Sixteen cocker spaniels were rescued from a Lamar, Missouri kennel on November after the owner died. The dogs were severely neglected–several were blind. They were sent to rescue groups throughout the country last weekend. Four dogs went to Colorado, five went to Ohio, and seven went to New York. When the four cockers arrived in Colorado Cari Meyers, founder of The Puppy Mill Project, said, “They had never been groomed or cared for and were just a big matted mess. It was so bad; one of the dogs couldn’t walk. When they finally were shaved down and bathed, one dog had over 11 pounds of dreadlocked fur shaved off.” (see photos)
Cocker rescued from puppy mill. Photo Humane Society of Missouri Lawrence County
Cocker spaniel breeder Linda Brisco, owner of Moser Kennel, was the first prosecuted under Missouri’s new [Puppy Mill] Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The new law was also known as Proposition B approved by voters last year.
Brisco’s kennel was raided on June 28th for inhumane conditions she kept her dogs including failing to provide veterinary care for sick and injured dogs. State inspectors said they couldn’t see the kennel’s floor because it was covered with a thick layer of feces. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says Brisco routinely used a shotgun to euthanize her dogs.
Seventy-three dogs were taken from Brisco’s kennel including cocker spaniels, Labradors, and other breeds. They are receiving medical care at the Humane Society of Missouri Lawrence County. Kostner says she will be unable to breed dogs for six years in a judgement handed down by the court.
Many Missouri breeders opposed Proposition B including Joe Overlease, president of the Professional Kennel Club of Missouri, claiming it denies Americans their rights and “lowers animal care standards.” Overlease owns a large scale operation called C & J Cockers which was cited last year for overcrowding and inadequate shelter.
Attorney General Chris Koster wants to rid Missouri’s reputation as a puppy mill state. “It is our goal that Missouri will gain the reputation as the state with the best and most humane breeders in the country.”
Neglected cocker found at CT home. Photo NBC Connecticut
Gloria Marriott (A.K.A. Linda Snow, Mary Howard) was offered a plea bargain of nine months in jail in return for having her bond reduced from $250,000 to $49,000 dollars. Charges stem from an animal cruelty case when she was arrested February 18, 2011. Police became suspicious when overpowered by the smell of feces and urine then discovered five dogs in neglectful states some with matted fur, all without food or water. Marriott faces five counts of animal cruelty and running a puppy mill from her Mystic, Connecticut home. Regardless of her plea bargain she will remain jailed for violating probation in Massachusetts where she was convicted of animal cruelty–over 100 sick dogs were found on her property. Marriott runs the Web site conneticutcockapoos.com with the tagline “Breeding For Quality – Raised With Love.”
All five dogs have been adopted and placed in good homes including the brown cocker spaniel pictured above. Drew and Londa Wesche adopted two of the dogs including the cocker renaming her Katie. “They are great. We couldn’t have asked for better. I think they are kind of like POWs. They formed this bond in the awful situation they were in, and they can’t not be together.”
