31 Dogs Rescued From North Adams Property

MASSACHUSETTS -- Local animal shelters have taken in 31 Labrador retrievers that were surrendered after the health inspector and animal control officer deemed the living conditions were unfit for animals.

Carrie Loholdt, the city's new animal control officer, joined two of the city's health inspectors on an investigation into complaints regarding a local dog breeder. Upon arriving at the residence, the three found 31 dogs — significantly more than expected — living in poor conditions.
 

The owner surrendered the dogs and volunteers swarmed North Adams to help find places for them. Kaila Drosehn, from the Northern Berkshire Cat Rescue, help coordinate and within an hour, volunteers from the Berkshire Humane Society and Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter were on scene.

"Our pound is only able to hold four dogs," Loholdt said on Thursday. "We were trying to find out where to take these dogs and both shelters came out with two vans each and crates."

A total of 10 puppies — some only a few hours old — were rescued and some of the other dogs were pregnant. Loholdt has the pregnant dogs and the shelters took the rest.

But, Loholdt said removing that many dogs was a daunting task. She went into the inspection only expecting to have to remove a few animals. On Thursday, she couldn't say enough about the volunteers who helped care for the dogs in less than four hours.

"It was an unbelievable day. It went so smoothly," Loholdt said. "I'm amazed. I would not have been able to do it alone."

More than a dozen people assisted, including two police officers, about seven volunteers from the shelters, Police Director Michael Cozzaglio and the city health inspectors.

Some of the dogs were taken directly to Keith Beebe at Wahconah Veterinary Hospital and others were seen by the vets at the other shelters. The dogs will all be treated for any health issues, spayed and neutered, and then put up for adoption.

"Every one will be adoptable after they get spayed and neutered," Loholdt said. "They are all going to be looking for homes."

The breeder voluntarily surrendered the dogs and Loholdt is still sifting through the investigation. She did not say whether the breeder would be facing any criminal charges.

Loholdt did not release the name of the breeder but the police log recorded that an officer was requested to assist the animal control officer and health inspector at Rick's Auto Sales. The property, next to the Time Warner offices on Hodges Cross Road, has had a Labradors for sale sign out front for years.

(iBerkshires - Oct 25, 2013)