ASPCA Assists in Tennessee’s Largest-Ever Puppy Mill Raid

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is assisting in Tennessee’s largest-ever puppy mill raid of more than 700 dogs, lending a special forensic cruelty investigation team that includes two forensic veterinarians, as well as its "Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit," a critical tool in the collection and processing of evidence at crime scenes.

“We are pleased to be able to lend our assistance, both in terms of human resources and equipment, in our ongoing fight against animal cruelty,” said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “The ASPCA team is helping in all aspects of the recovery, collection, storage and documentation of animal evidence at the site. The ASPCA’s Mobile Animal CSI unit is an important component in this effort, as it offers the ability to work on-site with the necessary tools, allowing evidence to be processed more accurately and efficiently.”

The ASPCA team was deployed at the request of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which led the raid, to assist in the collection of evidence for the prosecution of the criminal case. The team includes the ASPCA’s Dr. Melinda Merck, the nation’s premier forensic veterinarian and “animal CSI,” Dr. Ellen Hirschberg, and five disaster response team experts— the ASPCA’s Sandy Monterose, Allison Cardona, Felicia Earley, Eric Lee and Chris Fagan—and volunteer veterinarian Dr. Solvieg Evans.

The 747 animals discovered in the raid, which began early yesterday, were housed in various enclosures among the property’s 92 acres of hilly and rocky terrain known as Pine Bluff Kennels in Lyles, Tennessee. The farm’s owner could face criminal charges.

According to Dr. Merck, the majority of the animals are dogs, including more than 200 puppies, suffering from a general lack of husbandry, such as little to no food or water, lack of proper ventilation in enclosed areas, and feces encrusted pens. Conditions such as matting, sores, broken limbs, hernias, abscesses, and a host of other medical conditions are prevalent. Breeds observed include basset hounds, Jack Russell terriers, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, boxers, Chow-Chows, dachshunds, Shih tzus, German shepherds, border terriers, shar-peis, pugs, Yorkshire terriers, and Great Danes. Other animals on the property include horses, burros, miniature horses, chickens, goats, parrots and purebred cats.

“This is by far one of the worst situations I have ever seen,” said Dr. Merck. “Animals are in extreme cases of neglect and illness, and some are dead. The overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, flea and parasite infestation, as well as the stress of competing for food and coping with untreated illnesses, is severe.”


For more information about puppy mills and how to fight animal cruelty, visit www.aspca.org.