Dog crated at K9 Hero Haven
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania SPCA
28 former service dogs rescued from neglectful kennel
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Ben Wasserstein/WITF
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania SPCA
Dog crated at K9 Hero Haven
Twenty-eight dogs were rescued from K9 Hero Haven in Herndon, Northumberland County, after the non-profit’s owner was found guilty of neglect.
The group took in retired military and police dogs, but the animals were found in their kennels covered in feces and urine. Some have serious medical conditions.
The dogs were rescued by the Pennsylvania SPCA and include German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and a Labrador retriever.
K9 Hero Haven’s owner Anne Gibbs has since been barred from operating a kennel for 10 years.
Pennsylvania SPCA
German Shepherd with dried feces caked into her fur. Courtesy of Pennsylvania SPCA
Gibbs did not receive prison time.
“It is very unusual for any first-time offender to receive prison time for animal cruelty in the Commonwealth,” said Nicole Wilson, the group’s Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Services. “I know of almost no individuals who, for first-time animal cruelty or neglect, would get prison time.”
Pennsylvania SPCA
Fecal stained floors of a kennel at K9 Hero Haven. Courtesy of Pennsylvania SPCA
Initially, 20 dogs were rescued, but a subsequent search revealed conditions had not improved and an additional eight were removed from the kennel
Of the 28 rescued, only 20 survived. Eight had to be euthanized due to over-aggression or illness, like cancer.
“It was challenging, but you know, the good news is that they were surrounded by the team who loved them while they were in our care at the time that they had to go,” Wilson said.
Ten dogs remained in the SPCA’s care at the time of publication. The group has been working to reconnect the dogs with their former handlers.
One gets to live out his days in Alaska, said Wilson.
“We helped [the handler] coordinate the documents that he needed to fly the dog back to Alaska,” she said. “And they subsequently sent us some lovely updated photos of the two of them enjoying the Alaska wilderness.”
Pennsylvania SPCA
A Belgian Malinois after being rescued from K-9 Hero Haven
If someone is interested in adopting or fostering one of the rescued dogs, they can visit pspca.org or visit the shelter at 450 East Erie Ave in Philadelphia. Donations can be given at the same website.
If people have concerns about animal cruelty and neglect, they can contact 866-601-7722.
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