The longtime owner of a Parkersburg-area dog kennel has surrendered her approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials after authorities executed a search warrant on the property over the weekend.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- The longtime owner of a Parkersburg-area dog kennel has surrendered her approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials after authorities executed a search warrant on the property over the weekend.
Sharon Roberts, who has operated Whispering Oaks Kennels since 1961, also agreed never to operate a dog-breeding business again.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 - In this handout photo provided by Best Friends Animal Society, puppies are shown at the Whispering Oaks Kennels in Parkersburg on Saturday. Around 1,000 dogs were taken from the kennel after authorities said the number of dogs was too large to care for.
"They said 'If you don't voluntarily give up the dogs, we will arrest you and put you in jail and charge a fine for each dog here,''' Roberts told The Associated Press Monday. "What would you do?''
Authorities said the dogs were never let out of their cages and rarely, if ever, touched by a human being.
Roberts, however, disputes those allegations.
"How can you raise dogs without worming them and vaccinating them, trimming their toenails and grooming them?''
"We petted them and played with them and held them,'' she said. "They rode around on a golf cart with us. They were very well socialized.''
Humane Society rescuers said the dogs, mostly adult purebred dachshunds, stumble when they try to walk on grass, tile or carpet because they've spent their entire lives on wire mesh floors.
"Imagine you live your entire life inside your house -- one room inside your house -- and you never leave it,'' Maryann Hollis, director of the Humane Society of Parkersburg, told the Parkersburg News and Sentinel for Monday's edition. "Once a week, somebody dropped groceries at your door. That's what life was like for these dogs -- just one room, wire mesh, and you pooped where you slept.''
But Roberts, 72, said all the pens were made of vinyl-coated wire, not mesh, and that they opened to covered exercise pens. She also said all of the buildings in which the pens were kept were air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter.
"All the dogs had food and water in front of them at all times,'' she said, adding that she and her four full-time and two part-time employees cleaned the cages every day.
The dogs were discovered Saturday by deputies investigating possible dog-related pollution and were taken in what the local humane society calls the largest animal rescue in West Virginia's history.
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- The longtime owner of a Parkersburg-area dog kennel has surrendered her approximately 1,000 dogs to humane officials after authorities executed a search warrant on the property over the weekend.
Sharon Roberts, who has operated Whispering Oaks Kennels since 1961, also agreed never to operate a dog-breeding business again.
"They said 'If you don't voluntarily give up the dogs, we will arrest you and put you in jail and charge a fine for each dog here,''' Roberts told The Associated Press Monday. "What would you do?''
Authorities said the dogs were never let out of their cages and rarely, if ever, touched by a human being.
Roberts, however, disputes those allegations.
"How can you raise dogs without worming them and vaccinating them, trimming their toenails and grooming them?''
"We petted them and played with them and held them,'' she said. "They rode around on a golf cart with us. They were very well socialized.''
Humane Society rescuers said the dogs, mostly adult purebred dachshunds, stumble when they try to walk on grass, tile or carpet because they've spent their entire lives on wire mesh floors.
"Imagine you live your entire life inside your house -- one room inside your house -- and you never leave it,'' Maryann Hollis, director of the Humane Society of Parkersburg, told the Parkersburg News and Sentinel for Monday's edition. "Once a week, somebody dropped groceries at your door. That's what life was like for these dogs -- just one room, wire mesh, and you pooped where you slept.''
But Roberts, 72, said all the pens were made of vinyl-coated wire, not mesh, and that they opened to covered exercise pens. She also said all of the buildings in which the pens were kept were air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter.
"All the dogs had food and water in front of them at all times,'' she said, adding that she and her four full-time and two part-time employees cleaned the cages every day.
The dogs were discovered Saturday by deputies investigating possible dog-related pollution and were taken in what the local humane society calls the largest animal rescue in West Virginia's history.
Most of the animals were in relatively good health.
Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley said that while these weren't the worst conditions she's ever seen, it's impossible for anyone to properly care for that many dogs.
Some of the animals are puppies, but most are adults.
"These were the dogs that were breeding machines,'' said Hollis.
Scotlund Haisley with the Humane Society of the United States said on a video on the group's Web site that volunteers couldn't stand being in the kennels for long periods of time because of the strong ammonia smell. In a press release, the society called the kennel "a grossly overrun breeding facility wrought with obvious animal neglect.''
A call to a spokeswoman for that group for more information wasn't immediately returned Monday.
