Nearly 200 dogs rescued
- Rescuers removed nearly 200 animals from a Tennessee puppy mill and moved several dozen dogs to shelters. - Intake included one‑day‑old puppies, pregnant dogs close to giving birth, and injured animals requiring care. - The operation involved Florence Lauderdale Animal Services and the BISSELL Pet Foundation to handle medical needs and placements. (wsmv.com)
Nashville Humane Association said April 20 that it has taken in 27 dogs from a rescue of 191 animals removed from a suspected puppy mill in Lauderdale County, Alabama. (wsmv.com) The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services removed the dogs from a home on County Road 112 after responding on March 30 and executing a search warrant in an animal-neglect investigation. (whnt.com) Investigators found 191 doodle dogs in kennels and cages, with many stacked in a basement, and officers said some animals lacked food or water. Animal control staff said the dogs were living among feces and urine with no bedding or enrichment. (whnt.com) The rescue has stretched local shelter capacity for weeks. Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services Director Cheryl Jones said April 17 that caring for the dogs had required overtime, volunteer help, grooming, and repeated veterinary trips while criminal reports were being assembled. (whnt.com) Nashville Humane said the group it received included one-day-old puppies, pregnant dogs close to giving birth, and injured animals that needed treatment before any adoption plans could begin. The shelter said the transfer is being supported by BISSELL Pet Foundation. (wsmv.com) That foundation runs transport, crisis-response, and adoption-support programs for shelters around the country. Nashville Humane says it also moves animals from rural and urban shelters across Tennessee and beyond through its transport program. (bissellpetfoundation.org, nashvillehumane.org) Officials in Lauderdale County said the dogs are not ready for immediate adoption. Councilwoman Chapel King said many are not house-trained, are not used to people, and will need time, patience, and training before they can live in homes. (whnt.com) The sheriff’s office said it had monitored the property since 2023, and charges were still pending in early April as veterinary exams documented each dog’s condition. For now, the case has shifted from seizure to recovery, with shelters sorting out medical care, behavior work, and eventual placement. (whnt.com)
