CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Monetary donations are needed as rescuers begin to rehabilitate 80 shih tzus seized from a puppy mill in Callahan County, southeast of Abilene, Wednesday morning.
Rescue the Animals has already begun assessing the dogs for medical conditions and grooming has been scheduled.
Medical expenses are estimated at $5,000-$10,000 for just basic care, so monetary donations are needed.
Donations are being accepted at the Rescue the Animals building at 4620 N 1st Street or they can be made via Paypal – just visit the Rescue the Animals website.
Paul Washburn with Rescue the Animals says food donations are not ideal because all of their animals are on a specialized diet.
The adoption process is long and begins with a custody hearing in Callahan County as early as next week.
If Rescue the Animals is awarded custody, they will ship some of the dogs to facilities across the country and will keep some here in town. Updates on the adoption process will be available on the Rescue the Animals website and Facebook page.
Rescuers took at least 79 live dogs, including pregnant females and small puppies, from a property on the 6400 block of FM 603 Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing animal cruelty investigation. One puppy was also found dead.
According to Washburn, his team said conditions inside the home were the worst they’d ever seen.
The dogs were kept in wire cages full of layers of feces and newspaper. These cages were stacked to the ceiling inside the small home and other dogs ran free, relieving themselves wherever they pleased.
The owner of the dogs has been taken into custody as part of an animal cruelty investigation and is currently at a mental health facility in Abilene.
It’s unknown if she will be charged due to her mental health status.
Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed the woman had been selling the dogs, even fraudulently using the name of a reputable local breeder, Shih Tzu Factory, in the past.
Shih Tzu Factory is not affiliated with this woman in any way and says they had to hire an attorney when she was caught using their name to sell dogs previously.
