United Animal Nations (UAN), a national animal protection organization, has deployed nine volunteers specially trained in emergency animal sheltering to help local agencies care for nearly 600 animals rescued from deplorable conditions at a massive breeding operation, or “puppy mill,” in Kaufman County today. Fifteen more UAN volunteers will arrive by the end of the week.

“United Animal Nations volunteers are expert at running temporary shelters and supporting communities that become overwhelmed by a large influx of animals,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies. “Our volunteers have been working non-stop to unload the animals, help them acclimate to their new surroundings, and show them kindness like they have never experienced before.”

  (Photo courtesy The HSUS)

It is obvious that many of these animals had never known life outside their wire cages. Fifteen cats were rescued as well.

  (Photo courtesy of Jim Perry/Kaufman County Crime Examiner)

All of the animals are being transferred from the puppy mill to an emergency shelter set up specifically for this rescue mission. PetSmart Charities® sent its Emergency Relief Waggin'® full of donated goods such as wire crates, dog food and bedding to supply the shelter.

Distinguished by their red shirts, UAN’s Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) volunteers will feed the animals, clean cages, and assist veterinarians who are providing any necessary medical care. In the last year alone, EARS volunteers have sheltered and cared for animals rescued from eight puppy mills in the U.S. and Canada.

This is the second time in the last month that UAN has deployed EARS volunteers to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In July, 59 EARS volunteers helped the Humane Society of North Texas care for nearly 500 dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Montague County.

  (Photo courtesy of Getty Images/NBC Dallas-Fort Worth)

Update 8/17/09:  Here is some of the testimony coming from the hearing in Kaufman County on Margaret Boyd’s alleged puppy mill. The hearing has Judge Johnny Perry residing and Kaufman County Assistant D.A. John Long is representing the county. Margaret Boyd is representing herself in the hearing to determine custody of the animals. Boyd’s business near Prairieville, Texas is Klassie Kennel, she also owns Peggy’s Perfect Pet’s in Mesquite, Texas.

Witnesses have testified that the animals were rarely cared for and were left in their own urine and feces. There were 544 dogs and 9 cats at the location. 5 dogs have since been euthanized due to extreme illness. Humane Society witnesses testified that many of the animals at Klassie Kennel had open sores and their food was infested with cockroaches.

Humane Society of Cedar Creek manager Krista McAnally testified that Margaret Boyd contacted her about obtaining food for the animals. McAnally said the Humane Society gave Boyd 2,000 pounds of dog food because she couldn’t let them starve. She then immediately reported the kennel to Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department.

Veterinarian James O’Bryan testified that 95% of the animals had some sort of medical issue, from open sores, eye infections and other diseases. Margaret “Peggy” Boyd accused the manager of the Humane Society and O’Bryan of doctoring the evidence against her. She called on her husband to testify, but when he was asked by D.A. Long how much he and Mrs. Boyd spent on medical care cost for the animals this year, he couldn’t answer him.

The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake was given custody of the more than 540 animals seized from an alleged puppy mill in Kaufman County. Klassie Kennel belonging to Margaret “Peggy” Boyd was raided by the Humane Society and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department on August 11th.

Judge Johnny Perry issued the ruling for custody of the animals.  Margaret Boyd is facing a fine of up to $10,000 and may still face animal cruelty charges that could lead to jail time. There is no word yet on when the animals will be available to the public for adoption.

Update 8/19/09:  A Kaufman County Justice of the Peace ordered the owners of Klassie Kennel near Prairieville to forfeit more than 500 adult dogs and puppies seized in a raid by the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake.

The raid was conducted in conjunction with the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department and the Humane Society of the United States.

According to HSCCL, on the Aug. 11, 534 dogs and 8 cats were rescued from “deplorable conditions” at the puppy mill located northeast of Mabank. The term “puppy mill” has been used to describe a commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.

