Rock rescue: Dogs seized in raid find love at humane society

By CATHERINE IDZERDA

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

Rock County Humane Society Executive Director Angela Rhodes spends time with Cassanova, a Shih Tzu recovered with more than 80 other dogs in Necedah. Cassanova is one of four dogs that went to the Rock County Humane Society. Currently under quarantine to give their vaccinations time to process, Cassanova and most of the other dogs will soon be up for adoption.

JANESVILLE — These pooches need smooches.

Earlier this week, the Rock County Humane Society took in four of the 83 dogs and 10 cats seized in a raid at a Necedah home.

A Shih Tzu, two of her puppies and a poodle-mix are now recovering under the tender care of shelter staff.

“For what they’ve come out of, they’re doing well,” said Angela Rhodes, humane society executive director. “The pups are fine; the mother is a little more reserved.”

The poodle-mix had to be completely shaved because its fur was matted and dirty.

“She’s a little more timid,” Rhodes said. “She just shakes and looks sad.”

Rhodes believes once the dogs are settled into loving homes they’ll turn out to be good companions.

The dogs were found in a June 9 raid at the home of two 63-year-old-women, Jean E. Maderer and Leslie A. Ellis.

Juneau County sheriff’s deputies reported finding animals living in “unfit conditions” in a home where the floors were covered with urine and fecal matter.

Officers also found two dead kittens with mold on them.

Maderer and Ellis were arrested on charges of failure to provide shelter, failure to provide sanitation, failure to provide ventilation and violation of an abatement order.

Sheriff’s deputies had been to the house before and warned the women about having too many animals.

Juneau County has no animal shelter so the animals were distributed throughout the state.

A Janesville woman, who is part of the all-volunteer Badger Animal Rescue Transportation Services, picked up the animals.

The dogs will be up for adoption as early as today, but cannot be taken home until Tuesday, when they will be spayed or neutered.

Rhodes estimates it will cost between $500 and $600 for vaccines, heartworm tests and the sterilizing operations for all of the animals.

Why take animals from outside the county?

“Part of the message here is that the Rock County Humane Society is part of a larger shelter and rescue community,” Rhodes said. “We know that if we were in the same boat, they would help us.”