These dogs were seized from a suspected puppy mill. Here’s how you can take one home.
Dozens of dogs seized in October from a suspected puppy mill are ready to go home with new families, Orange County Animal Services officials announced Wednesday.
The 57 dogs and puppies were seized from two properties just north of Chapel Hill after the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received reports that they were malnourished and living in unsanitary conditions.
Orange County Animal Services has spent almost $30,000 to house and care for the dogs, Animal Service Director Bob Marotto told The News & Observer Wednesday. When they arrived, many had medical issues ranging from skin and eye conditions to parasites and being underweight.
The number of dogs has grown to about 80 as some were pregnant when they were taken in and have since had puppies, The News & Observer reported. One dog has died.
Marotto said roughly 65 dogs and puppies — most are French or English bulldogs or mastiffs — could be adopted.
The shelter has set up a special process for adopting the dogs out in groups of six to 12, because of “overwhelming interest,” he said.
The process for adoption will begin online Saturday at 5 p.m., according to a news release. Interested people will be able to view the dogs and pick up a printed application at the shelter beginning at noon Monday.
All of the dogs will be spayed or neutered, examined by veterinary health care staff and received basic vaccinations.
Several dogs with greater medical needs could be adopted to rescue groups and others who are better prepared to care for them, Marotto said. The puppies born since October have been living in foster homes, and those families will have first choice of a puppy to keep, he added.
Animal Services has been “very fortunate” to receive many donations toward the cost of the dogs’ care, Marotto said in an interview. That includes $16,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign and individual donations, $11,000 in pledges, and 7,500 pounds of food donated by Southern States.
“Animal Services wishes to take this opportunity to thank the community for all of its patience and support during the past several months,” Marotto said in a news release. “A large-scale animal seizure of this kind could not be undertaken and completed without such support, and Animal Services looks forward to these dogs moving into new, loving homes.”
The county is still accepting donations to help cover the cost of medical care, food and housing for the dogs. Donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/tl949as.
Criminal charges, civil lawsuit
The dogs came up for adoption this week because they were no longer needed as evidence in the animal cruelty cases against Taylor Doar, 33, and his mother, Cynthia Riggan, 65, Marotto said.
Riggan was charged with 16 counts of felony cruelty to animals and 37 misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals. She was given a conditional discharge, meaning her charges will be dismissed if she successfully completes three years of probation and meets other conditions, Orange County Assistant District Attorney Anna Orr said.
Doar still faces 16 felony charges of cruelty to animals and 37 misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals, Orr said.
The county’s civil case against the family — an attempt to recoup some of the costs for caring for the dogs — was settled in December.
Riggan agreed to pay $10,000 to the county over the next three years, and Marotto said she was allowed to take home four dogs that were identified as personal pets after paying to have them sterilized.
She has been prohibited from breeding animals without getting authorization from Orange County Animal Services, which can make unannounced inspections of the family’s properties.
Doar did not appear in court on the civil matter and also has been ordered to pay $10,000 to Orange County over the next three years, Marotto said.
How to adopt the dogs
Those interested in adoption can apply for more than one dog each week by submitting an application online or at the shelter at 1601 Eubanks Road through 8 a.m. Thursday Jan. 30. There is a limit of one application per household per dog and a limit of one dog per family.
The first group of available dogs will be posted online for viewing at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and will be available for viewing at noon Monday, Jan. 27, at the shelter.
The dogs will be adopted out at random, shelter officials said. The winner will be notified by phone at noon Thursday and must respond by 3 p.m., or the next name will be drawn.
Winners must meet their dog at the shelter by 4 p.m. Friday to complete the adoption process. The adoption cost is $120 for dogs and $150 for puppies.
Winners who do not respond to the notification call or to pick up their dog will forfeit the adoption.
Those who do not get an opportunity to adopt a dog from the first group can resubmit an application for each new group of dogs. The process will be repeated every week, with a new group of dogs available every Saturday at 5 p.m., until all the dogs have been adopted.
Animal services officials emphasized the importance of learning about bulldog breeds before signing up to adopt one, because the breeds can suffer from serious health issues and concerns that require ongoing care. Some of the dogs have additional medical concerns that will be made public when those dogs are put up for adoption.
A website with information about bulldog breeds and how to care for dogs, as well as information about the special adoption process is available at tinyurl.com/tlku5ne.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 3:03 PM.