Shelter officials said they became aware of the animals when Margaret Boyd walked into the HSCCL shelter and asked for food for her dogs because she could not afford to feed them. When asked how many dogs she had, Boyd reportedly said she had 400. Krista McAnally, HSCCL Shelter Director contacted the HSUS — which flew an investigator to North Texas. After the Humane Societies’ initial investigation, the Kaufman County Sherriff’s Department conducted its own investigation and successfully obtained a warrant to search.

During the hearing before Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Johnny Perry, the operators of the puppy mill claimed the animals were well-cared for and often exercised. The Humane Society presented a video to refute the operators.

According to rescuers, they found the mostly small breed puppies — including Chihuahuas, Poodles, Pomeranians, and others — were living in dreadful conditions.  “These conditions are consistent with amongst the worst puppy mill raids we've done,” said Haisley. “You can never imagine what it must be like to live in a cage, day after day, year after year, in your own urine and never have human compassion or a kind touch.”

All of the animals were transported to the Kaufman County Fairgrounds, where an emergency shelter was set up specifically for the rescue mission. Upon arrival to the shelter, the dogs and cats were checked by a team of veterinarians and given any necessary immediate medical care. In addition, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department has been providing 24-hour security at the emergency shelter to ensure the safety of the rescued animals.

HSUS officials said various Rescue Groups around the country have been waiting for the court’s final ruling. With the favorable decision, they will begin transporting the animals to Colorado, Florida, and up to the northeastern parts of the U.S. to be cared for until they’re ready for adoption.

Humane Society officials said about 20 dogs delivered puppies since the raid and there are others from the mill that are due any day. The HSCCL has not yet made a decision on whether these dogs and newborn puppies can endure a long trip.

The HSCCL asks anyone interested in helping with the puppy mill rescue, to send an e-mail to dogshsccl@yahoo.com. In the subject line include what you’d like to do to help, such as donate time to the shelter, foster one or more of the dogs and/or litters, or interest in adopting. Include your name, address, and day and evening phone numbers, as well as any experience you’ve had caring for animals.

The HSCCL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating solely on donations. They take in stray animals from the Cedar Creek Lake area and all of Kaufman County, with the exception of the city of Terrell. In 2008, the HSCCL took in over 3,000 animals and had a 38 percent adoption/rescue rate, which is higher than the national average of 35 percent.

Update 8/21/09:  An East Texas couple has been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after a raid 10 days ago in which more than 500 puppies and about 12 cats were seized.

Kaufman County sheriff's deputies arrested Margaret and James Boyd. That's after investigators and Humane Society representatives raided the Klassie Kennel on Aug. 11.

A Kaufman County Jail officer said James Boyd is free on bond, but Margaret Boyd remains in custody.

If convicted, the Boyds could each be sentenced to up to a year in jail and fined up to $4,000.

Update 12/30/09:  Near the gate across the gravel drive, part of a dog's skeleton lay like an omen.

Veterinarian James O'Bryan was part of the team that raided the puppy farm on Aug. 11. Afterward, he and others described in sworn statements the conditions they found. "It is my recommendation that every animal be removed from the premises," O'Bryan wrote in his affidavit to the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department.

  (Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Weekly)

The action that day, by sheriff's deputies and workers with local and national Humane Society organizations, was one of the largest puppy mill raids ever carried out in Texas.

Across the United States, according to Humane Society officials, puppy mills - the term that animal welfare groups and others use to describe large and unsavory commercial dog breeding operations - are on the rise. The influence of the internet is a major factor, as is the development of pet store chains. Sites like Craigslist and nextdaypets.com, as well as web marketing by individual breeders, means that puppies increasingly are being shipped all over the country - and that unwary buyers usually have no idea of the conditions in which their new pets were bred and raised.

In Texas the problem is particularly acute, and it is placing a major burden on animal rescue groups and government regulators. Dogs confiscated from such operations are often malnourished or sick, having been housed in cramped and filthy cages, with female dogs birthing litter after litter of ill-bred puppies.

