SOMERSET COUNTY, Md.- Fifty-four German Shepherds will be ready for adoption next week after being rescued from unsanitary conditions at a breeder's home near Pocomoke City last summer.
Forty dogs were seized from that home, but two of the dogs gave birth to 14 puppies while in the county's care over the last five months. In December, the breeder was sentenced with three years probation for animal cruelty. Dr. Jeffrey Reed, a veterinarian and owner of Somerset Regional Animal Hospital, says the conditions at the home were disgusting when he found the animals.
"They were without adequate drinking water, some of them were without readily available food and all of them were lacked one of the most important things for all dogs which was just kind, compassionate human interaction," Reed said.
Reed says some dogs needed more care than others, but thanks to the Humane Society of the United States' Puppy Mill Campaign, funds were available to get the dogs back to normal.
"Any ear infections that were getting out of control, skin infections that were getting out of control, things like that. That had gone unchecked where they were being housed," Reed said.
With 54 dogs up for adoption starting on Monday, it makes for the biggest animal cruelty case the Somerset County Dog Control Unit has seen in the last decade, according to Officer Cindy Tawes.
"We go in every, single day on the weekends and take care of the dogs several times a day. Take them out of their kennels so they can walk and run and play. They don't know what toys are, they didn't even know what dog treats were," Tawes said.
None of the dogs have names yet, but Tawes says she plans to be picky about the adoption process to make sure each of the German Shepherds finds a wonderful, forever home.
For more information about adopting one of the dogs, call the Somerset County Dog Control Unit at 410-651-0986 or stop by its office at 7922 Crisfield Highway in Westover.
