5 months ago
The animal shelter in Cochran that took in 60 dogs from a south Georgia puppy mill two weeks ago, says they need help getting the dogs healthy.
Founder of Georgia Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation Heather Zaresky said they expected an outpouring of support, but so far, that hasn't happened.
The wire cages at GCCR may not be the lap of luxury, but Heather Zaresky says for these rat terriers, they are the best home they've ever known.
Zaresky said, "The living conditions for these dogs were the worst I've seen."
Zaresky and volunteer Bonnie Walker helped save them from what they describe as "appalling conditions" at a puppy mill in St. George, Georgia. Pictures taken at the mill show Zaresky's boots sinking in the filth the 144 rat terriers lived in. They survived on mealworms and rain water.
Volunteer Bonnie Walker said, "A lot of them had no hair. They had sores on their feet."
GCCR took in 60 of the dogs. The rest went to an Atlanta rescue shelter.
Zaresky says most of them have heartworms and need a $200 treatment before they can be adopted. She says the money for the treatments must come entirely through donations from the public.
She said, "Unfortunately, we have had not much response at all."
They hope that changes, saying once the dogs get well, they can go to good homes.
Most of the puppy mill dogs are skittish and scared of people, because they've never been around them. But the care takers say the dogs can be rehabilitated and make good pets.
Zaresky knows that from experience. She adopted her dog, Paco, after she rescued him from a Putnam County puppy mill last year. She said, "You will get more devotion from a puppy mill dog that you would have ever received from a dog you bought as a puppy."
She says with love and patience, the dogs will learn people aren't there to hurt them, but to help them grow healthy and strong.
Zaresky says 15 of the dogs are available for adoption right now. They are the younger ones, or less than a year old. They had not developed the more severe health problems.
All of the dogs are rat terriers. The breed is similar to a Jack Russell in temperament.
For information on donating to the rescue or adopting, call 478-298-2773.
