Creating Second Chances

Overwhelmed with 27 Yorkshire Terriers, a suspected former breeder wasn't providing even the most basic care for their dogs.

The dogs suffered in cramped living conditions inside filthy crates. They received no veterinary care. With only barns and an old horse trailer for shelter, these vulnerable dogs likely would not have survived the winter.

An anonymous caller to HSMO's Animal Cruelty Hot Line expressed concern about the number of dogs on the property and the owners' ability to care for them. HSMO's Animal Cruelty Task Force visited the property and talked with the owners, who agreed to surrender the dogs voluntarily to the Humane Society of Missouri.

With winter setting in, a second chance for these precious pups started when the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force arrived.

"As cold weather approaches, we are very concerned that these tiny, vulnerable dogs might not survive the winter," says Kathy Warnick, president of the Humane Society of Missouri. "We appreciate the Good Samaritan whose call alerted us to this dangerous situation. Our expert veterinary and shelter staff will do everything we can to ensure their health and find them the loving homes they deserve."

When the dogs arrived at HSMO, their transformations began:

• Veterinarians gave each dog a full exam and prescribed treatments for severe flea infestations, skin infections and dental disease.
• Staff gently cleaned their ears, trimmed their nails, removed large matted sections of hair, administered vaccinations and treated them for fleas and worms.
• Each dog spent their very first night in a clean kennel with fresh bedding and toys.

You can learn more about their rescue and transformation in this video.

These transformations are not possible without YOUR SUPPORT.
These dogs needed extensive treatment before they were healthy enough to find forever homes. Some of the most severely neglected dogs required special grooming and medicated baths. They needed spay/neuter surgery and many required dental surgery.

Thanks to a good Samaritan who called our Animal Cruelty Hotline, these 27 dogs are now safe. Thanks to loving new owners they now live in clean and loving homes. Thanks to generous donations, they received the medical care they need.

Thanks to you, they got a second chance at life.
To learn more about the many ways you can help vulnerable animals in our communities, contact Arthur Hailand at 314-951-1584 or ahailand@hsmo.org.