First-It does appear that the Dept of Ag is SUPPOSE to regulate puppy mills. Even Keystone Kennels web site says so.

Second- This business with the starving animals is turning political and it could be the end of Tommy Irvin’s career. There has been something really strange about how this whole episode has been handled. The sheriff of Pike County lives across the street from this property and was slow to act. Irvin told the AJC that all the Department’s resources were committed to this problem when in fact only three equine inspectors were allowed on the site on Monday. The owners have still not been arrested.

Then the plan was to turn over care for the horses back to the original owners! Yesterday, the Governor stepped in and ordered all of the horses seized by the state. The Governor tried to get Irvin voted out last November. Now, Irvin claims he called for help from the Governor.

This part will interest you dog lovers. It appears that these people were running a puppy mill. Almost all of the dogs were either beagles or hounds. There were almost no mutts. A lot of dogs had puppies. If this is true and this mill was being inspected then Irvin is in trouble. If it was not being inspected then Irvin needs to answer why. My guess is that the Governor is going to make Irvin’s life difficult.

I know in this case, the county took jurisdiction over the dogs and Dept of Ag. took jurisdiction over the farm animals.

BTW my wife and others were the ones helping out and deserve the credit. I was at home sick in bed.

The groups that contacted the sheriff’s office ranged from PETA to the Georgia Cattleman’s Association. The DA has vowed to prosecute those responsible.

Irving’s reference to the state taking half of the horses is because only half are able to survive being moved. However, the farm has been quaranteened and no horse can leave the property. Many of the horses have a disease called “strangles.” This is a very contagious disease that kiils most horses that get it. It is so contagious that vehicles that have been on the property have to be washed before coming into contact with other horses. Adjoining farms with horses will also be quaranteen even if those horses may not have the disease.

You are wrong to say that Georgia has no clue. The state inspectors and volunteers moved very quickly as soon as the problem was found. One of the state equine inspectors was told of the dying animals at a horse sale late on Saturday night. Another state inspector went to the farm on Sunday morning to investigate and found dead and dying animals everywhere while the owners lived in a million dollar house on 600 acres of land.

The inspectors put out a call to the horse and cattle community for help. They spent Sunday gathering the thousands of pounds of food needed to keep the animals alive. Many volunteers showed up on Monday and began feeding the animals. Hay growers donated hay for the horses and cows. Dog food and goat food was provided also. A drug company contacted the instpectors about providing medicines for the sick animals. My wife spent about 12 hours on Monday at the farm and did not get home until after midnight.

She said that to a non-horse or non-cattle person it would have been difficult to tell that the animals were being starved because of the winter coats and the distance from the road where the animals were kept. She could tell as soon as she got to the farm. Getting up close to the animals it was obvious to the average person that they were in trouble.

Rhona