Lawrence Humane Society provides shelter for dogs in animal cruelty case / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, August 1, 2008

Liz Adams, a volunteer at the Lawrence Humane Society, carries in one of nearly 50 dogs that were brought to Lawrence on Friday after they were rescued from a breeder in Marshall County.

By George Diepenbrock

August 1, 2008

Dogs rescued from unsanitary breeder

Nearly 50 new dogs now call the Lawrence Humane Society home. They arrived today after surviving a Marshall County breeding facility described as unsanitary. Enlarge video

Photo Gallery

Thumbnails · Gallery

The dogs were so deprived that grass was a welcome sight.

On Friday, the Lawrence Humane Society took in 49 of the 187 dogs and puppies the state seized from an unlicensed Marshall County retail breeder who endangered the dogs' health.

"It was just horrible," said Midge Grinstead, the humane society's executive director. "To just not help them, you're supposed to be selling them and being a good breeder. And obviously, he wasn't."

Now, Grinstead hopes to find better homes for them.

The Kansas Animal Health Department seized the dogs July 23 through a court order after owner John Huninghake, of Frankfort, had failed inspections and endangered the dogs' health with substandard living conditions, said Debra Duncan, director of the department's Animal Facilities Inspection Program.

The Lawrence Humane Society often steps in to house animals when the state makes a seizure or a shelter closes.

Duncan said inspectors and a veterinarian found the dogs were severely underweight - some to the point of emaciation. Animal pens were too small and overcrowded. The dogs were not allowed to exercise. Some of the dogs also had skin injuries and had not been groomed for several months.

"Sanitation was terrible, all over the entire facility," Duncan said.

She said Huninghake had been operating for only about one year, and he had failed several inspections. In June, the state offered him an agreement, but he said he planned to sell his business and the dogs.

But Duncan said the state verified that he had not contacted auctioneers or other potential buyers, so they went back for another inspection and eventually obtained the search warrant.

Huninghake was scheduled to have a hearing Thursday in Topeka about the seizure, but instead he signed over ownership to the state, Duncan said.

After the dogs were initially seized, the department took them to an emergency shelter in Great Bend, which was an abandoned shelter. They received medical treatment and vaccinations. Grinstead, who went there earlier in the week to assist the state, said the dogs finally were able to frolic in the grass.

"They rolled in it. They loved it. They didn't want to leave it," she said.

When the state gained ownership, the department worked to find shelters for the dogs. They have been taken to adoption shelters across the state, including Wichita, Ottawa, Hays, Great Bend and Topeka.

The animal health department also is investigating the potential for fines against Huninghake, Duncan said. The state also is seeking to recover costs of the care for the dogs this week, she said.

Anyone in the Lawrence area seeking to adopt one of the rescued dogs - which include golden retrievers, huskies, Bernese mountain dogs and boxers - needs to ask specifically to see those dogs, Grinstead said.

"We're hoping that a lot of people can come in this weekend and we can get them right out the door," she said.

The humane society will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Discussion

LJWorld.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

1 August 2008
at 2:35 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Luxor (Anonymous) says…

Now would be a good time to write a check to the Humane Society, folks. They'll need the extra help.
1 August 2008
at 4:22 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Lynn731 (Anonymous) says…

Just give me 5 minutes in a room with Huninghake. I will save the justice system a lot of money. I love animals and I hate people like him. There is no penalty great enough for abusing animals. Thank you, Lynn
1 August 2008
at 4:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Dani (Anonymous) says…

I love Boxers, Huskies and Golden Retrievers. If only I had a big back yard I'd go get a bunch of them right now!And Luxor is right, now is a good time to donate. They have a wishlist of things they need here: http://www.lawrencehumane.org/help/wi…
1 August 2008
at 6:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

punkrockmom (Anonymous) says…

Man, I wish we had room for at least one, but we don't. Thanks for the link Dani.
1 August 2008
at 8:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

blackhawkx (Anonymous) says…

The doggies are so cute… if only I didn't have dog allergies… darn !
1 August 2008
at 9:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

asbarkincat (Anonymous) says…

The laws for animal cruelity isnt harsh enough. Hope he hes the max. They are really cute dogs. Hope they all find good homes.
1 August 2008
at 9:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

notgiven (Anonymous) says…

Thanks to Midge and the rest of the staff/volunteers for taking in all these animals. What a wonderful thing to do.I'm curious though. How long will the waiting list now be to take animals to the humane society? How many animals will now be euthanized at the Lawrence No Kill Humane Society?Not trying to sound negative. I know all the animals need a place to go. It would just be nice to hear accurate information, and real statistics rather than whatever sounds good. How many puppies? How many adults? How many are staying permanently? How many for just a few days? How many euthanized on the spot? How many later for temperament? Just curious. You serve a good purpose. Lawrence is a better place for having you.It would just be nice to have more factual information both from the Lawrence Humane Society and from the reporters gathering the information. Just not asking the right questions I guess.

