Betty Foster case

(The following Press Release comes from a representative of Homeward Bound Humane Society in Durant, OK.)

PRESS RELEASE-

OKLAHOMA COUNTY PUPPY MILL CLOSED DOWN-DESCRIBED AS A, “HOUSE OF HORRORS”

On July 8, 2006, Safe Haven Humane Society of Midwest City, and Homeward Bound Humane Society of Durant, removed 130 dogs and puppies from an Oklahoma County residence. Owner Betty Foster, in her late 70s, produced puppies at the location for over 30 years.

Small breeds of dogs and their puppies were removed from filthy conditions; water was black, most of the food was moldy, and over 40 carcasses were found in bags on the property. A freshly dead puppy was being consumed by a rat.

‘Puppy mills,’ are a dirty secret throughout Oklahoma, and a secret that is growing. As this filthy industry is regulated in other states, they are expanding here.

Few people know where their pet store dog came from and fewer know where their stolen pet may wind up. Puppy mills are a mountain of shame. When dogs no longer, ‘produce a crop,’ they are discarded in the growing number of dog auctions, or worse.

While the dogs were being removed on Saturday, according to Foster’s granddaughter’s comments, she herself performed caesarian deliveries by, in her own words, “splitting them open.”

Dogs with their midlines sutured together with fishing line were removed from the property. One gray Poodle that had been, ‘split open,’ was found in the trash can with her intestines out. The birthing area had rolls of fishing line strewn on the floor.

Foster had earlier tried to get rescue leagues to take senior dogs that no longer produced puppies, but on Saturday the dogs she tried to release earlier were gone; rat poison was photographed in many bowls.

The horrors continued: Upon returning to Durant with the dogs, Homeward Bound Shelter Manager Stacy George started the task of cleaning and bathing the dogs. She removed scores of ticks from the area around the eyes of one small Lhasa Apso, however, instead of getting a happy glance, the young dogs’ eyes were gone.

Some dogs have large tumors on their midlines. A terrier had a dead mouse entwined in its’ fur.

Some will have to have surgery from being, “split open,” in butcher style caesarian surgeries.

Many of the dogs removed from Foster’s residence wear tags from recently being sold through auctions; some may be stolen pets. A lack of serious regulation of dog auctions permits stolen pets to go right into the, ‘puppy mill,’ industry.

It is time for Oklahomans to put our foot down on the misery.

We demand changes in Oklahoma laws to include dog dealer regulations.

Owners of missing or stolen pets with positive identification including photos are encouraged to call:

580-924-5873, 918-367-0111, or 918-367-8999