JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three weeks – three dog rescue missions. Several nonprofits came together to save more than five dozen dogs from a Lake City home, marking the third dog hoarding case in Northeast Florida in March.
“Somebody saw something," said Papillon Pals Director Tami Steinley. "They wanted a dog, they went to somebody’s house, and they saw multiple of these.”
When that dog adopter saw the sheer amount of dogs at a Lake City home, they reached out to a rescue to let them know it seemed they weren’t in the best shape.
“Initially she went out there and pulled 15 dogs, which I took 4," said Steinley. "Then we went back two weeks later. She pulled 11. I pulled three. Then, we realized this was a little more than we’re capable of because we’re just small little rescues.”
All told, half a dozen shelters from Jacksonville, Gainesville, Titusville and Tampa got involved to help make sure the 61 dogs the breeder had were taken care of.
“They’re not socialized," said Steinley. "They’re very fearful. They’re unsure. They’re not used to being around people. We take them in, they’re not spayed or neutered. We spay and neuter them. We vet them.”
The Lake City dogs are just the latest in a series of hoarding cases this month.
More than 100 small dogs were rescued from an elderly woman in Putnam County and 120 great danes and bulldogs were retrieved from a breeder in Union County.
“Over and over again we see these breeders that lose control," said Florida Urgent Rescue Founder Mike Merrill. "The packs multiply. They never spay and neuter. It gets out of control and suddenly you have 50, 100, 200 dogs.”
Merrill is relieved the Lake City situation got on their radar before there were hundreds of dogs there.
With so many recent cases, Merrill thinks it may be time lawmakers get involved.
“I think we should take a page out of the books of Northern states where they have mandatory spay and neuter. In order for that work, there’s got to be free and discounted spay and neuter everywhere and there’s not right now," said Merrill. "That’s a big problem.”
The dogs will be distributed to seven different nonprofits. Anyone interested in adopting one after they are groomed and provided veterinary care can contact the rescues directly:
- Fawn’s Small Dog Rescue (Jacksonville) https://www.fawnssmalldogrescue.org/
- Papillon Pals (Jacksonville) https://papillonpalsrescue.com
- Rags to Riches Animal Rescue (Tampa) https://ragstorichesanimalrescue.org
- Rescued Hearts (Sarasota) https://www.rescuedheartssarasota.com
- Faithful Friends Pet Rescue and Rehoming (Gainesville) https://faithfulfriendsrescue.org
- Furever Home Animal Rescue (Titusville) https://furever-home-animal-rescue.com
F.U.R. took in senior dogs in the worst condition, including a blind 17 year old dog who needed both eyes removed, and a 9 year old dog with numerous medical problems. Anyone who would like to help can visit here.