"Texas is definitely one of the top states for puppy mills," said Kathleen Summers, who leads the campaign against puppy mills for the Humane Society of the United States.

Texas is one of a handful of states that have no laws regulating dog breeding operations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture only licenses breeders who sell to other companies - pet stores, chains, or pet "brokers" like the Hunte Corporation. Breeders who sell strictly to individuals are subject only to animal cruelty laws, where investigations are often left to animal welfare groups. The result is that breeding operations often go uninspected for years. Those facts, plus the abundance of open space in proximity to major cities and airports, make Texas ripe for such operations.

James Bias, president of the Dallas chapter of the Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals (SPCA), said his group receives about 200 complaints a month about puppy mills in North Texas. In the last two years, the chapter has helped raid about 10 puppy mills a year, compared to an average two raids in other years.

Tammy Roberts, chief cruelty investigator for the Humane Society of North Texas, said her organization's resources have been overwhelmed by the number of complaints needing to be investigated and the number of confiscated dogs that the organization has had to care for and find homes for. Nearly half the 2,000 or so animals rescued by the Fort Worth-based chapter this year came from puppy mills, she said. She estimates that there are hundreds of puppy mills in North Texas that haven't been busted yet.

Even though large-scale breeding operations operate in rural areas, cities like Fort Worth often have to deal with the results, when unhealthy dogs end up in pounds and shelters.

There is so little regulation of dog breeders. USDA regulations require commercial breeders to be licensed, but inspectors are spread thin, and puppy mills often operate for years before they are shut down.

Tony and Peggy Boyd, the owners of the Kaufman County farm that was raided, were arrested and charged with violating animal cruelty laws. Their case has not gone to trial yet - but Peggy Boyd says she intends to re-start her kennel operation as soon as possible.

To combat the spread of puppy mills, State Rep. Senfronia Thompson of Houston sponsored legislation earlier this year that would have required breeders to meet minimum standards of care and limit them to a maximum of 50 breeding female dogs. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate near the end of the session due to opposition from a veterinarians' group.

Even Willie Nelson came out in support of the bill. "Growing up in Abbott ... I was taught to police my own area," the legendary singer wrote to legislators in March. "When you see something is wrong, fix it. Well, something that needs to be fixed in Texas is the treatment of the dogs and cats in commercial breeding kennels or 'puppy mills.' Many states have enacted puppy mill bills requiring breeders to be licensed and to provide minimum standards of care. Texas is not one of these states, but common decency and the majority of Texans say we should be."

The development of the web has greatly increased the buying and selling of pets at a distance - and therefore contributed to the problem of puppy mills. Web sites that post free classifieds are deeply involved in pet sales. On Craigslist alone, Summers said, thousands of ads for puppies are posted every day. And Texas ranks among the top four states for selling dogs via the internet.

  (Photo courtesy of Kathy Milani/HUSU)

Now people who want puppies can enter credit card information online, and within a few days, a puppy arrives at the local airport. They have no idea where the animal came from or what types of conditions it was raised in, Summers said.

The USDA requires dog breeders who sell to commercial pet stores and who have more than three breeding female dogs to be licensed. Five USDA inspectors in Texas do nearly 800 animal facility inspections each year, including breeders, research operations, zoos, and circuses (but not ranches, farms, or retail pet stores). Enforcement of animal cruelty laws is an important part of what they do, but the USDA seldom seizes animals. Instead, they usually work in tandem with local authorities and, in many cases, groups like the Humane Society.

Tammy Hawley said she was "one of those people who thought puppies came from satin pillows." But she soon found out differently when she went to work for the Humane Society of North Texas, where she is now operations director. Hawley helped the group conduct its first puppy mill raid, in Johnson County in 1994. Since then, she said, the North Texas group has participated at least twice a year with law enforcement in rescuing dogs being kept in inhumane conditions.

In the last few years, however, the North Texas rescue group has been swamped by complaints about puppy mills. Tammy Roberts is a one-person investigative unit, driving hundreds of miles a week to look into complaints of animal cruelty.

