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Contacts:
Devera Lynn
Vice President of Communications
516-883-7633
516-474-5332(m)
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Dianne Zoppa
Public Relations Manager
516-883-7636
516-232-5998(m)
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For Immediate Release
North Shore Animal League America Responds to Virginia Canine Crisis
Eleven Hundred Animals Rescued from Overcrowded Puppy Mill;
Over 130 Transported to the LI Shelter
Port Washington, NY (November 9, 2007) -- One hundred-thirty two dogs, mostly purebreds, seized yesterday in Hillsville, Virginia from an overcrowded commercial breeding operation known as a “puppy mill, ” are now in the care of North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) in Port Washington, NY.
The Long Island shelter responded to a call for help from Carroll County, VA officials and local rescue groups who declared the situation a disaster. NSALA dispatched four rescue teams to help in retrieving the animals from a breeder who had been under investigation. The League team also assisted in triaging the animals for the rescue trip back to Port Washington.
Among the dogs at the facility, mostly small breeds are Malteses, Poodles, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Beagles, Lhasa Apsos, West Highland White Terriers, Shih Tzus, and Bichon Frises.
The rescued animals, who are 3 months and up, are now undergoing health and behavior evaluations, spaying and neutering, and vaccinations at NSALA. Once the procedures are completed, it is expected that the dogs will be available for adoption at the Port Washington facility the end of next week.
Joanne Yohannan, Sr. Vice President of Operations, said the League was grateful to the Virginia agencies for pursuing the situation and calling upon other animal organizations to assist in the huge task of providing shelter and medical care for the large number of animals.
"We are thankful that these innocent animals are now in safe hands and destined to be adopted into the loving homes they deserve. Their plight underscores the fact that if animal lovers adopt their pets, rather than purchase them, these undesirable puppy mills could be eliminated," commented Ms. Yohannan.
North Shore Animal League America rescues, nurtures and adopts over 20,000 animals each year. NSALA provides medical care, spay/neuter, grooming and training to prepare each animal to go into its forever home. To help support the continuing mission of saving lives, please visit www.animal-league.org or call 516-883-7575.
About North Shore Animal League America
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. The League reaches across the country to rescue, nurture and adopt nearly 20,000 pets into happy and loving homes every year. Since being founded in 1944, they have placed closed to 1 million puppies, kittens, cats and dogs into carefully screened homes. One of the first animal rescue agencies on the ground in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the League rescued more than 1200 pets from the region, 1170 have been adopted and 22 reunited with their families.
The League is home to the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center, which provides 24-hour care for the pets sheltered at the League. Every year the medical center takes care of more than 10,000 outpatient visits, administers more than 27,000 vaccinations and performs over 14,000 free spay/neuter procedures for every adopted animal. The League also has a National Shelter Rescue team, and offers a wide variety of programs such as a mobile adoption program, adoption counseling, a Public Education Team and has created a community Pet Outreach Team. For more information on North Shore Animal League America visit www.animal-league.org.
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516.883.7575