A determined group of concerned dog lovers is asking New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to force the shutdown of a Harpursville, NY breeding operation considered one of the worst puppy mills in the country by the Humane Society of the United States.
(HARPURSVILLE, NY)— The facility, located in a rural area, was cited in August of 2013 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after more than 200 dogs, primarily Keeshonden, were found living in in filthy cages, many suffering from disease or injuries. Rescue efforts have resulted in the release of nearly 70 dogs who have been found to be suffering from the following:
36 dogs with Giardia
21 dogs with Coccidia
55 dogs with roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and/or tapeworms
12 dogs with bacterial infections
11 dogs with fungal or yeast infections
2 dogs with demodectic mange
3 dogs with systemic bacterial infections
27 dogs with bite wounds
2 dogs with frostbite injuries
4 dogs with untreated torn cranial cruciate ligaments and severe patellar luxations
41 dogs with patellar luxation of grades 1-4
29 dogs with abscesses
2 dogs with hip dysplasia
2 dogs with malformed limbs or patellar fusion
1 dog with mammary cancer
60 dogs frightened of human beings and completely unsocialized.
More than 50 sick dogs were euthanized and 50 more are believed to have been sent to or sold at dog ‘auction’ in Ohio following the inspection.
The rescue group has sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo asking for his help but also wants the general public to be made aware of the case, hopefully ensuring a happy ending for the dogs still trapped inside the facility.
Marjorie’s Kennels was named in the Humane Society’s recent report which detailed living conditions inside what it tabbed as the 101 worst puppy mills in the nation. See their report here (http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/101-puppy-mills-report-2014.pdf).
The Keeshond is a gentle, loving breed that is naturally social and requires human interaction for its well-being but the dogs at Marjorie’s Kennels had virtually no human contact in addition to their lack of health care.
In October of 2013, the owner of the kennel, Marjorie Ingraham, signed an agreement to release the remaining dogs into the care of Suncoast Keeshond Rescue, which quietly raised more than $80,000 and worked with foster and adoptive Keeshond lovers from around the world to successfully find safe havens for more than 100 dogs. Numerous visits by rescuers to the kennel over a period of several months resulted in a better future for the animals, but many continue to receive medical care and therapy in their new homes as a result of the trauma of living their entire lives in deplorable, despicable conditions with no means of escape.
However, after signing the agreement to release the rest of her dogs and vowing to ‘retire’ from breeding, Ms. Ingraham has refused to turn over the remaining dogs to rescuers despite the availability of approved homes and in spite of the 2012 passage of ‘Charlemagne’s Law’, which empowers local governments to enact stronger laws to protect the well-being of animals. Her motivation is unknown, but it’s likely she plans to continue breeding dogs to make money, with little regard for the dogs’ well-being.
Suncoast Keeshond Rescue and the hundreds of families who have been actively working to assist in saving the endangered dogs is asking Gov. Cuomo to work with state and local officials to shut down Marjorie’s Kennels once and for all and ensure that state laws designed to protect animals are actually enforced.
Suncoast Keeshond Rescue, Inc.
PO Box 82
Elfers FL 34680
Phone: 727-534-9002
Fax: 727.683.9141