Roberts' husband, Edwin, 74, was arrested Sunday on charges of assault of a police officer and obstructing a police officer. Roberts calls the arrest a misunderstanding. She said her husband had ear plugs in while using a chain saw to clear brush and didn't hear when deputies asked him to turn off the saw.
The animals have been moved to a Parkersburg warehouse for temporary housing. Each must be seen by a veterinarian.
Animal groups from across the country are volunteering to help get the animals ready for adoption.
Roe's group estimates that the costs of the rescue operation could exceed $100,000.
Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, sexually explicit, racist or offensive will be removed. If you wouldn�t say it to your mother, don�t post it here.
Be civil. Don�t threaten to hurt anyone. Personal attacks, insults or harassment of any kind are subject to removal.
Be truthful. Don�t lie about a situation or person.
Keep it brief. Keep your comment to one post. Redundant or multiple posts in a row aren�t allowed.
Stay on task. Stick to the topics relevant to the story and discussion.
Let us know about offensive comments. Click the �Report Abuse� button if you think a comment is against the rules.
Report a violation or offensive comment.
[X] Close
Posted By: LuvDogs(10:14pm 09-10-2008)
Report Abuse
When I purchased my pup from this breeder, I found the facilities acceptable. Unlike what the article stated, the transaction took place in her home. The vet checked him and stated he was the healthiest pup he had seen; the breeder did a good job. When they were up for adoption, I drove from Chas to Prksbg to give one a good home. When we arrived, we found that the majority of them had been shipped all over the country. The line to adopt was a quarter of a mile long at a minimum. When we finally were allowed in, what we found was appalling; dogs in wire cages, in filfth, no touching, and a warehouse full of food--for the 60 dogs left. We had to fill out an application, choose a dog. Now we must wait 2-3 weeks to see if we are chosen for the dog. It seems the "rescuers" were doing the same thing the breeder was accused of. And if you follow where the dogs are going, many are selling at the humane societies for $350. This fiasco is a complete shame for both the dogs, and the Roberts.
Posted By: Tami(11:40pm 08-31-2008)
Report Abuse
I also will never help or donate to the humane society again.
I also hopes Sharon sues.
From what I understand several breeders across the states have contacted Sharon outraged that this has happend. I would like to see a legal fund started for Sharon and her family to fight this.
Wouldn't the humane society love that. Donations accepted to get a legal team together to fight them.
I hope people understand how important this case is and what it represents for our rights in the future.
Posted By: J(2:54pm 08-31-2008)
Report Abuse
God doesn't have anything to do with it, "Get over it". Man does. Let's keep mythology out of it.
Given the food waste, cruelty, and environmental damage caused by raising animals for food in factory farms, I can't think of a better word than "murder" for it. The grain used to feed animals destined to become meat would be more efficiently used if it went directly to humans. Billions of gallons of water are used annually in the production of meat, often in places where water is already scarce. The pollution from animal waste fouls rivers (check out pig farms in NC), kills wildlife, and spreads disease. Eating is almost like a game of Russian roulette when it comes to meat - you never know where bad meat will end up, but you can bet someone will get sick. Lastly, factory farming is horribly cruel to animals that can feel pain and suffer. There's not enough space to list the myriad ways people use to maim and kill other animals.
My family isn't complicit in torture and murder. Is yours?
Posted By: SUE THE JERKS(1:01pm 08-31-2008)
Report Abuse
I hope sue sues the jerka and gets a million bucks!!!!!!!!!!! They STOLE her dogs and will profit from it. I am DONE with the humane society, I will NEVER help them again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I encourage everyone else to do the same!
Post a comment
I also hopes Sharon sues.
From what I understand several breeders across the states have contacted Sharon outraged that this has happend. I would like to see a legal fund started for Sharon and her family to fight this.
Wouldn't the humane society love that. Donations accepted to get a legal team together to fight them.
I hope people understand how important this case is and what it represents for our rights in the future.
Given the food waste, cruelty, and environmental damage caused by raising animals for food in factory farms, I can't think of a better word than "murder" for it. The grain used to feed animals destined to become meat would be more efficiently used if it went directly to humans. Billions of gallons of water are used annually in the production of meat, often in places where water is already scarce. The pollution from animal waste fouls rivers (check out pig farms in NC), kills wildlife, and spreads disease. Eating is almost like a game of Russian roulette when it comes to meat - you never know where bad meat will end up, but you can bet someone will get sick. Lastly, factory farming is horribly cruel to animals that can feel pain and suffer. There's not enough space to list the myriad ways people use to maim and kill other animals.
My family isn't complicit in torture and murder. Is yours?