Miniature Pinschers Rescued From Puppy Mill in Riverside

Rescue of Sixty-Two Min Pins from Puppy Mill in Riverside CA


Miniature Pinschers Rescued from Puppy Mill Good Dog Animal Rescue and Companion Animal Protection Society Rescue 62 Dogs in Riverside, CA

(Los Angeles, CA) - Sixty two Miniature Pinschers were rescued from a substandard breeding facility in Riverside, California on March 3rd 2009. The puppy mill was operated by Linda Smith, who claims to have been “breeding champion Min Pins for twenty eight years.” The dogs were rescued by Good Dog Animal Rescue with the assistance of the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) after an undercover investigation revealed evidence of animal cruelty and severe neglect at the Riverside home of Linda Smith.

The dogs had been living in filthy and inhumane conditions and the Riverside Animal Control has admitted to “an open case on Linda Smith for years.” Field Commander Rita Gutierrez told CAPS West Coast Director Carole Raphaelle Davis that the kennels of Linda Smith had been inspected as recently as February 25th and that Linda smith had passed the inspection. Gutierrez also admitted that as a general rule, she gives her cases a “heads up” before she sends officers in for an inspection, “in order to keep people on their toes.” She stated she had given “heads up” notice to Linda Smith routinely. CAPS questions this tactic as it only encourages animal abusers to hide evidence when given prior knowledge of lawful entrance to the property by the authorities. Many of the dogs had been crudely debarked at home, a painful and dangerous procedure that keeps the dogs from making sounds when barking.

“Having assisted the rescue, I can only describe it this way: Silence of the Lambs. The stench was eye-stinging. The dogs were crammed into overcrowded runs and cages and were living on a carpet of feces, eating and drinking out of buckets filled with feces and urine. Their nails were grown into their foot pads, their mouths are in advanced stages of gum disease, many having lost all their teeth. The dogs were infested with fleas and were being eaten alive by ticks. They have never seen a vet. This is clearly an actionable case of animal abuse and we are outraged by the laissez-faire attitude of Riverside Animal Care and Control. The remaining twenty animals must be removed from Smith immediately and she must be charged.” - Carole Raphaelle Davis, CAPS West Coast Director and author of “The diary of Jinky, Dog of a Hollywood Wife.”

“It’s a nightmare for these poor dogs. After we rescue them, and spend one-on-one time with them, they really just want to be a pet; they don’t want to be a machine. They don’t want to be stuck in a crate for the rest of their lives; they want to play with a tennis ball. Before you buy a dog, whether it be from a breeder, the Internet or a puppy store, don’t judge a book by its cover because you don’t get to see - all you see is ‘cute puppy.’ But if you saw the parents like I see the parents when I do rescues, it doesn’t make the puppies so cute anymore.” - Chance White, Founder of Good Dog Animal Rescue
www.gooddoganimalrescue.com

How you can help: Currently the dogs are being cared for by Dr. Werber at the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. If you are interested in donating, please call 310.559.2500 and tell them it's for the Riverside California puppy mill rescue done by Good Dog Animal Rescue. The dogs will be available for adoption at the following locations that have been converted to a humane business model as a result of protests by local activists and the Companion Animal Protection Society (Humane) Pet Store program. These stores now hold regular adoptions.

Woof Worx (formerly Pets of Bel Air)
2924 N. Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, CA 90077
310-474-1211
woofworx.com

Elaine's Pet Depot
12423 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90025
310-828-4545
petdepot.net/elaines.html

Helen's Pet Depot
10531 west pico blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310-470-2922
petdepot.net/helens.html

Kirby's Pet Depot #3
12112 Venice Boulevard
Mar Vista (Los Angeles), CA
310-313-1801
petdepot.net/kirbys.html

A short documentary which includes the evidence by award winning filmmaker Carly Heath is viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NfFRISt6kA. A high quality version is available by request.

Visit www.caps-web.org.

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About:
Companion Animal Protection Society is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting companions from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in Puppy Mills and Pet Shops. Founded in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society also known as CAPS, actively addresses this issue through undercover investigations, consumer education through the media, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet shop employee relations. CAPS uses evidence from reports and investigations for congressional oversight hearings targeting the USDA’s failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. CAPS has gained worldwide recognition for shutting down large puppy mill operations and converting pet shops to humane animal adoption centers. For more information on Companion Animal Protection Society please visit www.caps-web.org.