Roberts moved here about three years ago from Indiana, where she had also worked as an investigator for the Humane Society. But she said the volume of complaints she deals with here is many times greater than what she dealt with in Indiana. She ranges across North and East Texas to the borders with Oklahoma and Louisiana, seeking answers from people who say they love their animals but whose care for their pets seldom matches their words.  "It's a very frequent thing since I've moved here," she said. "It's financially and physically draining."  Roberts said, she's received an average of 10 complaints a week from people who say they know of puppy mills in their areas.

Roberts and other HSNT workers scrambled to find a place to house the 497 dogs from the Montague County breeder. Chesapeake Energy donated the use of a warehouse in the Fort Worth Stockyards, but the building had poor ventilation and no running water. Roberts lugged in water hoses and commercial fans, and the HSNT sent out e-mail blasts asking for round-the-clock volunteers to feed and water the animals. Veterinarians were brought in to rid the dogs of fleas and worms. Amazingly, HSNT says about 400 of the dogs were adopted locally in about a week; another 100 were sent to a Humane Society chapter in Atlanta to be cared for.

The Montague raid alone cost the group about $40,000, out of a total annual budget of about $2 million for all the HSNT's activities. Hawley said that the increased burden of puppy mill rescues in the last two years has forced the group to put some other plans on hold, including a low-cost spay and neuter program and the updating of their livestock holding areas.

"Obviously for 2009 none of us expected the surge of such large cruelty cases," she said. "All we can do is be responsible for every penny we spend and manage that money and hope, pray, and rely on our donors.

"It's frustrating because we're treading water, and it's scary because so many people and animals are counting on us."

Wrapped up in a green sweater on a chilly November afternoon, 72-year-old Peggy Boyd pointed out the four kennel buildings behind her house on FM 90 in Mabank. Now empty, the kennels take up about an acre of the 30-acre farm that she and her husband Tony own.

The couple have bred dogs since the 1970s, formerly selling them from their pet store in Mesquite. Peggy Boyd said her kennel was never licensed by the USDA because she sold dogs only to individuals.

  (Photo courtesy of Lee Chastain/Fort Worth Weekly - Peggy Boyd, shown with her husband Tony: “I know not to trust the Humane Society. Why I did, I do not know.” "We were not a puppy mill," she said about the raid that shut down her business in August. "The whole thing was half-truths or lies")

She does admit that their dog-raising business had fallen on hard times. When the economy went south, fewer people had money to spend on buying pets, and last year the Boyds found themselves with little money coming in. In June, Peggy Boyd called the Humane Society of nearby Cedar Creek Lake for help in feeding her 535 dogs.

Krista McAnally, who works at the Cedar Creek shelter, said in an affidavit that she gave Boyd 400 pounds of dog food, though the shelter usually doesn't work with commercial breeders. On Aug. 4, Boyd returned, out of food again. That time, McAnally called the national Humane Society, which assigned an investigator to go to Boyd's house two days later.

Armed with a hidden camera and audio equipment, the investigator reported seeing dogs with mange and missing fur, trash strewn throughout the property, a terrier with an open wound, and feces smeared across the walls of the kennels. One dog was found to have an untreated tumor.

"About 80 percent of the dogs I visited are fearful ... and/or territorial," wrote the investigator, who wasn't named in sheriff's department documents. "They appear to have had little to no human socialization in their lives."

McAnally and the Humane Society investigator went to the sheriff's department with the video recording. Accompanied by representatives of the Humane Society and the SPCA of Texas, Sgt. John Pillow of the sheriff's department arrived at the Boyds' farm with a search warrant on Aug. 11.

McAnally wasn't the first person to complain about the conditions of Boyd's dogs. In 2007, a customer who had bought a Yorkie from Boyd the previous year recounted her experiences in a web site posting. The puppy had "constant diarrhea" and was eventually found to be infested with worms. The dog later developed severe kidney problems and now has to have a special diet and can't go outside, the customer said. The problems cost the dog's owners several thousand dollars.

