Couple hoards 800 dogs in trailer

Boyish-Tigerlilly · Post by **Boyish-Tigerlilly** » 2008-03-13 01:15am

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 12, 9:46 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. - About 800 small dogs, including Chihuahuas, terriers and Pomeranians, were seized from a triple-wide mobile home whose occupants were overwhelmed trying to care for the animals, authorities said Wednesday.
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Pima County sheriff's deputies and animal welfare officials who removed the dogs also found 82 caged parrots in the home in a rural area northwest of Tucson.

Some dogs were pregnant and giving birth as they were taken to shelters in Tucson, said Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Ninety-six dogs were taken from the house Monday and another 700 on Wednesday, she said.

"The home was definitely in very bad condition, urine and feces all over the home, in the kitchen and bedroom, with a very strong odor," she said. "Obviously, 800 dogs in a triple-wide mobile home, they were packed in there. That being said, they were in pretty good shape."

The elderly owners, who have not been identified, were apparently overwhelmed but have cooperated with authorities, sheriff's Sgt. James Ogden said. No charges have been filed, but authorities continue to investigate.

The animals appeared to have had enough food, but a few were missing paws — some from having been attacked by other animals, others apparently having caught their feet in fencing outside, Rose said.

The breeds included Chinese cresteds and Lhasa apsos. The owners were breeding and offering the dogs for sale, Rose said, but she described it as a hoarding case, in which elderly people sometimes feel no one else can give their animals a good home and won't part with them.

Deputies were alerted this month after a woman who bought a Chihuahua at the home reported the conditions, Ogden said.

The dogs living inside the house apparently had free run of the premises, Ogden said. Others were found in other structures on the property.

Ogden described the living conditions as "horrible, filth everywhere ... probably one of the worst (situations) I've ever seen."

The animals will be offered for adoption soon, Rose said, adding that a rescue group from Phoenix had taken 100 of the dogs.

This is an interesting animal welfare case. I find it a bit bizarre, given that the police and animal welfare agency managed to confiscate over 800 dogs and 82 parrots from an elderly couple's home.

Apparently, they lived in a triple-wide trailor.

I have seen hoarding cases before, but this is a bit extreme. How they hell does one tolerate that many animals in such a small place? Or even live like that? My grandparents had 10 cats, and that was bad enough.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2008-03-13 01:26am

Well, what do you expect from people who live in a triple-wide? The general rule I've found is that when dealing with trailer trash, the worst of the worst live in the triple-wides.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-03-13 01:28am

I didn't even know there was such a thing as a triple-wide trailer. How do you move it? Or is it several trailers which somehow combine into one, like some sort of white-trash Transformer?

Hawkwings · Post by **Hawkwings** » 2008-03-13 01:29am

Darth Wong wrote:I didn't even know there was such a thing as a triple-wide trailer. How do you move it? Or is it several trailers which somehow combine into one, like some sort of white-trash Transformer?

That mental image just demands an actual picture

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-03-13 01:33am

Hawkwings wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:I didn't even know there was such a thing as a triple-wide trailer. How do you move it? Or is it several trailers which somehow combine into one, like some sort of white-trash Transformer?
That mental image just demands an actual picture

I'll see what I can do.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2008-03-13 01:34am

Darth Wong wrote:I didn't even know there was such a thing as a triple-wide trailer. How do you move it? Or is it several trailers which somehow combine into one, like some sort of white-trash Transformer?

It is indeed three trailers which are connected together by accordian-like passageways on-site. They even have sections which can be folded up for transport, but on site, fold down and out from inside the body to form bay-window like protrusions for larger rooms.

In otherwords, yes, it is a White Trash Transformer.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2008-03-13 01:49am

The Duchess of Zeon wrote: In otherwords, yes, it is a White Trash Transformer.

As long as they have muscle car styling and flame stickers that’s awesome in my book.

Havok · Post by **Havok** » 2008-03-13 02:20am

OK, so not the best thing I have ever done, but it is dam fucking hard trying to make a triple wide look interesting. I was going to make the big TV antenna thing into a bow, but I thought that was more redneck than whit trash.

Piccie!

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2008-03-13 02:30am

Maybe they were trying to put together a homebrew ocean cable project?

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2008-03-13 03:40am

havokeff wrote:OK, so not the best thing I have ever done, but it is dam fucking hard trying to make a triple wide look interesting. I was going to make the big TV antenna thing into a bow, but I thought that was more redneck than whit trash.
Piccie!

Excellent effort, made me laugh. However, Triple Wide is still too good for trailer trash.

Put some stains on him, maybe patchwork sheathing (crappy vinyl siding, etc.).

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2008-03-13 03:41am

Shit, sorry, forgot to remove the image from my quote. Mod fix, please?

No more posting for me at such a ridiculous hour...

