Stanislaus Animal Shelter In Need Of Towels, Chew Toys After 150 Dogs Rescued From Suspected Puppy Mill
STANISLAUS COUNTY (CBS13) – A suspected puppy mill was discovered by chance while deputies were investigating a domestic violence case in Stanislaus County.
The discovery was made on Thursday in south Modesto. According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, deputies served a search warrant at a 500 block of Roselawn Avenue property in connection to a reported domestic violence call.
Deputies say a victim reported that she had been abused and tortured by the suspect. While the woman got away from the suspect late last month, deputies didn't move on him until Thursday over concerns he was possibly armed.
On Thursday, after suspect Nicholas Dean Baugh was arrested at his mother's home in east Modesto, deputies showed up at his south Modesto property.
There, deputies say they discovered about 150 French bulldogs, Dobermans and other kinds of dogs. At some point, deputies say a fire also broke out at the property. Firefighters put the flames out, but not before one dog died of smoke inhalation.
Animal control is now in possession of the dogs. Baugh, 38, is under arrest on numerous charges related to domestic violence – as well as 146 counts of animal cruelty.
None of the dogs are currently up for adoption, but the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency is asking for some help in making the pups more comfortable at the shelter. Officials say they are in need of 300 towels or thin blankets for bedding.
The shelter is also seeking chew toys, but not of the rawhide or edible kind.
Items can be dropped off at the Animal Services building at 3647 Cornucopia Way in Modesto.