WYMT was there as the dogs were taken to the Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital in London.
One by one, the 19 dogs and puppies are now under new care, which officials from the animal rescue group Justice for Abused Animals say is far better than the conditions they were once living in.
“They were living in wired cages with no food, and no water, feces in their cages,” said group founder Jamie Medlin.
Police and rescue officials say they took the dogs from their previous owners Curt and Patricia Burko.
The Justice for Abused Animals founder, who did not want to show her face, says the two were running a puppy mill.
“They were breeding these dogs. They stated they were selling them at the Corbin Flea Market,” said Medlin.
They say they even found the remains of dogs in the couple's trash cans.
“Either they died in the cages outside, or they were done breeding them and didn't want them anymore. I don't know the purpose of it,” said Medlin.
And as each Chihuahua and Yorkie were checked out by the Veterinarian, rescue officials told us it quickly became clear that a profit came at the expense of these animal's health.
“Every rib is showing [the dog] doesn't have any muscle going down her spine she is underweight” said Veterinarian Keaton Smith, as he examined one of the dogs.
Curt and Patricia Burko were both charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Both declined to comment from the Knox County Detention Center.
(WYMT - May 31, 2013)
