‘Worst situation we’ve ever seen’: Peyton-based nonprofit rescues 165 dogs, starts road to recovery
O’Dell Isaac, The Gazette
National Mill Dog Rescue, an animal-welfare nonprofit based in Peyton, recently rescued more than 160 neglected dogs from hazardous, unsanitary living conditions that shook even the most seasoned veterinary professionals.
“In our 18 years of rescuing over 24,000 dogs, this was the worst situation we’ve ever seen,” Mill Dog Rescue officials wrote in a statement.
In mid-June, the nonprofit received an urgent request from the Colorado Bureau of Animal Protection for help with a large-scale animal cruelty case, Mill Dog Rescue Director Sarah Thompson said.
“The bureau told us that more than 100 dogs were about to be seized from a suspected commercial breeding operation, and we would have to move quickly,” Thompson said. “There wasn’t much time to plan.”
National Mill Dog Rescue's mission hasn't changed but has grown even larger
Mill Dog Rescue accompanied the Bureau of Animal Protection, a local sheriff’s office, and other agencies to a property on the Western Slope, where they executed a search warrant and found 165 dogs — all miniature Schnauzers except for a single pug — living in small, filthy outdoor enclosures.
Officials believe the dogs were once used for commercial breeding, with the puppies likely sold in pet stores or online. After the breeding, the dogs were left to “live in their own filth,” Thompson said.
Veterinary caregivers treat one of the rescued miniature Schnauzers at National Mill Dog Rescue on Wednesday.
The small pens were caked with muck and fecal matter, and many of the dogs were so badly matted that they couldn’t walk normally or relieve themselves, properly.
“I’ve seen one or two dogs in that kind of condition at a time,” Thompson said. “I have never seen that many dogs, in that kind of condition, all at once.”
Humane Colorado, another animal-welfare nonprofit based in Denver, also took about 90 cats from the property. The breeder, whose name was not released, faces charges of more than 200 counts of animal cruelty and neglect, according to Thompson.
After the team transported the dogs to their Peyton headquarters, it immediately shifted into emergency mode. Local professional groomers volunteered to shave down the most severely matted dogs.
“This was not cosmetic grooming to make them look cute,” Thompson said. “This was a lifesaving procedure.”
The groomers shaved nearly 200 pounds of fur — an average of 1.5 pounds per dog — from the mini Schnauzers, most of which weighed less than 10 pounds. After the fur was removed, caregivers could assess the skin of the dogs. Many had sores, injuries and debris embedded .
The large-scale rescue more than doubled the number of dogs in Mill Dog Rescue’s care, so they had to rig a makeshift shelter at the site. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region loaned the facility 50 wire pop-up crates.
“We have Schnauzers everywhere,” Thompson said.
Physically and emotionally exhausted, many of the dogs slept for nearly two days, officials said.
Veterinarians and technicians are currently performing surgeries, dental care, treatment for eye and ear infections and other procedures. Some may need amputations. After their urgent medical needs have been addressed, they’ll be spayed or neutered.
Of the 165 rescued dogs, two have died, Thompson said.
On Wednesday, many of the dogs rushed to the front of their pens, eager to greet visitors. Others, fearful of strangers, retreated to the rear.
“Some of them are coming around,” Thompson said. “A lot of them are very timid. Some of them will need an intensive behavior plan before they are ready to go to a home.”
In about a week, 50 of the dogs will be transported to partner shelters in Michigan.
For now, they are enjoying gentle baths, fresh air and safe surroundings. Mill Dog Rescue is planning an adoption event in the coming weeks.
“The last thing we want is for a family to take one of these dogs home, only to find that it has an undiagnosed illness, or that it doesn’t get along with people,” Thompson said. “We’re going to work with them until they’re ready.”
Colorado humane society officer endures triple-digit temperatures in hot-car demonstration
Humane Society vet treats seriously injured dog, then adopts him
