| Donna Pegg |
Dozens of dogs rescued from puppy mill |
Chattooga County, GA |
January 26, 2007 |
On Friday, January 26th, Animal Control Officers in Northwest Georgia raided a suspected puppy mill, rescuing dozens of dogs from what they describe as “deplorable” conditions. The raid occurred in Chattooga County and the owner of the property states that she will fight to get back some of the dogs.
Nearly four dozen were taken to the Chattooga County Animal Shelter. Animal Control Officers stated they had no choice but to raid the small, rural home – home to too many dogs in a small place. The dogs were found standing in water and feces and the shelters were deplorable against the wind and rain. The dogs ranged from small Chihuahuas to medium-sized Boxers and many Dachshunds, including two mothers with two large sets of puppies.
Animal Control Officer Joe Johnson stated that he was called by a woman in Chattanooga that purchased a puppy from Pegg that died, and she’s the one that alerted authorities to the puppy mill. Pegg states that she is licensed through the Department of Agriculture. Pegg is looking to get her dogs back, stating that she was not running a puppy mill and claims she had a license to keep her dogs on the property. Animal Control states the license was for only 10 dogs, not the more than fifty they found.
Johnson also found 2 mothers and 13 puppies in the home and the home was despicable with feces all through it, and a horrific stench. A Judge will decide what will happen to the dogs and if Pegg should face any charges.
The Chattooga Animal Shelter is a small shelter and with the added dogs, they say animals they already had will have to be adopted this weekend or they may have to be euthanized next week.
(All
photos courtesy of WSBTV2)
Update 1/29/07:
33 dogs were returned to Pegg's today. Pegg made the necessary improvements to the house. ACO Johnson and the Dept of Agriculture inspected the house and it looked immaculate. Pegg has been placed on probation, and will be subject to unannounced welfare checks.
Reference:
WSBTV2
WTVC News Channel 9