Finally! A Chained Dog Abuse Case in Pennsylvania Goes as it Should when Dogs Deserve Better and Pennsylvania SPCA Team Up to Save Four Neglected Chained and Penned Dogs near Tyrone, PA

Skinny Shepherd eating food spilled on the ground

Blind and Deaf Pom Pom with horrible flea dirt and ear infection

Dogs Deserve Better and Pennsylvania SPCA team up to rescue four chained and suffering dogs in Centre County

Video and photo evidence of neglect posted on Facebook
leads to linkup with PSPCA and a warrant and subsequent
relinquishment of dogs by guardian

9/6/09. The anonymous tip to Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Ci Thayne said only two things: dogs were abandoned at a property in Centre County near Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and there were at least two starved, chained shepherds on the property.

Dogs Deserve Better, who works on numerous fronts to end the suffering endured by dogs that are kept perpetually chained or penned, is currently pushing a Pennsylvania bill, HB1254, which would limit the amount of time a dog can spend chained, thereby granting dogs more of the protection that should be required by law.

Thayne, armed with camera, food, and water, journeyed to the location to assess the situation and document the neglect. She found not two but four dogs chained and neglected on the property: two seriously underweight shepherds, covered in fleas, with fly strike on their ears and lacking food and water; one blind and deaf Pomeranian in a pen with only a crate for shelter; and a chained black Lab/border collie mix.

The property appeared abandoned, over-flowing with garbage and old, broken-down vehicles but no signs of human life. Thayne thoroughly documented the dogs' conditions and gave them food and water. That evening she posted her frustrations with getting the dogs help on her Facebook page, showing photos of the matted and filthy blind and deaf Pomeranian, and video of the female shepherd running back and forth carrying her empty food bowl—literally begging for food and water.

Thayne was contacted from those postings by the PSPCA, who acted quickly to get an officer to the property on Saturday, September 5th. Finding sufficient cause to warrant removal of the dogs, the organization obtained a warrant on Sunday, September 6th, brought a truck from Philadelphia, found the property owner, and obtained a release of all four dogs to the organization.

The dogs are being taken to the Philadelphia shelter, evaluated for health issues, and then may be released to Dogs Deserve Better's foster program or adopted out to loving homes and families.

Thayne states, “My dream has finally come true! I am so ecstatic tonight, I feel like I just won the lottery. This is the first time in my seven years of working for America's chained dogs that the system has worked the way it should work. An animal advocate such as myself, or any concerned neighbor or citizen, should be able to get help for a suffering animal immediately and in a way that limits the amount of continued suffering the animal must endure. Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, this has not been the case. I thought I would be facing another arrest for helping these abandoned and mistreated animals, but instead law enforcement stepped in, did their job, and did it beautifully. And on a holiday weekend, which makes it even more amazing! I am more grateful to the Pennsylvania SPCA than you can even imagine. Thank you, PSPCA, not only from my heart, but from those suffering dogs who truly deserved better!”

Videos of the dogs, both the skinniest shepherd and the blind, deaf Pom Pom

 

 

9/11/09. Update. Three of the four dogs were picked up at the Philadelphia SPCA by Dogs Deserve Better, and are in foster care/seeking forever homes now. The fourth dog, the male shepherd, showed chain/cage aggression, and was euthanized after being evaluated by a shepherd rescue and a dog trainer at the PSPCA. We're sorry, boy!

Foo Foo Cuddly Poops is doing better. She's had two flea treatments, and is on flea medicine. We've given her a bit of a haircut. She is totally blind, and probably totally deaf, but is on ear meds for a severe ear infection. She is TOTALLY HOUSETRAINED, hasn't had one accident. She needs a little dog foster home or a new home. If you can help her, please call 814.941.7447 or to adopt her fill out the form at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/adopt.html.

Sampson is now neutered and UTD on shots. He's friendly, loves dogs, people. To adopt him fill out the form at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/adopt.html.

Vivian is now doing great and is already in a trial forever home!