1 August 2008
at 11:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Quigly (Anonymous) says…

This place should have been closed down a long time ago. Some one of importance knew about this and did nothing. I say no more. That person knows who it is. We can cry about what goes on a tee shirt but nasty and usually illegal dog breeders flourish. We should be proud of or great state government who ignores this and many other facts when it comes to animals. Good for you HS, I got my dog from there and he is the greatest. Maybe I will come in and take a look. PS how many times did he fail, and what are the standards. I will tell you this, the standards are below par, and the law dawgs are to blame for this lack of enforcement and just a downright lack of laws good enough to deal with this.
2 August 2008
at 1:05 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

SusieCreamcheeze (Anonymous) says…

guess where i will be at 11:30 sat morning…nothing like a new doggie…oh boy
2 August 2008
at 8:37 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

dagger (Anonymous) says…

notgiven. Lawrence Humane Society is a LOW kill humane society. They try their best not to euthanize for space reasons. If it comes to it, they will look at animals who have temperment issues (aggressive, fear bitters,ect.) and those who are severly sick or injured. They do their best to give everyone a fair chance. I know not everyone would agree with that but they can blow hot air all they want, they dont know what all goes into that tough decision. As far as statistics, they keep very strict records but if a reporter were to ask on the spot they would probably have to wait for someone to go back and search them all out in the paperwork. They dont just have a chart or a graph. Every animal is entered as they arrive throughout the year and then their disposition is added when it occurs (adopted, transfer,euthanized,returned.) The computer programs that are available to shelters is an outragous expense and that is money that can be better used on the animals. That would be a great donation from someone who has the extra money!
2 August 2008
at 1:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

kmat (Anonymous) says…

To expand on daggers poont - shelters like Animal Haven in KC that are classed as no kill shelters get that title because the percentage of animals they do have to euthanize is statisically lower than other shelters. BUT, Animal Haven and these other shelters won't take just any animal that comes to them. They screen the animals before you can leave them and determine if they think they are highly adoptable. If they don't think they are,they refuse the animals so they can keep their euthanization numbers low. The Lawrence Shelter takes in every animal that comes to them and they only put down those that are sick (beyond treatment) and those that are aggressive and can't be adopted. Because they do take in all the strays and don't ever refuse them, they unfortunately do have a higher number of euthanizations each year than the “no kill shelters”. Please donate to the shelter. They need more help than ever right now. And if you have the space and love in your heart, go adopt one of the other cats or dogs they have up there that aren't from this case. Many poor animals have been up there for months, waiting for their new homes.
2 August 2008
at 1:55 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

SusieCreamcheeze (Anonymous) says…

I got a new dog…so excited to be able to help …
2 August 2008
at 3:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

bastet (Anonymous) says…

My little cat passed away this spring after being my best friend for nearly twenty-one years. I still can't bear to get another cat right now, but I've decided to donate to the Humane Society what I would be spending on her care each month. Perhaps others might think about doing the same. If you can't reasonably adopt one of these animals, give what you can to help support them until they can find good families.
3 August 2008
at 9:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

suzz (Anonymous) says…

Saturday, I was blown away and impressed by the compassion that quickly spread over our town regarding these helpless animals. As a CASA volunteer I wish the same compassion and media coverage existed regarding helpless children that show up daily at shelters in our town when there are no parents or family members to care for them.
3 August 2008
at 1:33 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

reality (Anonymous) says…

Wow this is so sad! Please let this be a lesson to everyone. Don't run out and get one of these dogs if you are not going to give them a forever home. I donate to the Humane Society frequently and let me tell you what I see…a man walks in with a dog jumping on the leash…”My son doesn't want his dog, and I can't handle it”, or one time … “My new apartment won't let me have my dog.” People, animals are so fragile…please make extra sure that you are going to pay the extra pet deposit for the dog, or that you are going to spend time with it, or that if your kids don't want it anymore you are going to take care of it. This is why they are overcrowded!!! Do some of them have to be put to sleep…of course they do…but don't you think having an animal put to sleep is much better than the horrible living conditions that the humans that had them put them in, or starved them, or let them be mistreated. I love my animals, and I would rather they be put to sleep than neglected in any way! Living isn't living if you aren't able to be happy! If you can't make time everyday for an animal, don't go get one!!! One rule of thumb is this: If someone isn't an animal lover, they are usually a shell of a person, and most of the time, a very selfish, and ungrateful person, usually, not always, but usually, they are just not good people!!!! Make sure that you ask yourself what kind of person you are before you run right over there to “save an animal” that you might later forget about!!!

3 August 2008
at 4:33 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

SusieCreamcheeze (Anonymous) says…

reality (Anonymous) says: they are just not good people!!!! And you think these folks will see this in them selves? The folks who stood in line with me for 45 min just to get into the dog area to look at the dogs and then waited in line for another hour or more to adopted a dog seem very interested.And please note that everyone who stopped in didn't leave with a new pet.But sometimes life gets in the way and things change…we are not happy all the time but I don't think that we should be put to sleep because times are tough. But thats just my opinion
5 August 2008
at 1:35 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

uniquemom (Anonymous) says…

Please have your pet spayed or nuetered. I own a pure bred that I had “fixed”. There are tons of animals looking for loving homes in shelters or rescues. Check them out first.That man should be treated the same way he treated his animals.