Weighing barely 10 pounds and shaking ever so slightly, Half Pint’s ears perk up as her new owners, Bob and Susan Huddleston of Bay City, walk through the door to take her to her forever home.
It has been quite a journey for Half Pint. The dog had little previous human interaction, says Robin Mathews, whose Beaverton property became a landing pad for 38 Shelties seized from their previous owner July 3. Through the births of litters, the number of Shelties now has reached 66.
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| Robin Mathews holds Half Pint, a rescued Sheltie, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at her home in Beaverton. Half Pint is one of the 38 seized from a residential property on the Midland/Gratiot county line July 3. |
The animal rescuers held off on naming the dogs, instead identifying them by number. For the Huddlestons, Half Pint was No. 5 and is the fifth Sheltie they have owned.
Bob Huddleston described Shelties as “smart” and “gentle” pack animals that do well with other dogs.
“We believe in the breed,” he said.
National attention
Neighbors of Jean Hansen, 71, of St. Louis called police about the conditions at her home, on the Midland/Gratiot county line. She faces a single felony count of animal cruelty, a four-year felony.
Her attorney, Philip Sturtz, has declined comment as she awaits a preliminary hearing to see if she will stand trial.
A Midland County sheriff's deputy, captain and animal control officer seized 38 dogs with help from the Humane Society of Midland County. Michigan Sheltie Rescue organizer and Grand Rapids resident Carol Strotheide called the collection of the animals “the largest ever shelter seizure of Shelties in the state of Michigan.”
The Michigan Sheltie Rescue has received more than 60 applications from prospective owners, Strotheide said.
"The applications all vary. They are coming from all over the place, and many are out-of-state applications. The story went all over the country," Strotheide said.
The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a "working Collie in miniature," according to the American Kennel Club, whose website describes the breed as a small herding dog known for its obedience, agility and colorful long-haired coat.
Midland County Sheriff Scott Stephenson said the dog seizure was the largest recorded in Midland County.
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| What officers found on the day of seizure |
Most of the Shelties are staying in foster homes or have been placed with Sheltie rescues in other states, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. Strotheide is asking that potential owners have patience as she reviews applications to match the right dogs to new homes.
"I want to make sure the home sticks, and it's the right home for the right dog," Strotheide said.
Out of the 66 dogs rescued, six have been placed in their forever homes and two puppies are not being considered for adoption.
Although the pair of pups are close to the proper age to leave their mothers, the predominantly white dogs face a hurdle unlike their litter mates: One is "completely blind," and the other is "mostly blind," Strotheide said.
She is searching for a specific kind of home for the duo where they can learn different commands.
"You can't feel sorry for them," Strotheide said. "There is nothing wrong with their brain, there is nothing wrong with their nose. They are capable of learning so much."
Those interesting in applying for the dogs can fill out the application at http://www.michigansheltierescue.net/application.html. The application process could take a month, Strotheide said.
The Huddlestons' swift adoption of Half Pint came thanks to their veterinarian. Dr. Janet Sherwood of Midland was on scene when the Shelties were taken from the property of their former owner.
Sherwood has cared for the dogs the couple have previously owned and the three Shelties the Huddlestons now own.
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| Susan Huddleston holds Half Pint, a rescued Sheltie she is adopting |
“I shot her a message, and we were lucky enough to adopt one," Bob Huddleston said, stroking Half Pint’s light white and sable-colored coat. "Janet (Sherwood) picked this one for us, she knows Shelties, and she knows us."
Court date pending
The July 3 collection of the dogs was the first animal seizure the Humane Society has been involved in since the organization took over animal adoptions in Midland County more than two years ago, said Neil Wackerle, Humane Society of Midland County president.
All the dogs were timid and showed signs of limited human interaction, Wackerle said, it “seemed like they wanted attention, but they didn’t, they didn’t know if people were good.”
Strotheide helped load the dogs into crates with Sherwood. Officials have said the dogs were “malnourished” and “very skittish.” Along with an office manager, Sherwood individually examined and handled each dog and recorded her findings.
Those findings were used to bring a criminal charge against Hansen in the Midland County District Court.
Hansen was arraigned Monday, July 22, and faces one count of cruelty of 10 or more animals, a four-year-felony, said Chief Prosecuting Attorney Erik S. H. Wallen.
Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen P. Carras imposed several restrictions on Hansen, as requested by Wallen, including that she not possess any animal, surrender any dogs still in her possession.
A preliminary examination is taking place within the Midland County Circuit Court within the next two weeks, Wallen says.
“She was indicating it was her opinion the dogs were well cared for,” Wallen said. “We vehemently disagreed with that, we felt the dogs were neglected for a very long time."
'Tails started wagging'
Midland residents Brenda Fosgitt and Diane Durfee are volunteers who witnessed Half Pint’s adoption.
“There was three or four days, full eight-hour days," remembered Durfee of the second week after the seizure, when several of the female dogs began producing puppies, including an 8-month old Sheltie. "That week was just so awful.
“It took all day. We had to be there and help her the whole time.”
Volunteers contributed hours of grooming, brushing, petting and handling the Shelties to get them accustomed to human interaction.
Fosgitt remembers hearing the dogs play with a squeaky toy for the first time, a sound that lit up the eyes of all the volunteers standing outside the room. The sound was a sign they were on the right track, she says.
“Tails started wagging; they loved to be combed and brushed," Fosgitt said. "The puppies are actually playing with toys now.”
Gladwin resident Penny Grice, another volunteer, said the Shelties are “glad to just have someone pay attention to them.” She plans to adopt one of the puppies to join her "already spoiled" female Sheltie at home after spending almost every weeknight helping Mathews with the litters.
“I was hooked,” said Grice, holding a puppy small enough to fit in the palm of her hand.
The lure of puppy breath has drawn in Fosgitt, who is working on convincing her husband to let her bring home a companion for their elderly Yorkshire terrier.
Homeward bound
There is a six-page application and interview before any adoption can take place, in addition to vet references and a house inspection.
Walking out the front door of Mathew’s home, Bob Huddleston holds Half Pint close as they climb into their mini-van for the 45-minute trip back to Bay City to introduce the latest member of the family to her new home and siblings.
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| Daddy's girl |
“We don’t have any kids, so this is as close as we get. She’s going to be a princess,” he said.
It is the mindset of the Huddlestons that Strotheide is working to secure for each Sheltie she has helped rescue.
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| Bob Huddleston of Bay City walks out with Half Pint, a Sheltie he and his wife are adopting on Wednesday, Aug. 14, in Beaverton. Half Pint is one of the 38 seized from a residential property on the Midland/Gratiot county line July 3. |
"We are just trying to find the people who are understanding and patient and willing to put the work into them," Strotheide said. "We are seeing these dogs blossom.
"It's amazing, really, when you stop to think about what these dogs lives are like now, from where they came from two months ago. It's wonderful."
(The Saginaw News - Aug 22, 2013)
Earlier:
these photos are sickening.
ReplyDeletepuppy mills have to end. if hsus, best friends and the aspca redirected their money and efforts away from pimping pit bulls and towards eradicating puppy mills, i think they could achieve it.