ASHLAND — A Thursday rescue operation involving 72 dogs in Loudonville has left the Ashland County Humane Society facing an immediate and overwhelming need for help.
According to a statement from the Ohio Department of Agriculture — provided to Ashland Source on Friday afternoon — the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office notified the state department of an ongoing criminal investigation involving allegations against Happy Mountain K9 Facility in Loudonville.
“ODA began the administrative process to revoke the breeder’s license,” the statement said.
Below is the full statement ODA provided to Ashland Source:
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Commercial Dog Breeding Program is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of dogs in the care of licensed breeders. Upon notification from the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office about an ongoing criminal investigation involving serious allegations against Happy Mountain K9 Facility in Loudonville, ODA began the administrative process to revoke the breeder’s license. All dogs were safely removed from the facility and transported to the Ashland County Humane Society, where they will receive proper care while awaiting adoption. ODA cannot comment on the criminal investigation that is underway by local authorities.
At the time of this story’s publication, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office has not made an official statement or returned requests for comment from Ashland Source regarding this investigation.
According to a video posted Thursday evening to Facebook by the Ashland County Humane Society, Tiffany Meyer, humane society director, the ODA asked for assistance to seize 72 dogs from the commercial dog breeding operation in Loudonville.
“Tonight, these 72 dogs are somewhere different than they were this morning. And their next chapter starts now,” the humane society wrote in its post. “We are incredibly grateful for everyone who played a part in making that happen.”
Fifty adult dogs and 22 puppies were removed from the breeder, Meyer said.
“We need community support. We need tribe support,” the director said.
Anne Leidigh, animal veterinary science instructor at Heartland Technical Education Center, said in the video that she and her students will be helping care for the dogs.
Leidigh led by saying she always appreciates the supportive response from the community during these situations.
“You guys never fail us,” she said. “Anytime we ask for anything you guys are always there and we can’t thank you enough.”
All the animals recovered will require vaccines. However, Leidigh said the program’s vaccine fridge broke recently. About $3,000 worth of vaccinations belonging to the humane society were lost, she said.
Along with funds to help repurchase the lost vaccines, Leidigh said the biggest need is finding other rescues to help with housing some of the dogs. Like Leidigh, all staff and volunteers at the humane society have regular full-time jobs, so additional help is much needed.
“We are a volunteer organization. We all do have day jobs,” Meyer said. “We are a little overwhelmed right now.”
Other ways to help currently include:
- Volunteers to walk dogs
- Fresh and clean dog shampoo
- Metal water buckets
- Metal dog bowls
- Gift cards for PurinaOne dog and puppy food
- Hard chew toys
- Monetary donations for vaccines and flea and tick treatments
- Clorox wipes
- Storage totes
- Large outdoor kennels
- Tarps
- Large dog crates (48 inches or bigger)
An Amazon wishlist for the Ashland County Humane Society can be found here.
Ashland County Dog Shelter housing five rescued dogs
Shannon Hamilton, kennel manager of the Ashland County Dog Shelter, said Friday the shelter took in five of the rescued dogs. One has already been transferred to another rescue organization.
The county dog shelter assisted the Ashland County Humane Society, ACSO and the state’s agriculture department in the rescue by helping load and transport some of the 72 seized dogs.
All four dogs remaining at the county shelter are female and will need medical examinations, vaccinations and ultrasounds to determine if they are pregnant, Hamilton said.
“It’ll be a week or two before they’re even available for adoption if none of them come up as pregnant,” Hamilton said.
Other rescue organizations from across Ohio have also stepped up and taken in dogs from the seizure. Hamilton said some of the dogs are nursing puppies.
This is a developing story. More details will be published as they’re released.
