LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) – In Lauderdale County, animal shelter workers are grappling with more than 80 dogs rescued just days ago from what deputies called a puppy mill.
Charges are pending against the owner of the dogs taken in Central Florence on Tuesday, meaning those 82 dogs are now considered “live evidence.” Investigators have not yet found the owner either. However, they say they know who the owner is.
The animals will spend the rest of the investigation and court proceedings to follow at the Florence-Lauderdale County Animal Shelter.
“We’ll be getting the rest of the dogs evaluated and hopefully get all that evidence to the Sheriff’s department and see it goes from there,” Director Cheryl Jones said.
The Florence-Lauderdale Animal Shelter is no stranger to dogs being seized in animal cruelty investigations.
Director Cheryl Jones said every time they do though, they play a waiting game.
“In a typical case, when you’ve got property it goes to a property room and it just stays there and waits until a court case comes around. It’s a lot more challenging when you have live evidence,” Jones said. “There’s the cost of care and just the fact that these guys are kind of held in limbo while we work through the process.”
Meaning these dogs cannot be adopted out until criminal proceedings are settled.
“This could be a process that goes on for, you know, court cases can go a year and a half,” Jones said.
She said it is easier when the owner can sign away their rights to the animals, or a judge can award the shelter ownership, but neither can happen if the owner isn’t found.
If you know anything about where the owner could be, you’re asked to call the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office.
The shelter is always in need of more donations, especially with the 200 dogs they are currently housing. Jones said the community has generously brought in a lot of donations since Tuesday.
They are looking for more wet dog food for the puppies and pregnant dogs that were seized. She also added that they can never have too much bleach or paper towels either.
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