A local animal rescue organization rescued an estimated 42 dogs from frigid temperatures in Smithville this weekend.
Animal Rescue Corps Administrative Director Michael Cunningham said the organization responded to a scene where a backyard breeder had dogs penned and caged up outside. The organization received a call from animal control. Cunningham said seeing this many dogs being neglected was heartbreaking.
“The people know what they are doing, okay, but they are doing it anyway,” Cunningham said. “They know that there are laws that when it gets below freezing, animals need to have a heat source, or they need to be brought inside, and they aren’t.”
Cunningham said his team had to race against time when making the rescue as they arrived on the scene with limited sunlight left. Cunningham said with the help of volunteers and local law enforcement, the breeder surrendered the dogs.
“The Animal Rescue Corps could not function without our volunteers,” Cunningham said. “You know, we are like a 90 percent or 99 percent volunteer organization. We are based here in Tennessee because nobody shows up like Tennessee.”
Cunningham said the pomskys and other types of dogs were not only left out in the cold but had been neglected for some time, as most dogs were in poor condition. Cunningham said that since the rescue, the dogs have been doing well.
“We’ve got them inside with full bellies and warm beds,” Cunningham said. “They are very sweet dogs. They are doing well. We have already started our grooming process over the next few days. Everyone will be thoroughly vetted, vaccinated, just full examed.”
Cunningham said the plan is disperse the dogs to places outside of the state, as Tennessee already has enough problems with dogs, with many local animal shelters at full capacity. Cunningham said more rescues like this can be made possible with the help of more volunteers.