly. Education is the answer, but it's not going to be easy.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

The thing that stands out to me in the article is the mention of the firearms - they make it sound like that is the bigger offense than the cruely and terrible conditions of these poor, defenseless dogs!! I don't understand how people can see an ad like that and not immediately think its a puppy mill?!

[katie St Marie]

yeah we ARE IN IDAHO everyone has guns ...how do you manage to take care of 133 dog unless you have a large staff and properly equipped facility?.....you dont and cant and by the looks of her house she deserves a big fat FAIL

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I was clueless - I found Samantha in a pet store filled with all kinds of little Poodle mixes. I had no intention of getting a puppy - I was 'just looking'. I did no research - I had seen a LD and thought that HUGE, red, soft curled, fleece was just gorgeous. Did I have a clue Samantha that Samantha would be short legged, huge barrel chest and long lab hair that doesn't shed? NOT ONE! Why, no research!

Then my good friend Jacquie gave me the education! I was appalled to say the least and so sad that I helped a BYB! But, I learned quickly and work with the DRC, fostered Mickey and adopted Charli from an Amish PM.

With my Bearded Collie I did tons of research - good with kids (just had to watch the herding thing), no shedding, etc. Why I didn't with Doodles? Never intended to get another dog.

NOW if anyone just even mentions the no shedding thing, not in shelters, that the Amish are the worst PMs - they are in for a world of education whether they like it or not! If they share that with 1 other person, maybe the BYB and PM will need to breed 1 less puppy. Okay, I can dream, can't I???

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Katie, Have you found out where they have taken them? This just breaks my heart to hear about all the dogs that are mistreated. Ignorance is bliss I guess, because I never knew about this happening,before I got my doodle.

[katie St Marie]

no ive been gone all day, only day off with hubby...will be googling it and update if i find anything

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

What's sickening also is that they took 40 dogs, but there were 133 dogs there. Which means there are still almost a hundred dogs left at this place. Guess she better hurry up and sell them before she loses her chance to make some $.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Sell them? How does one go about selling emanciated dogs, for any price? Can you imagine paying the going rate for a doodle and getting a matted filthy skinny dog? I didn't see her add, how much was she charging?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I meant the 93 who weren't emaciated enough for the County to take from her.
The dogs in the ad were little poo-mixes- Pekepoos, malti-poos, etc. and she's asking $650 a puppy.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Well this just brings up something that is hard for me to deal with. How would you respond to the following to instances:
1. Doodle Neighbor - we have a doodle neighbor - a very cute standard goldendoodle. They got him after we got Peri. I said "wow, I didn't know you were getting a doodle. where is your dood from?". They mentioned some breeder in a little town in TN that was "selling them at a discount for $300". I asked if they health tested and of course they didn't. Really don't know these neighbors too well and didn't want to pry or sound rude. They asked me how much we paid for Peri and were shocked. I explained our breeder offers a health guarantee and extensively tests both parents for hips, eyes, patellas, etc.... Conversation ended there. What would you have done?
2. Friend (good friend) said she wanted another dog soon (currently has a maltipoo, rescued). She was looking into Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. A friend has one from a reputable breeder and paid good $ for her. Close friend said "I am sure I can find one cheaper". That's when I went on my soapbox about "cheaper" almost always means puppy mill, backyard breeder, etc... I told her it is wrong to support those breeders and it only puts more dogs into bad situations and perpetuates the problem. She just rolled her eyes at me!

I really just needed to vent, but how do you explain your reasoning behind detesting puppy mills and supporting responsible breeders and rescue ONLY without sounding rude/judgemental?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sure it comes as no surprise, but I don't really care if it sounds rude or judgmental. The lives of helpless dogs are more important than being polite, and people are going to be offended when you don't agree with their choices, no matter how you phrase it. If you heard that your neighbor beats her child, you would rather risk being rude than not try to help the child for the sake of being polite.
Once someone has already purchased a dog of course, it's too late. Down the road might be a better time, say when the person mentions they are having some problem with the dog. You can then say, "You know, I was a little concerned when I heard you bought her from a puppy mill" and go from there. I always try to emphasize that I am not criticizing their dog, I am criticizing her breeder.
But when someone has not yet made a purchase, I would do everything I could to try to get them to understand why they shouldn't buy from one of these places.
Sometimes, you have to take the emphasis off the potential health problems, and focus on the fact that even if the person gets lucky and the dog is healthy, they will have used their hard-earned dollars to support cruelty to animals. Everyone knows someone who bought a dog from a pet store/internet ad and has a sweet, healthy dog, so that's their rationale. Tell them that such a purchase is the same as saying to the puppy mill/BYB: "I approve of what you're doing & support you. Keep it up!" Ask them to picture the puppy's mother, spending her entire life in a cage without so much as ten minutes a day to run or touch the earth.
Cavaliers are one of the breeds most exploited by the mills & BYBs right now, due to their popularity, so someone purchasing one really needs to be even more careful. They are also a breed that has more than it's share of genetic health problems. I know a woman who has two...one from a pet store, one from a good breeder. (She learned the hard way.) They don't even look or act like the same breed. If I had a friend looking to buy one, I would be doing everything I could to steer them in the right direction.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Good points - I did also add in my two cents on the living conditions at puppy mills. Will continue to do that. It really makes me mad. Especially since she is a good friend and loves dogs.