Seven dogs rescued from Newton County property thanks to HSMO
Seven dogs were rescued from an abandoned property in Newton County thanks to the Humane Society of Missouri. Read more about the rescue and about the great work that the Humane Society of Missouri does in the press release below:
On Wednesday, July 22, the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) was contacted by the Newton County sheriff’s office in Southwest Missouri to aid in the rescue of seven dogs, including a mother and her four newborn puppies, from an abandoned property. Neighbors spotted a dog that escaped the home on the roof of the property and alerted local law enforcement. The Newton County property was uninhabited by a true occupant as the owner passed away eight months ago, though squatters had been staying on the property intermittently. It’s unclear at this time if the abandoned animals belonged to the deceased owner or to the squatters.
Upon receiving the call from the Newton County sheriff’s department, HSMO’s ACT team acted swiftly and safely by removing the dogs and taking them to the Best Buddy Pet Center in Maryland Heights for treatment. The dogs were found in varying stages of malnourishment; the mother being particularly emaciated since just giving birth. The remains of one dog were also found on the property. It is HSMO’s hope that, following veterinary evaluations and successful treatment, the dogs will be rehabilitated and put up for adoption. Once these animals are available for adoption, they will be listed online at hsmo.org/adopt.
“Finding defenseless animals in these conditions is never easy, but we’re grateful to the Newton County sheriff’s office for their prompt action in ensuring the surviving dogs could be rescued,” said Kathy Warnick, president of the Humane Society of Missouri. “Our shelter veterinarians are continuing to work diligently to rehabilitate these precious animals so they can make a full recovery and find a loving family.”
To learn more about the Newton County rescue or if you’d like to make a donation to aid in the care and rehabilitation of the these dogs, visit hsmo.org/newtoncounty.
To report an animal who may be in danger or is suffering from neglect or abuse, call your local law enforcement agency and the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline at (314) 647-4400.
The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) is one of the largest animal rescue/disaster response teams in the United States. For more than 40 years, ACT has worked side by side with state, local and city law enforcement officials to investigate and help prosecute animal abusers.
Annually, Humane Society of Missouri’s 15 field-tested, professional animal cruelty investigators and staff
- Aid more than 21,600 animals
- Make more than 9,500 responses to reports of abuse/neglect
- Travel more than 413,000 miles
Humane Society of Missouri’s animal cruelty investigators understand the nuances of animal abuse law and the criminal justice process for documenting and filing evidence and work directly with sheriff’s offices, police departments and prosecuting attorneys to help ensure animal cases are handled in an expedient and professional manner. Humane Society of Missouri investigators also provide expert testimony in legal cases and before legislative bodies and provide consultation and training workshops for law enforcement, state agencies and local animal care and control workers.
Together, they work to hold people accountable for the abuse and neglect of animals in the St. Louis Metropolitan region and all of Missouri.