Rescued dogs find shelter out east

LAKEWOOD RANCH— Jolie’s nose twitched vigorously as she pranced over her new surroundings, sniffing everything in sight and pushing her way through 2-foot-tall weeds.

Jolie, who was taken in by Honor Animal Rescue after the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office confiscated 263 dogs from a home in Venice earlier this month, perhaps felt grass on her feet for the first time in months.

“They don’t (even) know what a toy is at all,” Honor Board member Dari Oglesby said of many of the animals rescued.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported May 4 that Sarasota County Animal Services confiscated 263 small dogs from a home at 220 High Point Drive in Venice. The dogs, which included breeds such as Chihuahuas, Maltese, Bichon Frise, poodles and Schnauzers, among others, were kept in a series of chicken coop-like structures outdoors. The cages had no solid flooring — only wire — so many of the dogs’ feet were raw and sore, rescue workers said.

Wendy Rose, community affairs manager for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, said the case is possibly the largest animal hoarding case seen in Sarasota County.

With assistance from Florida Wildlife Commission, Sarasota authorities were allowed on the property May 2, at which time they took animals that needed immediate medical attention. Animal services returned over the next two days, as well, to retrieve the remaining animals and place them with local rescue and other groups for care. Sarasota County Animal Services already is at capacity, Rose said.

More than a dozen animal rescue groups and veterinary clinics from around the Sarasota/Bradenton area and surrounding region assisted with rescue efforts, taking in all of the animals. In the East County, Honor Animal Rescue took in 46 dogs from the hoarding incident, as well as two stray animals that animal services picked up during the confiscation.

“They were critical in not only assisting us, but the more important is making sure these animals got immediate care and (tender loving care) and grooming, which they would not have had,” Rose said of rescue groups. “We didn’t have manpower to evaluate them all promptly.”

Honor Director of Operations Karissa Mayer said the condition of the animals was “disturbing” but more from neglect than abuse. The rescued animals, especially those kept in bottom cages, were covered in food, feces and other debris.

“You couldn’t really tell where the dog’s head and end began (for many of them),” Mayer said. “They had sores between their toes from being on wire cages, and small wounds from fighting over food. It could have been a lot worse.”

Animals taken in by Honor were given immediate medical attention; most were placed in foster care for socialization.

Mayer said the community has rallied to help with the cause, donating a wealth of supplies, which Honor is sharing with other rescue organizations that helped with the case, and stepping up to foster animals. Organization leaders expect many of the animals to be ready for adoption in the coming weeks, after they have been spayed and neutered.

“We wouldn’t be able to do things like this without the support of the community,” she said.

Rose said the sheriff’s office still is investigating the case and charges against the dogs’ owner were pending.

The office had received anonymous complaints about animals at the property before but the sheriff’s office could not previously take action because the property owner had never before allowed authorities on the property, Rose said. Animals were kept in a fenced-in area and could not be seen from the street, she said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

ASSISTING ORGANIZATIONS

Almost Home
Ashton Animal Clinic
Bay Road Animal Hospital
Canine Castaways
Certified Preowned Dogs
Florida Little Dog Rescue
Florida Poodle Rescue
Honor Animal Rescue
Kickapoo Rescue
Safe Haven Animal Rescue
Suncoast Humane Society
Underdog Rescue
VIP Rescue

RENOVATIONS
Honor Animal Rescue’s adoption facility Nate’s Place, located in the Shoppes at University Center, is temporarily closed. The rescue recently began work to renovate the space into an information center. Animals up for adoption all are being kept at Honor’s Ranch location on Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch.