More than 300 dogs - many suffering from open wounds and housed in feces-ridden conditions - were seized from a shelter that had been operating as a sanctuary for lost and found animals in Richland County.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant for Thyme and Sage Ranch in Cazenovia and impounded the dogs and about 20 other animals including horses, rabbits, chickens, goats, horses, sheep and llamas.

"We have found some (dog) carcasses on the property," said Eric Sakach, senior law enforcement specialist for the Humane Society of the United States.

Animal protection representatives from across the country traveled to Wisconsin to help in the seizure at the rural farm about 65 miles northwest of Madison.

"Many of the dogs, ranging from small to large breeds, were housed in poor conditions and suffering from ailments including severely matted fur, open wounds, and skin infections," the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said in a statement. "The dogs were housed in multiple enclosures, many poorly ventilated, as well as outdoor kennels."

According to its website, the facility is the acting pound for Richland County.  "We are working hand in hand with the law enforcement committee and Sheriff's Department, by taking in all stray, abandoned, abused and impound cases pending animal cruelty," the shelter says on its website. "This is an enormous task, as we do not have a local shelter."

Sandy Monterose, senior director for the ASPCA, said talks concerning problems at Thyme and Sage started about a month ago and her organization was asked by the Richland County Sheriff's Department to help process the evidence at the scene.

Veterinary forensics teams had gotten through the first few buildings on the site, treating animals, taking photos and documenting conditions, she said.

Custody of the dogs has been transferred to the Dane County Humane Society, which is providing emergency shelter tents behind its Madison facility at 5132 Voges Road.

Jan Viney, development director for the Dane County Humane Society, said it's too early to know where the dogs will go from here.  "Right now the key is to make sure they're vaccinated and in good health," she said. "Honestly, we're taking this one step at a time."

Larry Wyman, chairman of the Richland County Law Enforcement Committee and member of the County Board, said the county had contracted with Thyme and Sage previously and approved a two-year contract with the organization in January.   The contract calls for paying the rescue $750 a month, "with provisions for additional compensation in the event of large volume animal pickups."

Update 5/21/09:  Petkus was charged with 11 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in Richland County Circuit Court.

According to the criminal complaint, Dr. Lisa Kerwin-Lucchi, a veterinarian with the Dane County Humane Society, used a hidden camera and temperature probe to record conditions at the ranch in March. At that time, she found dogs without access to food and unfrozen water, dogs with severely matted fur and inadequate bedding for unheated buildings, in addition to other injuries and poor conditions.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant for Thyme and Sage Ranch, 28096 and 28098 Highway CC in Cazenovia.

More than 100 dogs were impounded along with 8 horses and a goat, but more than 300 dogs total are expected to be taken. At least 6 dog carcasses were discovered and a ram needed to be euthanized.

"Even I didn't know the extent of what was up there until I was physically at the property," Kerwin-Lucchi said.

According to court records, Petkus is charged with one count of improper shelter to animals and 10 counts of intentionally mistreating animals - all misdemeanors. In addition, she faces five counts of unlawful deposit of animals carcasses, a civil forfeiture.

If convicted, she faces up to a $10,000 fine or nine months in jail for each misdemeanor. Civic forfeitures carry a penalty of between $200 and $5,000. She is scheduled to be arraigned on May 29.

Court records also show that Thyme and Sage, had already transferred 68 dogs and 10 cats to the Dane County Humane Society between Feb. 1 and March 27.

Kerwin-Lucchi, who originally contacted the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about Thyme and Sage, started collecting the criminal evidence as early as February to obtain a search warrant and file charges "to make sure (Petkus) can't do this again."

She said it's hard to categorize Petkus and determine what led to the conditions of her shelter because "she's not a typical hoarder." Many of the seized dogs look to be "retired breeders from puppy mills," and the fact that she was adopting out large number of young puppies raised the suspicion she may also have been breeding, Kerwin-Lucchi said.

Robin John, of Deerfield, said she, her mom and sister, each bought a dog from Petkus in March.  The dog John adopted, a cocker spaniel she named Lady, did have open wounds, a skin infection and was underweight. However John said the conditions "weren't as bad as they were made out to be. But, it wasn't the best of the best."

Kerwin-Lucchi said that's partly because there were only a few buildings Petkus showed to the public.  "We knew she had dogs elsewhere on the property, we just didn't have access."

Update 6/2/09:  Petkus pleaded not guilty to 11 misdemeanor charges of animal mistreatment and five charges of improper carcass disposal in Richland County Circuit Court.

Representatives of the Dane County Humane Society said more than 270 of the seized animals were surrendered by Petkus and distributed among more than 15 humane societies and rescue organizations in the state and will eventually be available for adoption.

