SOUTH CAROLINA -- A Fountain Inn man accused of running a puppy mill is once again breeding and selling dogs, but it's all legal, according to Greenville County.
In June, Dale Ferguson's property was raided, and more than 100 dogs were seized from what has been called an alleged puppy mill after animal control said they found animals that were skinny and living without water or food.
Ferguson faced several charges, including five counts of animal cruelty, and paid a fine of more than $6,000.
Recently, FOX Carolina started receiving emails, Facebook messages and calls that Ferguson was once again placing ads on websites and selling more dogs from the same property.
FOX Carolina went to Ferguson's property to speak to him. He confirmed he is selling dogs again. However, he isn't breaking any laws by doing so, because there is no stipulation in his prior sentencing that keeps him from owning or selling dogs.
His rights to sell and breed dogs has some people outraged, like Jennifer Remeta, who took in several dogs that were seized from Ferguson's property in June.
Remeta said her rescue group, Abby's Animal Angels, took in two Pomeranians named Roxie and Delaney. Both had endured chemical burns on their backs.
"(Delaney)was one of the worst medical cases. She had a very large open burn on her back. She actually had live maggots in there. It was horrific," said Remeta.
Remeta says it took thousand of dollars in bills and months to treat Delaney and Roxie for what veterinarians believed to be chemical burns caused by gasoline or bleach.
"They have some bad scarring from it and definitely some fear issues," said Remeta.
Now Remeta is outraged that the man who was supposed to be caring for these dogs is selling again.
"When we found out this had started all over again, I was physically sick to my stomach, shaking," said Remeta.
But Ferguson said there's another side to this story.
"We're not hiding from anybody, I'm standing here, I'm not hanging my head to anybody," he said.
He said dogs like Delaney and Roxie weren't injured on his property but dropped off by another owner just days before the raid. He said he didn't cause their injuries.
Ferguson said he feels targeted by rescue groups who are trying to hurt his business.
"All the animal rights people try to call, they don't necessarily know what the whole story is. They don't know the in's and out's," said Ferguson. "But they got an agenda, and they're playing on it."
Greenville County said animal control inspected Ferguson's property Sept. 19 and found no violations.
Now Ferguson said he's got a message to his critics.
"Mind their own business and leave me alone, and I'll mind mine and leave them alone," said Ferguson.
(WHNS Greenville - Oct 18, 2013)
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