The Animal Rescue Team Taiwan (ARTT) on Sunday rescued 18 older purebred dogs allegedly abandoned by a puppy mill on a deserted plot of land in Taoyuan County’s Dayuan Township (大園).
It was the largest number of purebred dogs saved at one time since the group was founded in 1995.
The group said it launched the rescue mission after receiving an anonymous call that a puppy farm had abandoned more than 30 older thoroughbreds on a plot of land on Nanhe Road to die.
Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue Team Taiwan
Several volunteers from the group’s northern and central branches immediately responded, but after a 10-hour effort, they were only able to find 18 and the body of another that had apparently been struck by a car and killed.
The breeds included poodle, Yorkshire terrier, chihuahua, miniature pinscher, Shiba Inu, Japanese spitz, dachshund, French bulldog, West Highland white terrier and Pomeranian.
“The 18 dogs were rushed to Greater Taichung’s Hong Dian Animal Hospital for emergency treatment. Most of them are female, disease-stricken and no longer fertile,” ARTT spokesman Antony Ni (倪京台) said.
Photo courtesy of the Animal Rescue Team Taiwan
Almost all of the dogs suffered from malnutrition and skin problems, Ni said. Four of them also had bone fractures and parasitic blood infections, he said.
“Some had fur so tangled and matted, like an old filthy rags, that we could barely identify their breeds at first,” Ni said, adding that some exhibited psychological problems that might have resulted from long-term confinement.
Ni said the group would ensure that the dogs receive the best possible treatment, even though it might mean high medical bills.
“We also plan to find the dogs new homes once they regain their health,” Ni said.
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