Several animals were kept temporarily as evidence of the alleged mistreatment by the Dane County Humane Society, and 10 dogs were returned to the ranch because they are pets of Petkus, according to Emily Brand, a spokesperson for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  A Richland County deputy will check the welfare of the 10 dogs daily, Brand said.

Update 9/23/09:  Jan Viney knows precisely when the issue of puppymills and unregulated dog breeders in Wisconsin became more to her than a news story and a bill on the state Legislature's schedule.

It was on a day this summer when she met Skylar, a 2-year old Shih Tzu rescued from Petkus.

  (Photo of Skylar courtesy of Jan Viney, Dane County Humane Society) 

"It made this very real to me," said Viney, development director for the Dane County Humane Society. Viney eventually adopted Skylar, who had such badly matted hair upon her rescue that her circulation was impaired. She also suffered from malnutrition and dehydration.

As a result, Viney paid very close attention to a legislative hearing on a proposed law that would require licensing and inspection of commercial dog breeders in Wisconsin. Viney watched the hearing on her computer in her Humane Society office while Skylar slept at her feet.

Petkus awaits trial on 11 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and five counts of unlawful disposal of animal carcasses.

Such situations would not arise to begin with if Wisconsin regulated dog breeders, Viney said. Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states that doesn't regulate dog breeding operations. The lack of oversight came up repeatedly at the hearing.

"Wisconsin law provides for violations of animal cruelty, but the threshold is so high that even the worst offenders often come away with little more than a slap on the wrist," said State Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, who co-authored the bill.  Breeders are actually relocating to Wisconsin to take advantage of the state's reputation as a regulation-free zone, said Yvonne Bellay, humane officer and veterinarian with the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  "Wisconsin is a desirable destination for those not willing to be regulated," Bellay said.

Among those testifying in favor of the bill was Pam McCloud Smith, executive director of the Dane County Humane Society. The organization has spent $100,000 on caring for dogs it rescued from the ranch, including 88 dogs the shelter is required to continue holding as evidence in the upcoming trial.  "This could have been prevented if we would have had laws in place," Smith said. "This is not meant to be punitive, it's meant to be preventative."

One of the few to testify against the bill was Rob Hurd, with America's Pet Registry, a national professional group representing dog breeders. Hurd said the proposed law is "fraught" with problems. He said the organization disagrees with the threshold that the bill sets for the size of breeding operations that will be regulated. The law would apply to breeders that sell more than 25 dogs in a year if those dogs sold come from four litters or more.  Hurd said his organization, which he added does not dispute the need for regulation, believes the threshold of 25 dogs should be higher.

He also said the state is asking breeders to support the legislation even though specific rules have not yet been written.  "That's problematic," Hurd said, adding that a major fear of breeders is that the new regulations will put even responsible operators out of business.

But others, including Viney, said the bill is necessary to protect not only animals and the consumers who buy them but also reputable breeders.

"Honestly," Viney said, "I don't understand why you wouldn't be in support of this. If you're reputable, you have nothing to hide."

What's in the bill:
The proposed commercial dog breeders licensure bill would require:

• Licensing and inspection of breeders who sell more than 25 dogs from four or more litters in a year.

• Inspection before issuance of license and at least one inspection every two years thereafter.

• Licensees to provide dogs with adequate food, water, veterinary care, shelter, and opportunity for exercise.

• Enclosures for dogs to be of appropriate size and structurally sound.

• Licensees to keep enclosures clean and to follow restrictions on the use of wire flooring.

• Licensee must ensure that each dog is observed every day to monitor health and temperament.

Update 10/9/09:  Twenty-eight more dogs seized from a Richland County animal shelter in May have been surrendered to the Dane County Humane Society and could be up for adoption within the next week.

Petkus is now charged with 39 misdemeanors stemming from her conduct in running the shelter where the animals - many suffering from open wounds and housed in feces-ridden conditions - were seized.

The settlement to surrender the animals was negotiated between Petkus and the Richland County District Attorney's Office and resolves the "civil components of the case," according to the Humane Society.

"DCHS authorized Richland County to make a deal with Petkus to eliminate that uncertainty and to act in the best interest of the animals," Pam McCloud Smith, the society's executive director, said in the statement.

In June, Petkus agreed to surrender 270 of the 378 animals seized. The other 108 animals, about 50 of them dogs, were held as evidence.  All but four of those animals, including the 28 dogs cared for by the Humane Society, were turned over to the society.  As part of the settlement, the society and other agencies agreed to absorb the costs associated with the animals' ongoing care.  Four of the seized animals will be conditionally returned to Petkus' parents, the society said. Those animals will be monitored by law enforcement pending the criminal trial.

Update 11/18/09:  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it will give $50,000 to the Dane County Humane Society to help the agency cover the cost of caring for 345 neglected animals seized from a Cazenovia shelter.

The ASPCA said the Humane Society spent more than $100,000 caring for the animals in the months that followed.

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