April 15--Look out, world. ALIVE Rescue has unleashed six of the approximately 80 dogs that were confiscated in a raid on a puppy mill last week in St. Anne, Ill.
The six -- five Chihuahuas and one very mixed breed -- were let out of their carriers Tuesday at ALIVE's shelter and obviously were not accustomed to such freedom. Or to artificial turf.
"Yeah, it was so cool," says Kristen Gerali, the founder of ALIVE. "It was exciting. I teared up, I'm not going to lie."
The dogs still need to be vetted, she said. One may be pregnant, and two "need a lot of work. They're really shy with humans."
Details on the raid and the status of the dogs -- and other animals awaiting adoption -- are at http://www.aliverescue.org.
The puppy mill had been in operation at a private home, and authorities were tipped off about deplorable conditions by The Puppy Mill Project, a Chicago-based organization that seeks to educate the public and shut down such operations. Washington, D.C.-based Animal Rescue Corps assisted Kankakee County Animal Control in the raid, when authorities found a variety of small breeds of dogs crowded into tiny pens with plastic wire flooring. In addition to the overcrowding, rescuers found the animals also had several health issues, including eye infections, respiratory conditions and dental problems.
bhageman@tribpub.com
