51 Maltese Dogs Abandoned on a Country Road in Texas

A puppy mill operator's cowardly act nearly cost dozens of dogs their lives. Rescue is under way.

Police in Flower Mound, TX, received a call last month that "a large number of small dogs" were running loose beside a country road. Animal service officers were sent out, and they captured the dogs.

Fifty-one dogs, to be precise. All of them Maltese. They were in terrible hygienic condition, with "severely matted hair," and all were in poor health, with "issues ranging from staph infections to broken bones to cancer," according to Star Local News.

A video released later detailed those injuries, which included such horrors as a dislocated jaw, mammary tumors, tooth decay from eating urine-soaked food, a broken and dead tail, cauliflower ears, a deformed leg, nails grown into pads of their feet, and so on. The level of neglect surprised even veteran rescuers, according to the video. 

Who would dump 51 ailing and neglected Maltese? There's only one theory: a puppy mill operator. Though there is no specific breeder in mind, police suspect the dogs were abandoned due to a new Texas law requiring minimum care standards, inspection, and licensing of commercial breeders. There's a $6,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Thanks to the efforts of Flower Mound Animal Services, who rescued the dogs with police, all of the dogs were placed in local rescue groups.

"It is always gratifying to see how the rescue community pulls together in these situations," said Stacy Smith of Flower Mound Animal Services. "It would have been difficult for any one group to provide the level of care and attention that these dogs required."

Smith said that nearly every dog needed extensive medical treatment, and most suffered from anxiety and fear issues. 

"The organizations who took these dogs on committed to a great deal of expense and rehabilitation," Smith said. "These are not dogs that were ready to be adopted out immediately. They needed a lot of work."

The rescue groups did that work, however, and yesterday Flower Mound Animal Services was happy to report that many of the Maltese have already been adopted. Others are still rehabilitating in foster homes. One Maltese, Audrey, gave birth the day she was rescued. Her puppies will never know the horrors of the puppy mill.

Smith wants people to think about these dogs when they consider buying a puppy from a store.

"These dogs spent their lives as the mothers and fathers of puppies you purchase in pet stores, online, or at trade days," she said. "They live their entire lives in filthy cages. A puppy purchased from one of those sources supports the puppy mill industry and this kind of cruelty. If you want to make sure you aren't contributing to it, adopt your next pet from a shelter."

We couldn't agree more.

Via Star Local News

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RIP Lucky the Maltese, Friend to A-List Stars

She hobnobbed with glitterati, her winsome brown eyes winning the hearts of the rich and famous. So it was with sorrow that her many famous friends learned that Lucky died this week.

Betty White, Wendy Diamond, and Lucky. Photograph courtesy of AnimalFair.

The rescued Maltese was about 15 years old when she succumbed to cancer of the spleen in her dog bed in New York City on Tuesday.

Last November, Guinness World Records named Lucky as "the animal photographed with the most famous people." At that point, her total was 363 -- a number that included Kanye West, Bill Clinton, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Biel, Jon Stewart, Dr. Phil, Buzz Aldrin, Richard Branson, Rosie O’Donnell, Dave Matthews, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, Sting, Cloris Leachman, Kelly Ripa, Hugh Hefner, Richard Belzer, and Al Roker.

Rescued by animal-rights campaigner, TV personality, and socialite Wendy Diamond in 1999, the fluffy pup suffered from separation anxiety. Not wanting to leave Lucky home alone, Diamond brought her to celebrity-studded events. There the dog won so many hearts that Diamond began building connections to raise money for charity. Woman and dog embarked together on animal-advocacy missions in Russia, Greece, and Mexico, according to the Daily Mail.

Ted Danson with Lucky. Photograph courtesy of AnimalFair.

"Lucky had no idea exactly how lucky her life would be," Diamond writes in an obituary at her website, AnimalFair. "Lucky promoted animal rescue and helped endangered species globally. Together [we] created a media mindshare where charity combined with celebrity raised public awareness about animal rescue and the need for adoption from shelters nationally and on the local level. ...

"In her constant quest to give back (and get some treats in return), Lucky served as the Chair-Dog for the Katrina Pet Memorial, Grand Marshal of Barkus, as well as the American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life, and hosted 1000s of fundraisers in her lifetime. She was the only civilian dog admitted into the United Nations, and inspired the White House Pet Correspondents Benefit, St Pawtricks, Yappy Hour, Paws For Style, Howloween events, all to promote animal rescue and welfare."

Diamond described her relationship with Lucky as characterized by "unconditional love, loyalty, and a genuine bond that happens when people and their pets live together and work together with mutual respect and harmony."

Lucky's last public appearance was as "chair dog" of the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life on May 6 in Manhattan's Riverside Park.

“She made me realize how lucky I am, no matter what transpired in my life,” Diamond said. “I’m beyond grateful for the outpouring of generosity and support from friends and strangers who know exactly how much Lucky meant to me.”

Lucky was set to be the bride in a six-figure dog "wedding" benefiting the Humane Society of New York in July. According to the New York Daily News, Diamond vows that the event will still take place, with another dog in Lucky's stead.

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Halloween Contest Photo: The Maltese Lab

"Mr. Nosey, just couldn't resist "helping" get out Halloween decorations....  hence, lightbulb idea.   Old costumes in the bottom of a bin + 1 nosey Labrador = a "Maltese".  NO dogs were harmed in this dress up game, despite "the look'  MANY chicken treats were given! "Fairfax" Labrador Retriever  (Indi and Feather are the Maltese in the photo, also dressed up in Halloween bling!)"

posted 2010 Oct 11 by Chip Green

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