PetSmart Charities has dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin' vehicle, stocked with $80,000 worth of supplies to aid pets and rescuers at the scene of a puppy mill in Hudson, N.C. PetSmart Charities is a nonprofit organization and one of the largest funder of companion animal-welfare efforts in North America.
The case began when animal control received an anonymous tip concerning the welfare of the dogs. This prompted an inspection, which uncovered unsanitary conditions and unhealthy dogs. When Humane Society of the United States officials arrived on scene, they found approximately 300 dogs, mostly Pomeranians and other small breeds, living crowded amongst their own feces in small wire enclosures.
"Many of these dogs were living in filthy cages so small that they could barely stand up and turn around," said Kim Alboum, North Carolina state director for The Humane Society of the United States. According to reports, the property owner was selling puppies over the Internet to unsuspecting consumers.
The 53-foot PetSmart Charities' Emergency Relief Waggin' trailer and its 16-tons of cargo left the PetSmart Distribution Center in Newnan, Ga., headed to North Carolina where animal-rescue teams will operate an emergency animal shelter. The vehicle is stocked with supplies, including pet food, wire crates, plastic carriers, fenced kennels, clippers, bowls, leashes and fans.