Shroom Man 777 · Post by **Shroom Man 777** » 2008-03-13 08:03am

Give him a robotic beer-gut and a flare-ended boomstick.

And to think my dad was bad with the 5+ dogs he abuses...

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2008-03-13 08:41am

His other hand should be holding a beer can.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-03-13 08:49am

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:I didn't even know there was such a thing as a triple-wide trailer. How do you move it? Or is it several trailers which somehow combine into one, like some sort of white-trash Transformer?
It is indeed three trailers which are connected together by accordian-like passageways on-site. They even have sections which can be folded up for transport, but on site, fold down and out from inside the body to form bay-window like protrusions for larger rooms.

In otherwords, yes, it is a White Trash Transformer.

That is one sort of triple-wide.

The other sort is a modular home that arrives on the site in three sections which are then permanently connected and, once in place, can be difficult to distinguish from homes built from the foundation up on-site. They are not intended to be moved once in place.

For example, this link is to a "triple-wide" modular home that manages to escape the stereotype of "trailer trash". Unfortunately, I am having trouble locating full size pictures of these things:

So, really, stating it's a "triple wide" is hardly comprehensive information. This could have been some cobbled-together 2nd hand trailers of 1960's vintage up to something that actually looks pretty damn nice from the outside.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2008-03-13 10:58am

Even if we assume the largest of these designs, 800 dogs in and around the property is still going to be really crowded. The noise alone must have been overwhelming, never mind the smell.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-03-13 12:24pm

True.

That's why animal hoarding can be considered a mental illness - it's just not normal for human (or a lot of other animals) to put up with that sort of crowding, much less increase it over time.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2008-03-13 12:34pm

800 dogs in a triple wide? Holy hell. It should not be possible to measure dogs in "per square foot".

Poor guys.

Havokoff, nice, though it needs more mullet.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-03-13 12:41pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:800 dogs in a triple wide? Holy hell. It should not be possible to measure dogs in "per square foot".

Was I the only one who caught mention of the 83 parrots they had, too? Gah! That would only add to the noise and mess!

Apparently the animals were in better shape than usual for these cases and can be restored to health. I'm an animal lover myself (currently with three birds) but I don't even want to think about that density of animal life...!

Not to mention I was once hired to clean a house that had had too many animals confined in it, with the piss, shit, food (fresh to rotting), shed hair, etc all over. {{{shudders in memory}}} Just hope my current lack of a job doesn't reduce me to that level of desperate-for-cash again!

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2008-03-13 12:59pm

Broomstick wrote:Was I the only one who caught mention of the 83 parrots they had, too? Gah! That would only add to the noise and mess!

If my experience with large birds means anything, ONE large bird can smell foul and raise an unholy racket. I can't imagine what 83 of them smell like.

Apparently the animals were in better shape than usual for these cases and can be restored to health. I'm an animal lover myself (currently with three birds) but I don't even want to think about that density of animal life...!

With any luck. I'm a dog person myself, to the point I caught myself the other walking my dog and when he stumbled over some odd debris on the sidewalk, I asked him if he was OK like I expected him to answer. In my defense, he is a very communicative dog.

I honestly can't even picture what 800 dogs looks like or how they'd even fit in a triple wide. They must of been stuffed in there like a high density cattle station (which is gross enough a concept). That's just repulsive and animal abuse on an unprecedented scale.

Not to mention I was once hired to clean a house that had had too many animals confined in it, with the piss, shit, food (fresh to rotting), shed hair, etc all over. {{{shudders in memory}}} Just hope my current lack of a job doesn't reduce me to that level of desperate-for-cash again!

I sure hope not, no one should be faced with that. Not just for how foul it is, but for what it represents.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2008-03-13 01:01pm

Arizona Daily Star

This might clear things up a little.

It looks like they were trying to sell the puppies and weren't just hoarding for hoarding's sake. Still, pretty bad.

I'm trying to find some photos since it's local news.

750 dogs seized on property — a 'puppy mill' in Avra Valley
36 exotic birds also found inside mobile home
By Alexis Huicochea
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

How to help
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is accepting monetary donations to help care for the hundreds of small dogs seized this week.
The agency is also seeking donations of small crates or pens. To make a
donation, go to www.hssaz.org or call the shelter at 327-6088.
No adoptions yet

The dogs seized this week are not yet available for adoption. The Humane Society will notify the public when eligible dogs are available.
About 750 dogs have been seized from what officials called a "puppy mill" in Avra Valley that sold dogs for thousands of dollars.

Most of the small-breed dogs are Chihuahuas and some are very ill, said Jenny Rose, a spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Three were found dead in filthy conditions on the property, and some of the living dogs were missing paws.

