Puppy mill raid nets 29 pocket-sized pooches

After the seizure of 29 dogs from a puppy mill in Langley last week, theBritish ColumbiaSPCA says it has been inundated with calls offering to adopt the pups.

Thereason for the interest is that25 of the dogs were Yorkshire terriers, a fashionable small breed that normally sells for more than $1,000 each, according to officials.

Marcie Moriarty, head of cruelty investigations at the SPCA, said officers found the dogs living in small dark crates that were filthy with feces and urine. The badly neglected animals had numerous health problems, including eye infections, ear mites and worms.

But the good news for the dogs is that since the story made headlines on Tuesday, the phones at the SPCA offices have been ringing off the hook, said Moriarty.

"I've received, just in the last few hours, calls from people wanting to foster the dogs, to adopt the dogs," said Moriarty. "I was hearing at the Vancouver shelter they've been inundated with at least 20 or so calls."

Two shih tzus, two boxers and a rabbit were also seized from the property andall are currently undergoing veterinary care in SPCA custody.

Those looking to adopt one of the terriers will have to wait, however, because the owner has 14 days from the date of the seizure to dispute it.

After that, the ownercan take the issue to court, but Moriarty said the SPCA almost always wins when cases end up before a judge.

"We've had, in the past year and a half, only five that have gone to court challenging the decision not to return the animals, and all of those have come back in our favour," she said.

The SPCA investigates about one suspected puppy milla month in B.C., said Moriarty.