ARIZONA -- More than 30 shih tzus were rescued from a suspected puppy mill Thursday morning by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office animal crimes investigation unit.
Neighbors in the area of the residence, near Peoria and 111th avenues in Youngtown, reported a strong smell coming from the home of Linda Crandall, 69, to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, according to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
After securing a search warrant, sheriff's deputies arrived at Crandall’s home, where they found the dogs, Arpaio said.
The floor of the house was covered in feces, and one of the dogs was rushed to an animal hospital in critical condition, Arpaio said. Many of the other dogs were covered in sores and were in generally bad condition, he said.
It was suspected that Crandall was operating a puppy mill at her residence, Arpaio said. Shih tzus can be sold from $500 to more than $2,000 depending on the quality of the breeder and the condition and age of the dog.
Crandall was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and has surrendered the dogs to the Sheriff's Office, Arpaio said. MCSO will help rehabilitate the dogs before putting them up for adoption, Arpaio said.
In November, the Sheriff's Office rescued 129 pugs from a puppy mill near Tonopah.
(AZ Central - June 30, 2016)
