Important Info For All Doodle Lovers-Roadside Puppy Stands?!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17057676?mtf=1

(Discussion updated with the full story by DRC President Jacquie Yorke)

Last week, DRC rescue partner Elizabeth Gunn of Gunn Dogs took in a 3 month old Goldendoodle puppy surrendered by it's owners for what they were calling "behavioral issues." The puppy Smokey was bought from a "breeder" selling pups out of a truck in the parking lot of the local McDonald's in Greenbrier, Arkansas.

Smokey would not allow the family to touch him, hold him and when they would try, he would cry out run away  bumping into objects as he would try to hide from them. They said he had seizures (their vet said it was due to "low blood sugar) and that he was "crazy" and "way too much work"  He had UTD shot records (given to the family by the "breeder") So Elizabeth took the pup knowing that our two organizations would be able to assess him properly and get him the proper care and rehabilitation and whatever else this poor boy needed to be happy and healthy.

The  moment he arrived he had a seizure. He was immediately taken to the vet where he had another seizure. The vet came to the conclusion that Smokey had Epilepsy which would certainly account for his apparent behavior and he was placed on anti -seizure medication and sent home.

Smokey stopped seizing briefly but still cried out, ran away bumping into objects trying to hide.  Elizabeth and I came to the conclusion that the puppy was suffering from blindness and neurological issues not associated with Epilepsy. We thought perhaps he had been abused, kicked in the head or struck with a blunt object and that head trauma was the reason for his symptoms and seizures.  

Elizabeth and I also suddenly realized that despite his young age,his neurological symptoms and  the blindness were also indicative of advanced Distemper. We were horrified by the thought  but had to act immediately. So Smokey was rushed back to vet and the vet was told of Elizabeth's observations and our thoughts on diagnosis.

X-Ray and other tests  showed no sign of head trauma or internal bleeding and the vet agreed as we had suspected that Smokey was indeed blind. Bloodwork and other tests did reveal our worst nightmare. Poor Smokey did indeed have advanced Distemper which due to his young age could only have been so advanced if he had contracted it from his mother while in-utero.

We are sad to announce that Smokey lost his battle with Distemper this morning, and has gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

Obviously Smokey's shot records were falsified, and/or this puppy miller has Distemper in his/her kennels. The sickening part is, this breeder was trying to sell several different breeds of puppies at this roadside truck  stand. A ll of the puppies were there displayed outside.....in crates......in the 110 degree heat .  

All of them probably have Distemper.

There are likely dozens of broken-hearted families out there as we write, who purchased puppies from this roadside stand and this disreputable puppy mill "breeder" ...

Smokey belonged to a 14 year old girl before he was surrendered to us. Her father has not yet told her of his death.

Smokey  was just an innocent  baby - He was 8 weeks old when he was purchased - The untreated distemper resulted in his blindness, his seizures and the excruciating pain he must have been feeling this past month. 

To DRC & Gunn Dogs the thought of this is just too horrible and too much for us to bear.

We are cooperating with state law enforcement, the Arkansas State Department of Agriculture and HSUS to  find out who this puppy miller is and shut them down!

If anyone is in Arkansas and has any information that may help, please let us know.

 

 

(PS: Karen here.  I had thought I might take this little black guy myself, had he lived. Rest in peace, Smokey.)

[Adina P]

Poor pup...what a cutie. Such a sad sad fate for him. The TRICK is to educate the general less-knowledgeable public about roadside puppy wagons...ugh. HOW do we teach people to not impulse buy a dog?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sad story!

[Leslie and Halas]

Such a sad story. RIP Smokey.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

This is terrible. I make it my job to educate as much as possible about impulse puppy buying (pet store, byb, etc). These "breeders" need to be STOPPED.
So sorry Karen. Were you really thinking about this little guy? He was adorable.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeah. Or at least fostering him, once he got better. Curly black guys are my favorite. My kids were talking about doing a doodle train down to Arkansas for me.

[Leslie and Halas]

So sorry. You and Jackdoodle would have given him the great life he deserved.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You figured in that train, too, Les!

[Leslie and Halas]

You know I would have done it!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

That is a completely heart breaking story. I have seen Amish roadside puppy stands (mills) in Ohio - Amish Country of course and it makes me absolutely SICK that law enforcement doesn't or can't put a stop to them - everyone knows where the poor puppies are coming from. I won't get on my soapbox to much about the Amish and my feelings about what they do - I could go on and on. I know puppy mills aren't limited to the Amish but in Ohio we have a TON of them.

Poor baby Smoky - Rest in Peace....

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

We have "breeders' every Saturday, in the WalMart parking lot, selling different breeds Of "AKC reigistered" puppies.

Don't people do ANY research before buying a dog? I know that they somehow still think that the "AKC registration" is some sort of voodoo magic that guarantees that their dog is a perfect specimen of its breed.

So sad for the poor baby.

He is now out of misery and in peace.

Situations, like this one, are the reason I cannot volunteer at the humane society. I get too angry, have no tact and would probably find this breeder and wind up in jail for doing bodily harm.

[F, Calla & Luca]

We would bail you out.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

The retailers that host these "puppy stands" in their parking lots need to be made aware of this atrocity. If they refuse to address the situation and act they should be boycotted, petitioned and the media immediately notified if the situation persists.

It's touchy because many of these same retailers also allow reputable transport companies to use their parking lots to deliver rescue dogs to their new forever homes.