Puppy mill owner signs injunction prohibiting business, dogs given homes

After the raid of a Greene County puppy mill Dec. 1, more than 100 rescued dogs and newborn puppies are being given a second chance at life.

Members of the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rescue organizations raided the breeding business, LoveMyPets, located in Bloomfield, Ind.

One hundred and thirteen dogs — some pregnant  — were rescued and brought to Pets Alive Nonprofit Spay/Neuter Clinic in Bloomington where a temporary emergency shelter was specially set up for the occasion.

The Office of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Tuesday that the owner of the LoveMyPets, Darlene J. Clark, agreed to no longer breed or sell dogs in Indiana.

Clark signed a permanent injunction in a Greene County Circuit Court that prohibits her from conducting business in Indiana, according to a press release from the Ind. Attorney General’s Office. A judge signed the injunction as well. 

Many of the rescued dogs are either ready for adoption or are going home to loving families.

James McNamara, executive director of Pets Alive, said most of the dogs stayed at the Pets Alive clinic for 48 hours after the rescue and were then distributed to four shelters throughout Indiana. 

Bloomington Animal Shelter, Brown County Humane Society, Pet Refuge in Mishawaka and New Albany/Floyd County Animal Shelter in New Albany received a number of the rescued dogs.

McNamara said the chance to help these dogs — many of which had health problems — was both life-changing and eye-opening.

Spay and neuter surgeries were performed Tuesday at Pets Alive on nine of Bloomington Animal Shelter’s 15 dogs from the puppy mill, preparing them for adoption.

Laurie Ringquist, director of Bloomington Animal Care and Control, said all of the dogs came to the shelter with intestinal parasite issues such as giardia and coccidia, caused by the animals living in — or even ingesting — their own feces in the crowded puppy mill. 

However, all the dogs finished their treatments for intestinal parasites Tuesday and are now healthy, Ringquist said.

Other rescued dogs inherited genetic defects, such as luxating patella, in which knee joints can pop in and out while walking as a result of improper breeding methods.

“None of these problems are insurmountable,” Ringquist said. “A few of the older dogs don’t have teeth but we can make sure they don’t have any infections in the mouth. They will just need a special diet for the rest of their lives.”

With most of the rescued dogs having approved adoption applications already, Ringquist said there might not be many rescued dogs remaining when the shelter has its Home for the Holidays Adopt-a-Thon on Friday.

“Most are going home today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday),” Ringquist said. “There will be a few left, including the older ones with health issues. But we’re hoping at the Adopt-A-Thon there will be somebody with room for the dogs with special needs.”

Anne Sterling, the Indiana state director for HSUS, said the ability to give rescued dogs a second chance at life is what makes her most excited for the rescued animals.

“These dogs will experience things they have never experienced before,” Sterling said. “They’ll know what it’s like to take a walk or play with somebody. I am so grateful that the dogs are going to get the opportunity to be pets and to be part of a life that isn’t a means to an end.”