18 Abandoned Purebred Dogs Recovering In Baltimore County Animal Shelters
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)—Officials at two shelters in Baltimore County have an unusual problem. Within 24 hours, 18 dogs--most of them pure and puppies-- were rounded up in two different locations by concerned citizens.
As Mike Schuh reports, there is speculation that the dogs might have gotten too old for a breeder, who set them loose.
Most of the strays that end up in shelters are mutts. But these are high-quality dogs. That's the mystery.
The kennels in Baltimore County are a bit more crowded. On Tuesday, 18 dogs were rounded up in two locations and turned in to two shelters.
What's unusual to those who are caring for the dogs is the number of them who are purebreds.
"Well it's unusual to say the least," said Tom Scollins, Baltimore County Animal Control. "We don't get in large numbers of purebreds at once.
On Monday, 10 dogs were found running loose near Halethorpe. Just a few hours later, near Owings Mills, eight dogs were rounded up by concerned citizens.
The county shelter got one Australian cattle dog. The Baltimore Humane Society got four. They look alike and are about the same age.
"It could be a commercial breeder who had to get rid of some animals 'cause they couldn't sell them anymore. I don't know. Very unusual," Scollins said.
At the Baltimore Humane Society, 10 dogs are now getting care. The Humane Society doesn't want pictures of the 10 dogs they received out yet as they are in isolation, sick, underweight and not social.
Veterinarian Mary Zink has concerns about the dogs.
"Some of them look similar, so our suspicion is that they're from the same person and they're spreading their pets throughout the Baltimore community," Zink said.
Though these dogs could have been injured or killed once turned loose, once adopted, they're certainly going to a better home than they had.
Four of the dogs at the county shelter are available for adoption; the ones at the Humane Society are still in isolation.