Boyd said she doesn't remember any problems with puppies she sold in 2006. "If anybody had called me, I would have told them to bring it [the dog] back, and we would have made it good," she said.

True, she needed help feeding them in recent months, she said, but she denied ever letting the animals suffer.

Sitting in her living room, full of furniture gnawed and mangled by her dogs, Boyd blamed the economy and health problems for her inability to care for her dogs. Her husband had a heart attack in June 2008, and she had a knee replacement in January, she said. The combination left them strapped for cash while at the same time needing to hire more outside help to get the work done around the kennels. She ran up a $2,000 vet bill getting shots for the dogs, she said. And eventually, lagging sales of the puppies forced her to lay off workers.

Boyd said she called the local Humane Society shelter for help, even though she was suspicious of their "snooping."

Boyd said she cleaned her dog's cages every day and administered veterinary care herself. She petted each dog every day and even named them, she said.

What about the dog with mange? "He looked terrible, but he wasn't uncomfortable, and he never bred," she said. And the dog with the tumor? "She was a happy dog."

Boyd said she didn't take the dogs to the vet for minor ailments. "If your kid has a drippy nose, are you going to take your kid to the doctor or treat him for a cold?" she asked.

Kathleen Summers said that, based on the pictures, Boyd's dogs were suffering from some of the worst conditions she has ever seen.

"If Texas could have a law like many other states do, where they at least have to be regulated and inspected once a year, it would have been caught a lot sooner, long before she had more than 500 dogs," Summers said.

A few weeks after the visit at her farm, Boyd sent a letter to a newspaper. In it, she said she loved her dogs more than her own children. "They were the most important thing in my life," she wrote. "I miss them desperately."

Back in Mabank, 10 yapping dogs - pets, not breeding stock, she says - circle Peggy Boyd as she points out improvements to a visitor. She figures the court may stop her from breeding dogs for profit for a couple of years but plans to be ready to go when that time is up.

"I'd love to have some puppies," she says.

Update 2/27/10:  Mrs. Boyd is facing animal cruelty charges. She hasn't yet been charged with operating a puppy mill, but it's still an ongoing investigation by the Kaufman Sheriff's Office. Running a puppy mill is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $4,000 fine and one year in jail.

Boyd's Response:  "There is no way that my animals have been abused, hurt or mistreated. They have been my life for 50 years," said Boyd. She and her family have been breeding dogs for 50 years and have never mistreated their pets. "They are my life. They sleep in bed with me," explained Boyd "I got 10 to 15 that sleep in bed with me every night."

Boyd is fighting to get the animals back. A court hearing is scheduled and both she and the Humane Society plan to ask for custody of the animals. "If loving the animal is a criminal, then maybe I'm a criminal," she said. "Because I work 6 o'clock in the morning until 11:30 at night taking care of these animals."

The Humane Society says the custody hearing will determine what happens next. The animals aren't ready for adoption yet, however, they're being treated for any diseases they have.

Update 5/1/11:  The case against Margaret (Peggy) Boyd began in August 2009 when Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) and Kaufman County law enforcement rescued 500 dogs from the Klassie Kennel run by Boyd and her husband. The animals were living in squalor and many of the puppies were dying.

Ultimately Margaret Boyd was convicted of animal cruelty and placed on probation that mandated how many dogs she could keep.

  (Photo courtesy of Animal Rescue Corps)

"She was not supposed to have more than two dogs, and those two dogs were supposed to have been spayed and neutered," said Scotlund Haisley, president of ARC.

Update 5/4/11:  Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) assisted the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office in the rescue of approximately 50 dogs who were found to be living in deplorable conditions at an alleged puppy mill an hour and a half southeast of Dallas. All of the animals were seized by the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office.

