Volunteers from throughout Midwest providing critical support for rescue mission

December 1, 2010 – United Animal Nations (UAN), a California-based national nonprofit organization, is running a temporary shelter in Bloomington, Indiana for approximately 100 dogs removed from a puppy mill in GreeneCounty today.

Ten UAN volunteers traveled to Bloomington to set up the temporary shelter at the Pets Alive Spay/Neuter Clinic and to care for the rescued animals until they can be transported to humane organizations around the region where they will be available for adoption.

UAN volunteer Kelly McKinney of Indianapolis with one of the 100 dogs rescued from an Indiana puppy mill on December 1, 2010.

“These animals were not getting the care or attention they needed to be happy and healthy, as is typically the case in these mass breeding operations,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies. “UAN volunteers are trained to provide critical support in such cases and will give these animals loving human contact for the first time in their lives and prepare them for a better life in loving new homes.”

The case began when the Attorney General’s office received a complaint that the property owners bred dogs and sold the puppies for hundreds of dollars each, but failed to collect or remit sales taxes to the State of Indiana as required by law. The initial consumer who complained bought a pug puppy who was sick and died shortly after he was purchased. State investigators today served a tax jeopardy assessment on the GreeneCounty property. The puppies of these dogs were sold to unsuspecting consumers through newspaper ads and over the Internet.

When responders arrived on the property they found overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Several breeds of dogs were present including Maltese, Shih Tzus and poodles. They were housed inside small wire cages and runs inside a dirty mobile home. Some dogs were denied proper veterinary care and socialization as is typical in puppy mills.

UAN is working with The Humane Society of the United States, which acted as the lead animal welfare organization in this rescue mission. UAN was asked to lead the temporary sheltering effort because of its expertise in setting up and operating temporary, emergency shelters for large numbers of animals displaced by disasters or rescued in cruelty cases. In the last two years, UAN has sheltered more than 6,000 animals during 25 responses in the United States and Canada. UAN has more than 3,000 trained emergency sheltering volunteers, including more than 60 in Indiana.

Distinguished by their red shirts, UAN volunteers traveled to Bloomington from throughout Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky to set up the temporary shelter; assist with veterinary exams; and provide food, water and socialization to the rescued dogs. Four more volunteers will arrive later this week. PetSmart Charities Emergency Relief Waggin’® program donated supplies to the sheltering effort.

• To support UAN’s work to shelter animals displaced by natural disasters or rescued from large-scale cruelty situations, donate to our Disaster Relief Fund.
• Learn more about puppy mills and how you can avoid supporting them.
• Read more about this response on our Emergency Response Blog.

MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Raymond, (916) 429-2457 or (916) 583-8261 – cell

Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.uan.org.

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