800 Dogs + 82 Parrots + 2 Elderly People Rescued
If anybody is interested in donating money for the care of these dogs, or interested in adopting one of these dogs, this is the animal rescue web address to use: azchihuahuarescue.org.
Apparently, what happened is that this elderly couple was breeding dogs for resale and somehow decided to start keeping too many of the dogs for themselves. This is called "hoarding animals" according to The Arizona Republic, which lists all kinds of information associated with keeping large amounts of animals.
Along with the 800 dogs, and two elderly people, there were about 82 parrots also residing in this home.
In my past, I am guilty of being known as the Cat Lady who somehow managed to accumulate all local kitties that couldn't find a home any other place, but my situation was different.
I was living out away from neighbors in a ghost-town that had outbuildings available for unwanted cats to use until they found a new home. The situation was far from perfect, but those kitties needed somewhere to hold them over while homes could be found, and with my living situation being so remote, I happily opened the outbuildings doors to visitors.
My kitties were always changing, they'd show up magically in the dead of night, some not old enough to eat yet, some with mangled little bodies, and some just purring away. There was a volunteer vet involved who helped to keep everybody up to date on their medical necessities. Food showed up like magic too, people don't mind helping cats looking for a home eat until a new owner shows up.
What I can't imagine, is 800 dogs and 82 parrots in my personal living area. There are many people across the United States who take in strays responsibly and then find them homes; people who do not have the proper settings with lacking neighbors shouldn't attempt to take in more than one or two at a time; it's simply not fair to everybody involved.
I only had about 100 cats at my biggest point, and it was an all-day, long-hour job, without any pay, trying to care for them. Some had injuries healing that needed attention, others needed extra handling so that they'd get used to people again so that a new home was possible, and others needed special diets... all needed fed and cleaned in one form or another; ads had to kept current, people coming to get a kitty needed my attention... I just barely made it through my daily routines while at that high point.
My mind has gone over and over and over the two seniors trying to keep up with dogs and parrots single-handedly. I really want to give them the benefit-of-the-doubt that they could have somehow have been getting through a daily animal routine that strenuous. It's just not happening. There's no way that any two people can keep up with that number of animals alone.
I totally understand how frightened this elderly couple must have felt when the situation grew out-of-control; I had times when I needed extra for the kitties and had to move mountains quickly during emergencies. The caretaking of animals can be scary when the situation is not 100% under control. I feel badly for this couple being torn apart in the media. The dogs were fed; that shows that they were trying.
Today, I have zero yard, neighbors, and one little kitty to keep me company while I'm typing. I've been asked if I would ever become a Cat Lady again and my answer is always, Yes! If I had access to the right landscape, the vet, the food, and the time, I would do it again instantly. Would I do it in the manner that this elderly couple was doing? No way! Not for all of the kitty-kisses in the world.
Published by Matt A. Maxx
Matt is a full-time freelance writer for hire, specializing in advanced SEO techniques. Yahoo! Associated Content mentions include: 2008 Top 100 Writers, 2009 Top 1000 Writers, 2010 Top 1000 Writers and vari... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentWow, how did I not hear about this?! First I want to commend you for helping the 100 cats find good homes. That is such a selfless thing to do and I would do the same if I had the resources etc. I have 3 cats, and it's because they needed homes and at the time I was able to help them. But I couldn't take anymore even if I needed too. Three is even a lot of work at times! I cannot even imagine having 800 dogs or any kind of animal. I think these people had good intentions, but then again many hoarders do. It's just so sad when you hear about the ones that are sick and not fed and just in horrible living conditions. Those kind of people are just wrong for doing what they do. But I bet this older couple was trying with good intentions. Thanks for the article!
People with the mental illness of compulsive hoarding of animals cannot be compared to the rest of the population, nor can we understand why they do what they do. It just needs to be stopped & dealt with on an individual basis. I hope this couple is being well cared for, it seems like it's time to get family involved in their care. I'm glad to hear the dogs are being taken care of & adopted, but what about the Parrots? Who is taking care of them & finding them homes? 82 parrots is a lot of birds to rehome.
Some of these puppy mills have THOUSANDS of dogs. Shoved in outdoor cages, or caged tightly in unheated barns or sheds. Or in mobile homes.
See video and pictures of many typical ones at Prisonersofgreed.org and stoppuppymills.org
Too common! Hidden away where they hope people can't find them.
In states like Missouri (the Puppy Mill state) Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Ohio, Wisconsin- wherever these are weak laws and the local authorities will look the other way. Rural parts of every state! and even in houses in some suburbs.
These are the people supplying the pet stores (ALL OF THEM, no matter what the pet store owners say) selling through websites and classifieds (online and papers) Also flea markets.
A lot of people don't know about the horrible puppy mill industry. Because these puppy millers keep them hidden away and secret.
They know they are doing wrong. But it is big bucks for them.
But this is how puppy millers typically treat their dogs and raise th
This was not hoarding.
This was a typical puppy mill situation.
These people intentionally had this many dogs to maximize litters to sell, and raised them abusively to cut down on expenses and maximize profits.
They were selling hundreds of dogs a year through a website for thousands of dollars each.
No old people were "rescued." This was all about GREED. Pure and simple. And they got caught.
Puppy millers take advantage of areas with no laws or regulations to set up operations like this.
See http://www.stoppuppymills.org and http://www.prisonersofgreed.org
This is why it is so important not to buy puppies from pet stores, web sites, or classifieds. This is how the PUPPY MILLS sell.
Much better to go to http://www.petfinder.com and find a good shelter or Breed Rescue.
I'd heard this story of the 800 dogs and 82 parrots living with the elderly couple in the triple-wide mobile home, and even with all of the dogs being small or toy breeds still find it unimaginable! Still, one has to admit that it is impressive that this couple was able to keep them all in pretty good shape!
Not your article (the mobile home part) but some media reports seemed to indicate this was a mobile home they lived in.
I don't know how that many animals fit in a mobile home! That is what got me about this article.
I live just a few miles from there, and cannot believe these people had that many dogs so close! Horrific!
I cannot imagine 800 dogs. I have one and that is enough. Her wants and needs keep me busy...800..no way!