LAKE COUNTY ? Since more than 70 lap dogs were surrendered by their owner the week before Christmas, all but two have been adopted, according to Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Denise Johnson.
“They were all adopted by Dec. 30. They ended up in private homes and in rescues. Quite a few of them were adopted in Lake County,” Johnson said.
Most of the dogs were approximately 10 years old and were suffering from ailments common to older dogs, according to Johnson. Two of the dogs were euthanized because they had terminal cancer, and one of the two dogs was blind. Johnson said the dog”s owner, who is not being identified, surrendered them voluntarily.
At the end of a five-day holding period, Johnson said the dogs were adopted within six business days.
Johnson said contrary to earlier reports, the dogs do not appear to be the result of a breeding operation. The surrendered dogs included King Charles spaniels, dachshunds, Jack Russell terriers, Japanese Chin and moppets ? a mix of Shih Tzu and Japanese Chin, according to Johnson. Johnson said fewer than five of the dogs were less than 7 years old.
“We didn”t ask her specifically how she got each dog, but we don”t think it was a puppy mill. She hadn”t bred them,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the dogs” owner had owned the dogs for a long time, and could not provide for their health needs anymore. However, Johnson said she did not know how the owner came to own 70-plus dogs.
“It”s not hard when people collect animals. She (the owner) meant to do the right thing ? it just gets away from people sometimes, which is what happened in this case. At least she sought help when she realized what was going on,” Johnson said.
All but nine of the dogs were kenneled in groups of four at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter. The remaining dogs were sent to the Mendocino County Animal Care and Control shelter, and were later adopted, according to Johnson.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
