May 23, 2017 – Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control (FWACC) was contacted last week by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) requesting their assistance with the removal of several Great Dane and German Shepherd dogs residing in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in a nearby county.

BOAH was called to the property by local law enforcement. The dogs’ owner agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and BOAH to bring her dog ownership and breeding activities into compliance with state law. 

Also last week, a team of four FWACC staff traveled to the farm where they removed 16 dogs.

“It has been almost a year since we assisted BOAH with a similar situation. We recognize our agency has a lot more resources than smaller communities thanks to our supporters. Breeding operations can easily get out of control when not monitored or regulated as they are in the City of Fort Wayne. We have to work together to make the public aware of what is going on in our own backyards,” said Amy Jo-Sites, director, Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control.

FWACC works closely with several breed rescues including Allen County SPCA and the Humane Society of Whitley County. 

“After being told and then seeing first-hand the conditions these dogs were housed in, we couldn’t walk away and ignore it just because they weren’t in Allen County. Our supporters expect us to do something. It was quickly apparent many of these dogs had never been out of their kennels,” said Sites.

Each dog is being medically and behaviorally evaluated to determine their needs and potential challenges for an adopter. Fourteen dogs were considered emaciated. There are several dogs that will need advanced medical treatment. Upon intake, all of the dogs have received basic preventative vaccinations, an initial medical exam and a starting weight to gauge their progress. Once determined both behaviorally and medically healthy, they will be spayed or neutered prior to being placed for adoption. 

“We have already reached out to a partnering shelter who has taken four of the younger German Shepherd dogs. Though these dogs have created an unforeseen drain on our medical donations, we are getting them the services they desperately need to be given their first chance at a real life in a loving home,” said Sites.

FWACC is currently accepting donations toward the medical expenses incurred to rehabilitate and place the dogs. Donations can be made to the medical fund online at www.fwacc.org, by mail or during business hours at 3020 Hillegas Rd.