Commercial Breeder Closes Doors, Gives Key to Shelter

Commercial breeder Wallace Havens, who owns Puppy Haven Kennel, one of the nation's largest dog-breeding kennels, and the Wisconsin Humane Society have agreed to, surprisingly ... agree. Now retired, Havens has closed his breeding business and allowed the WHS to assume his business assets. Most dog lovers wouldn't consider dogs to be "business assets," but the deal includes his handing over more than 1,100 dogs to the WHS for spay/neuter and adoption.

That's right, more than 1,100 dogs. All of them have lived at the kennel their entire lives and have never been socialized or lived with people. The WHS has an extraordinary task before them. More importantly, this single-handedly is an impressive feat in the fight against puppy mills. Havens said he sold about 3,000 dogs a year. He was in business for 40 years. Do the math and the number of dogs he created (don't forget the intact dogs he sold that were purposely or accidentally bred) is astronomical.

According to the WHS press release, Margaret Stratton, president of the board of the Wisconsin Humane Society said, “Assuming the assets of this facility will allow us to provide wonderful homes for more than a thousand dogs. These dogs will soon enjoy the love and companionship of people who will treat them as members of their families. To our knowledge, this groundbreaking action is unique in the humane movement. This is consistent with the Wisconsin Humane Society’s mission to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness. We are always working to educate people interested in obtaining a dog that they must consider the physical, social and emotional needs of the dog and find out as much as they can about the dog’s background.”

THE ZIP CODE IS 97420...sorry--didn't proof that!

Okay-here is an example where everyone can help--with an extra crate, fostering, or someone you know fostering, sending a few $$, everything helps! I have worked with Heidiin rescue for the past 7 years--she is just like you or me, I know her personally. If you can help, please do...Thanks!  Liz

Yesterday in rural
Eastern Washington, a puppy miller of Mini and
probably some Toy Aussies had her dogs seized. An
all volunteer rescue group called Adams County Pet
Rescue out of the Othello & Ritzville areas helped
the authorities with the dogs. Adams County does
not have any government funded or run shelters so
luckily there is a great group of folks over there
that have banded together to do rescue. Prior to
yesterday they thought there might be about 40-50
dogs in the bust. There were just over 100 animals
alive and a half dozen dead on the scene. A small
few have already been deemed un-adoptable or
treatable and were humanely euthanized by a vet.
There is a link to news coverage at the bottom of
this email. The woman living there had no running
water and the conditions were beyond appalling
according to the gals I spoke with this morning.
The miller had a boarded up hut that was nailed
closed where she left nearly a dozen dogs. This
was her culling room, no food, water or
ventilation. The dogs not able to produce went in
there to for culling. If any of you have been to
this arid area of Eastern Washington you know how
incredibly hot it can get over there. Amazingly,
they found dogs alive inside this hut and they're
now in rescue's care.

Legally, they can not adopt out any of these dogs
for at least 15 days. Some will need
rehabilitation and longer foster care as they
learn the ways of the world outside a puppy mill.
They are desperately seeking foster spots and any
supplies related to the care and housing of dogs.
Their shelter (term used loosely) is in the
process of being able to house animals. They were
working on getting runs set up before this but are
in no way ready to house the animals adequately
and certainly not this many. 30 of the 90 plus
dogs went straight into foster care with
volunteers. They have 50+ housed at their
facility. If you know anyone that would be willing
to foster a dog please contact Julia at
Julia@myuw.net. Julia is an Aussie lover; she is
the one that I've been in contact with. She has
also been touch with Leslie from MARS (Mini Aussie
Rescue). I told Julia I would help get the word
out. They are also in dire need of supplies
especially crates. If you have unwanted crates,
grooming tools, collars, beds, food or anything
that might be useful to these volunteers, they
would appreciate it. They are in the process of
setting up a Paypal account to receive funds via
credit card or check and I will re-post that
information when I know it.

For now, if you wish to donate money, it can be
sent in care of:

Broadway Animal Hospital

2780 S Broadway Ave
Othello, WA 99344
(509) 488-6206

The web address for the Adams County Pet Rescue
group is located here:

www.petfinder.com/shelters/WA52.html

To send money directly to them in the form of a
check:

ACPR - 202 Curtis Drive - Othello WA 99344

News coverage on the front page here:
http://www.keprtv.com/ or here:
http://www.kimatv.com/

Sincerely,

Heidi Erland

It's SO MUCH warmer at the arena where I NOW get to practice...so I took some pics of the dogs afterwards in this adorable little patch of 'Forget-me-Knots'--which I just LOVE...

The ones of Jig didn't turn out...Tru, of course, looked dashing...

                    

Can someone tell me HOW to get my video from the camera onto the computer? What cable connector do I use to transfer my video to my computer?  help???

I knew Tru was 'looking' much better...and 'feeling' much better...it's been ALMOST 2 months since I adopted him...and...
 HE'S GAINED 10 POUNDS!!! Augh! He weighed a mere 32lb when I got him (20" tall), he'd had dia-poopy for about 2 months and was chowing on poop. I switched him to raw food, he's getting exercised every day...and wow! He's now at 42 lb...not fat, but I think he shouldn't gain any more than that! CHOW HOUND! and by the way--he's given up on the poo-rocha...thank goodness!!
 Taken at Bandon beach.

Went to the knee doc yesterday, (actually 'Jose', the PA who I have known for years)---thought I had torn my ACL at the Albany trial, I slipped on the ice and hypo-extended my left knee...heard the dreaded 'pop' and thought I was 'done'.  Babied it for a week--and as it got worse, decided to have Jose take a look at it since I couldn't get in to see the sports doc for a month. (rural life)

Looks to be a meniscus tear--but they did an MRI and will know more when I see the sports doc in a couple of weeks. Jose was hilarious...and says, "I KNOW you're not going to slow down for 6-8 weeks to let the swelling and tenderness go down, so I'm fitting you for a brace, and when the pain gets bad enough--you'll get it repaired." ...yeah--he knows me alright...and he knows I have 4 dogs, and knows I run them every day and have trials coming up, etc...he didn't even want to discuss it! (laughing)...but we did discuss his wonderful standard poodle who would be 'great' at agility!

So-I have a bionic brace on my left knee...and boy does it feel GREAT!! Sure nice to have stability back. I can run and play and do whatever I want...and suffer later. But at least I can run at Fleet Feet and beyond!!! Thank God for technology---and insurance!