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- FAST FACTS
- Authorities say Fire Exposed Puppy Mill
- 34 Dogs Rescued
- 2 Dogs Died in the Fire
tom.powell@wreg.com
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(Tunica County, MS January 11, 2010) -- When Tunica County Humane Society Director Sandy Williams arrived at the scene of a burning trailer Monday, she says there were dogs everywhere.
She went to work, trying to save them.
"When I got here, he was cowered in the corner in the back of his dog house," she says as she points to a small poodle she rescued. "The bedding was on fire around him."
Two dogs died in the fire. Williams, firefighters and others managed to save 34 others. "It's been an emotional day."
Williams says she suspected the site was a puppy mill long before the fire. She says deputies have investigated complaints there before. The site is located on France Road off of Highway 61 in Tunica County.
Williams says she uncovered evidence of animal neglect after the smoke cleared Monday. "I have located at least eight dogs that died prior to this fire. This is obviously a case of animal abuse, a puppy mill."
Williams seized the 34 surviving dogs. Since the Tunica facility does not have the capacity to house them, they are now in the care of the Oxford Animal Shelter, where a vet is checking them out for disease.
The owner of the dogs, Stacey Valentine, arrived on the scene shortly before sunset.
"Are you going to fight to get your dogs back?" We asked.
"Yes, I am," she answered.
Valentine says she sold some of the smaller dogs, and the larger dogs were her pets. She says two of her dogs died days before the fire because of the cold weather. "They just didn't make it through the cold," she said.
Williams says many of the dogs were malnourished and had fleas. Valentine insists the dogs were getting their shots and medicine and were well fed.
