Iowa Park 31 - Italian Greyhounds rescued from breeder

I am starting this site to bring to light the 31 Italian Greyhounds and 3 other dogs that were seized on October 19, 2015 in Iowa Park Texas. The dogs were being kept in a dark, 2,700 square foot building in crates, stacked on top of each other. The man who allegedly owns the animals is facing not only 34 counts of animal cruelty, but now tampering with evidence. Yep, that’s right, the alleged puppy mill breeder allegedly stole some of the animals that were being held as evidence in his case. Not to worry, most of the dogs have now been recovered. Lee Allen Miller was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with tampering with physical evidence. The dogs were found at the school where Miller teaches. Two of the puppies are still missing.
When the dogs were seized, several were in each crate, caked in feces and soaked urine, out in the cold night. The rescuers had to wear masks and gloves the place was so nasty and smelly from the urine and feces. These poor dogs included puppies and a pregnant mother, all lethargic, hungry and terrified.
Unfortunately the city does not have a shelter big enough to accommodate this many dogs, so they and volunteers scrambled to come up with makeshift ways to shelter the dogs. Some were in outdoor kennels, some in nothing more than expens. Still being house outdoors, but at least in a clean facility.
Since these dogs are evidence in a crime, they cannot be sent to any of the three rescues in north Texas that have pleaded to take in the dogs. So they are still in cages and outdoors. However, in a strange twist, the alleged puppy mill breeder decided it was a good idea to steal the dogs from this makeshift shelter.
A Justice of the Peace will review this case on Monday, October 26, 2015. At that time, the JP will decide the disposition of these seized dogs. They could be returned to the owner (although he is in jail now), an alleged puppy mill breeder; they could stay at the makeshift shelter and be adopted out by Iowa Park Animal Control; or, if the JP wants what is best for the dogs, they could be turned over to a reputable rescue group.
If they are returned to the alleged puppy mill breeder, they most likely will continue to live in cages and be bred until they can no longer produce. At that time, they will most likely be killed by the puppy mill breeder.
If the Iowa Park Animal Control is allowed to adopt them out, they will be adopted for the cost of the fine to any individual who can pay it. It is likely that no background checks will be done, and they could technically even go to other backyard breeders!
Of course if a reputable rescue group (like the three that have been trying to get the dogs turned over to them) got the dogs they would have extensive vetting (including, but not limited to: Vet checks, dentals if needed, vaccines, fecals to check for intestinal worms and treatment if needed, heartworm check and treatment if needed, and spay/neuters), they would then be evaluated by foster homes and rehabilitated so that they could eventually be adopted by screened adopters. These rescue groups have applications, phone interviews, and home visits with potential adopters before any dog is allowed to be adopted. Rescue groups want to make sure that all the time and money they have spent on the dogs gets them into great homes that will love and take care of them forever. Rescue groups never want these dogs to have to go through living in filth and being used as commodity producers again.
Unfortunately, the city and county does not have the funding to do all this for the dogs they take in. They just adopt the dogs to anyone that can pay the fee. The dogs could wind up in the same, or even worse conditions, as they came from.
Let’s band together and encourage this JP to do what is right for the poor, abused animals and get them into one or more of the three rescue groups!