Neglected Huskies Dropped Off at Virginia Shelter Unexpectedly

A Virginia shelter received an unexpected "delivery" of five malnourished huskies, among them a puppy.

According to the Norfolk SPCA Adoption Center and Veterinary Clinics, an animal rescue transporter brought the huskies to the shelter late on July 9, after the shelter had shut down for the day.

No prior plans had been made for this transfer, according to the agency's Facebook post, and it came as a complete surprise. According to the post, the transporter had driven four hours to get the dogs from North Carolina to Norfolk. About 100 miles to the southeast of Richmond is Norfolk.

As reported by Norfolk SPCA spokesman Matt Wurzburger to McClatchy News, staff members were called in to assist with receiving the dogs on Saturday night. He claimed that the dogs appeared to have been neglected and were underweight. Staff members chose to accept the dogs despite the shelter being at capacity at the time.

According to the agency, the group is currently attempting to raise $25,000 to cover the costs of the huskies' emergency medical care, socialization training, and adoption placements. The huskies' past is unknown, according to Wurzburger, but staff members think a backyard breeding operation produced them. The ages of the huskies are also unknown, but veterinarians will be able to determine much of the needed information once the physical examinations for each dog are completed.

Hookworm, heartworm, and whipworm, three types of intestinal parasites, were found in all of the dogs' tests. Wurzburger says that the dogs won't be available for adoption for at least a few weeks, News Observer reports.

Abandoning Pets

The community as well as the animals affected by pet abandonment suffer as a result, according to FOUR PAWS International. When dogs and cats are abandoned, they are left to fend for themselves on the streets where they may experience hunger, thirst, injuries, and diseases. They are also distressed and bewildered because their owner has abandoned them alone in a strange location.

The animals may pose a road safety risk if they run out in front of cars looking for their owner, which is another effect of dumping animals that many people are frequently unaware of. They might be a "nuisance" to the neighborhood by looking for food, barking at other canines, or even biting someone out of fear.

The global organization for the welfare of animals directly influenced by humans, FOUR PAWS International exposes suffering, rescues animals that are in need, and defends them.

Dog Breeding Regulations

Small-volume breeders are typically exempt from existing dog breeding regulations, which are generally intended to prevent mass breeding for commercial purposes. The Animal Welfare Act, which governs animal care at the federal level, exempts businesses that breed fewer than four females from its requirements, as well as breeders who sell their animals directly to consumers.

Similarly, small-volume breeders are disregarded by state laws that mandate commercial pet breeders obtain licenses. For instance, a 2011 Nevada law restricting dog breeding exempts hobby breeders from its provisions while imposing restrictions on operators of puppy mills and other commercial breeders. Notably, a study of states with licensing laws discovered that almost one-third of the inspectors of kennels reportedly made no effort to find unlicensed breeders.