  (Photo courtesy of Animal Rescue Corps)

On the scene responders found adult Chihuahuas, Malteses, Miniature Schnauzers and four litters of puppies less than a month old living in urine-soaked, feces-laden enclosures with high-levels of ammonia. Many of the dogs had no access to food or water and were suffering from malnutrition, hair loss and severe matting.

ARC is removing all of the animals and transporting them to an emergency shelter set up at the Kaufman County Fairgrounds. The animals will receive veterinary exams, vaccinations and any necessary medical treatments by a team of local veterinarians. ARC will provide daily care until custody of the animals is determined and animals can be placed with shelters and rescue groups.

Animal Rescue Corps performed this rescue in conjunction with Robin Sugg and PetSmart Charities®, who sent its Rescue Waggin® with supplies donated to make this rescue possible.

To find out how you can help, please click here.

Animal Rescue Corps
1380 Monroe Street NW #326
Washington, DC 20010-3452

Update 5/5/11:  The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office seized 49 chihuahuas, Malteses, miniature schnauzers and four litters of puppies.

Seven of the dogs are expecting puppies, so the number of animals could go up to nearly 90.

"I wasn't surprised, really, but at the same time, I was relieved that we were there, and I was relieved that we could look into those dogs' eyes and tell them that they don't have to continue life as they know it now," said Monica Ailey, of Animal Rescue Corps, a nonprofit that helped deputies remove the dogs from the property.

Boyd's parole was revoked, and she is being held in the Kaufman County jail. The sheriff's office said she will likely face more charges.

Update 5/8/11:  All 49 of the dogs rescued from a Kaufman County puppy mill by Animal Rescue Corps and the Kaufman County Sheriff are now in the hands of local no-kill shelters and rescue groups. Each dog will receive much-needed veterinary care, a complete set of vaccinations and will be spayed or neutered.

It will likely be a few weeks before they are ready for adoption. Most were covered in fleas, and filthy - with feces and dried food in their coats. The longhaired dogs are matted. At least one will need surgery to remove a damaged eye, and several have ear issues. A few will need extra time to relax and heal the psychological wounds from what they have endured. Luckily, these dogs don’t appear to have lived their whole lives in these horrid conditions, as was the case with some of the 542 dogs rescued from this same breeder less than two years ago. This group for the most part, with intensive care and a lot of love are expected to recovery quickly.

If you are interested in adopting one of these neglected dogs and giving them a new chance at a happy, healthy, normal life, visit the websites of the groups listed below. You’ll find contact information on each site and photos and bios on the dogs as they become available. Adoption fees vary by group, but all require potential adopters to complete an adoption application and interview, and most require a home visit.

Metroplex Mutts has a Maltese, a shy Chihuahua, and a terrier mix (likely bred to be sold as a “designer dog”). All three are females.

Humane Society of Flower Mound has one male Yorkshire terrier and one female – the female may already be spoken for, but if you are interested, be sure to check with them. They also have a Schnauzer mother with five adorable 4-week-old puppies, a sweet Cockapoo that will likely require eye surgery, and a fearful female Chihuahua that won the hearts of several rescuers.

Operation Kindness took nineteen of the dogs. Another mother Schnauzer with seven three-week old puppies, a male Schnauzer, a Chihuahua with three newborns, a male Yorkshire Terrier, and a female Cocker Spaniel. Additionally, they have a couple of the “designer dogs” – two female terrier mixes, and female Malti-Tzu – as well as the only large breed dog in the group – a shy Australian Shepherd mix.

Update 5/11/11:  The Animal Rescue Corps released a video of the most recent puppy mill raid that took place in Kaufman County.  19 of the rescued dogs were taken in by Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas. Operation Kindness is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in North Texas. The others have been sent to other local shelters.

Local resident Jim Perry adopted two of the dogs that were rescued from Ms. Boyd’s property in 2009. Perry said, “I don’t think these dogs had ever walked on grass, and I know they lived in horrible conditions. However, they quickly became best buddies, and I can't tell you how much we have enjoyed these dogs.”

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