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Last Friday, Greene County authorities seized 93 dogs from what they call a deplorable puppy mill.

The owners have signed the animals over to the Humane Society of Missouri.

The rescued Yorkshire Terriers were shaved and bathed after they were saved from cages on a Pleasant Hope property.

“In some cases performing the exam was difficult because there was so much matting they were like little mummies,” says Steven Schwartz, Humane Society of Missouri Director of Veterinary Services.

Schwartz says the severe matting caused bones to form abnormally.

“Many of their kneecaps are dislocated,” Schwartz says.

Underneath the matted feces Schwartz says he found more problems.

He says the vast majority had skin infections and open wounds.

It took a lot of work to groom the 93 dogs.

After shaving half of them veterinarians removed more than 50 pounds of matted feces and fur.

Schwartz says malnourishment caused severe dental disease.

“It’s affecting their ability to chew food,” Schwartz says.

Many dogs will get multiple surgeries but recovery doesn’t stop there.

Humane Society members say each dog also needs socialization.

“All they can do is bark and spin in their cages because they want attention. Humane Society of Missouri Director of Adoption Center Cyndi Nason says, They’ve never had that.

Nason says many dogs dont even know what grass is.

Even though three dogs didn’t make it, volunteers hope special owners can give the special dogs a new chance.

“These little guys will love any loving home,” Schwartz says.

The dogs owners, who are in their 50s, were arrested and released last Friday.

As of Monday evening, no charges had been filed in the case.

Humane Society members would like to see one count of animal abuse filed for each dog.

Anyone interested in donating or adopting can call (314) 802-5712 or go to http://www.hsmo.org.

Anyone interested in adopting a dog should not call The Southwest Missouri Humane Society.

The humane society expects the dogs will need several more weeks to recover before they can be adopted.

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Obstructing justice by issuing orders to fabricate records and destroy email and other “paper trails” in an investigation conducted by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency regarding the Departments non-compliance with federal and state euthanasia record keeping requirements. Use and possession of illegal substances on County property. Routine failure to hold employees accountable for breaking department policy and procedure and state and federal law. Firing and suspending of employees and volunteers for bringing departmental misconduct to the attention of department heads. Causing unnecessary suffering, sickness, and death due to the foregoing violations (Civil Code §§1834, 1846, 2080; Pen. Code §597; LACDACC Code of Conduct; LACDACC Maintenance of Animal Health Policy OPK140; LACDACC Sick and Injured Animals Policy OPF180). Not providing animals requiring veterinary/medical care with veterinary/medical care or stopping veterinary/medical care when veterinary/medical care is still required. Routine failure to provide adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise and water and to treat animals kindly and humanely. Killing animals without first engaging in reasonable efforts to identify and locate the animal’s owner or make the animal available for adoption to the public. Refusal to release animals scheduled to be killed for any reason other than irremediable suffering to a non-profit rescue organization that has requested custody of the animal. Not providing animals in clear need of emergency care with the necessary care. Failing to report violations of policy and procedure and wrongful euthanasia as per department policies and procedures. Routine failure to vaccinate animals upon impound, isolate animals that are not vaccinated, and vaccinate animals who have been impounded for more than 15 days with a second dose of vaccines. Routine failure to isolate sick animals away from the general population. Routine failure to perform an intake examination by the shelter RVT or veterinarian upon impound. Routine failure to scan animals for microchips upon impound and before euthanasia. Routine failure to medicate animals as prescribed and ensuring animals swallow their medication. Wrongful killing of animals. Impounded Animals Policy OPG140; LACDACC Impounded Animals with Traceable Identification Policy OPG150) Killing live animals in front of dead animals and allowing dead animals to be in view of live animals. Routine killing of purebred animals without first contacting the appropriate breed rescues. The inaccurate classification of animals and killing those animals on the basis of the erroneous classification before the statutorily required holding period has expired. Not allowing breeds of dogs deemed aggressive by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control to be adopted to members of the public without first requiring temperament testing. Holding animals in areas of Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control shelters that are not accessible to members of the public. Failure to band animals with their impound number upon impound.

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