Video: Another 80 Dogs Rescued in North Carolina

The HSUS
Emma, adopted after a Stokes County rescue.

In February, I blogged about our Animal Rescue Team helping local animal welfare organizations save more than 150 dogs from a puppy mill in Stokes County, N.C. Many of these dogs have found great homes, including a French bulldog named Emma who was adopted by an HSUS employee and now enjoys coming to our office every day. Other dogs are up for adoption at the Charlotte Humane Society and Guilford County Animal Shelter―two fine organizations helping so many animals in North Carolina.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no end to puppy mill abuses in the Tar Heel state, partly because its legislature continues to balk at adopting statewide policy to establish humane dog breeding standards. Our team has had to deploy yet again to intervene and stop abuse―this time in Jones County, where we joined with law enforcement and our friends at the SPCA of Wake County to rescue 80 small dogs and puppies. The animals were living in filthy conditions without proper veterinary care―but take a look at the wagging tails in our video as they’re carried to safety. It’s the seventh puppy mill raid we’ve helped with in the last year in North Carolina.

 

P.S. In another circumstance of redemption and a turn for the better for animals in distress, we recently announced the winner of our Valor Dog of the Year and People’s Hero awards: Hank, a Great Dane from Missouri who helped shield and save his owner from a violent domestic abuse attack. Hank placed his body on top of McKenzie, absorbing blows from a hammer and allowing her to flee. 

Following the attack, Hank’s owner received shelter at Rose Brooks Center, a domestic violence agency in Kansas City. Because of the dangerous situation, the Rose Brooks Center made an exception to their no-animal policy and opened their doors to Hank when his owner called for help. Inspired by the bond that Hank and McKenzie share, the center has begun construction on a pet shelter, which will undoubtedly save many lives in the future.