The dogs were being bred and sold by a couple who live there, she said. Some of the teacup Chihuahuas were offered for sale on the Internet for prices up to $2,400 each.

Authorities became aware of the case after a woman who purchased a dog from the couple took her pet to the vet because it had kennel cough, Rose said. She told the veterinarian that there were hundreds of dogs on the property, in the 12200 block of West Manville Road, and the vet advised her to contact authorities, according to Rose. When Pima County Sheriff's Department officers went to the property Monday, they found dogs in cages outside, and also found dogs inside the mobile home, said Sgt. James Ogden, a spokesman. There were also 36 exotic birds inside.
"The conditions of the house were horrible," Ogden said. "They had the parrots in cages, and the dogs — some were in cages but others were free to roam, so when you have that, you're going to have feces and urine. It was pretty disgusting."

On Monday, 96 animals from the property were taken in by the Humane Society, Rose said. Authorities returned to the home Wednesday to bring in the remaining dogs.

The Humane Society can hold 150 to 200 dogs, Rose said. As a result, the organization has converted its Companions for Life Center, which is used for training classes and speaking engagements, for the dogs, Rose said. The space has been cleared out, and pens have been set up.
None of the dogs is up for adoption, as they still need to be checked out, Rose said. As soon as that is done, the Humane Society will notify the public.

The property is listed as belonging to a woman with the same name as a dog breeder advertising the sale of teacup Chihuahuas and other small dogs on the Internet. The Web site was closed down Wednesday evening and displayed a message saying, "Thank you for your past support."
The Arizona Daily Star was unable to reach the woman.
Rita Backes, who lives next door to the property, said she knew the couple bred and sold dogs but had no idea that there were so many animals.

"There was always a lot of barking — yapping, really — and friends who would come over always said, 'My goodness, how many dogs are over there?' " Backes said. "I estimated 30 to 50, maybe; my husband thought up to 75. But I can't imagine walking into a room with that many dogs at your feet.

"I think they're nice people and they likely tried their best to do whatever they were doing, but had no boundaries for themselves."
No citations have been issued, and the couple, in their 60s, have been
cooperating with the Sheriff's Department, Ogden said.
Once the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to the Pima County Attorney's Office for review.

Since last month, the Humane Society has accepted more than 70 dogs from the county shelter to give the Pima Animal Care Center the flexibility to accommodate pit bulls seized from people who are accused of breeding and selling the dogs to dogfighting rings.

How to help
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is accepting monetary
donations to help care for the hundreds of small dogs seized this week.
The agency is also seeking donations of small crates or pens.
To make a donation, go to www.hssaz.org or call the shelter at 327-6088.

No adoptions yet
The dogs seized this week are not yet available for adoption. The
Humane Society will notify the public when eligible dogs are available.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2008-03-13 01:08pm

This is one of the TV station in the area. There is a video available on this story. http://www.kgun.com/NewsArticle/tabid/1 ... fault.aspx

Apparently these people are licensed to run a kennel for up to about 130 dogs.

Plus it appears that one of the neighbors had reported these people several times over the last six years. Inspectors supposedly had come out several times and given these people the okay.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2008-03-13 01:43pm

Broomstick wrote:True.

That's why animal hoarding can be considered a mental illness - it's just not normal for human (or a lot of other animals) to put up with that sort of crowding, much less increase it over time.

Yeah, this doesn't really sound like an abusive siltation. Maybe the couple were, in their minds, probably just trying to help as best they could, rescuing strays, etc. And then one day they have over 800 animals (birds, I forgot about the birds!).

The thing about how a few dogs "were missing paws" is a little disturbing. I can't imagine how 2 people can care for several dozen animals in a home like this, let alone 800. 800!

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2008-03-13 04:30pm

That house doesn't seem to look like it could hold 800 dogs let alone them being teacup Chihuahuas.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2008-03-13 04:50pm

Some of the brief shots of the video news story showed lots and lots of travel carriers being used to cary multiple chihuahuas. It looked like the floor was covered with the things. I don't know if that was inside the house or just part of a staging area as animal control confiscated the dogs or what.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-03-13 06:57pm

Looks like there was more then one building on that property, which means they might have been able to hide some of the animals from inspectors.

FSTargetDrone wrote:Yeah, this doesn't really sound like an abusive siltation. Maybe the couple were, in their minds, probably just trying to help as best they could, rescuing strays, etc. And then one day they have over 800 animals (birds, I forgot about the birds!).

From what I understand, that's a common viewpoint of hoarders - they aren't crowding or abusing the animals in their mind, they're rescuing them, caring for them, whatever.

The thing about how a few dogs "were missing paws" is a little disturbing. I can't imagine how 2 people can care for several dozen animals in a home like this, let alone 800. 800

Well, they can't - that's why the place was filthy and there were dead, ill, and injured animals