I ride past this house on my bicycle, and those dogs always barked at me. I always thought they were some very good looking beagles. Sad they are now gone.

I am sure the people who "claim" to know Tami really do. The Janesville area is a close nit community.

I see "Wesgonsin" you are anonymous too. Your post is slinging insults at those of us who do know Tami. Tami knows a lot of people and a lot of people know Tami. Everyone who knows Tami knows about her dogs, and how much they are a part of her life. I hope you don't own a dog or a pet. If you do, then those are the animals to pity. You think your comments are the only ones of value? Then you are the one who should grow up. By the way I requested the removal of a few of the posts. They were offensive. There are no boxes that ask why the posts should be removed. And I am not going to mention if the posts I requested to be removed were actually removed. I did sign up yesterday because of the posts I read after hearing from a fellow Janesville-Beloit Kennel Club member that the article was offensive. I am outraged.

What we need to ask is how can we help Tami.

I am Tami's aunt. I am the one responsible for getting Tami interested in getting involved with dog's, shows and breeding. I have bred, trained and shown purebred Labradors for over 35 years. I now judge dog shows as an AKC licensed judge. I can not emphasize too much Tami's dedication, love and devotation for her animals. This is devastating for our whole family. The puppies that she had were the result of three years of planning. She bred to try to get that perfect Beagle - NOT TO GET RICH! She seldom had puppies - when she did it was well planned blending pedigrees for healthy, good conformation dogs with excellent temperments. This is a hobby for Tami, not a vocation. She is absolutely devastated and has lost everything. Fortunately, she has great support from family and many, many friends. We will get thru this - when God closes one door, he open's another. Please pray for her, don't criticize her.

I don't understand why people are breeding animals when there are so many homeless pets at the humane society? Poor little angels without homes, but people would rather have dogs with papers... I have never known a dog more lovable and more loyal then your average mutt.

Here is what I don't understand... Sometimes an article is published and two, three, or four people claim to know the person in question on a personal basis.
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Why can't they all just meet over coffee at a McDonalds and hash out thier differences, instead of plugging up the readers comments? Sometimes they remind me of a bunch of fourth-graders passing out notes behind someones back, when they sling insults at each other via the "anonymity" of the Janesville Gazette.
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Yawn..... Grow up.

I personally lived next to Tammy for 3 years, some time ago. She is a wonderful person that is totally devoted to her pets. She is a responsible pet owner. I am trully sorry for her loss.

Those poor animals...

"When you don't address the bigger issue, these smaller issues do crop up," he said." I think this is one of the most inane statements I've ever heard -- is he suggesting that a) a total loss house fire is a small issue and/or b) there would have been no fire had there been fewer dogs in the house??

I read this story because the headline suggested it was about the tragedy suffered by my acquaintance, the well-respected and nationally known Beagle fancier, Tami Babcock. But it appears that this is not a report about the dogs or her loss at all, but an opinion piece promoting an extremely personal agenda.

I'm extremely saddened that this article is adding to the pain of a responsible person's loss.

So, Mikki, if you know Hurley so well, did you know he was on vacation during this whole incident? He wasn't even there to check the conditions or inquire into the reason why Tami had that many animals. The gazette called him for his "opinion" and never tried to contact anyone else at HS, according to my sources at HS. It wasn't right how he just made assumptions and how the gazette felt the need to get an opinion of someone who wasn't even there. What about Tami's side of the story? The HS will be questioning him on his conduct. They have told my source that they have NO reason to inquire into Tami's situation any further, as they do understand that Tami is a well-respected breeder.

Tami lost her pets that she cared so dearly for on Wednesday along with her home. It was a huge tragedy and I can't even fathom to think of what she is going through. My thoughts and prayers are with her as she learns to deal with this loss. She has a wonderful circle of family and friends supporting her, and from the looks of this blog, I think she has some great community support also.

I'm not new Mikki - you're making yourself look bad. And your little friend, too.

Well cared for dogs in a controlled environment is a not a puppy mill, Mikki, just in case your narrow point of view didn't allow you to see that.

Your right, I don't find it necessary to force my opinions on people about every story I see.. only the ones that I KNOW are false and misleading.
Maybe if you stepped away from your computer long enough to walk outside you'd realize that the world does not revolve around you and maybe.. just maybe you'd realize that you are not always right. Even as superior as you find yourself it still could happen!
Best of luck with that!

LOL
Well, I guess it's pointless to argue with the newbies that just sign on to protect their buddy. Obviously they had nothing to say about any other important news story until now.

Mikki- I had nothing to do with your post being removed, apparently I wasn't the only one who found your narrow minded opinions offensive.
I find it incredibly hypocritical that you can scold me for disagreeing with the comments of a person I don't know yet you find it OK to completely attack a total stranger. Puppy Mill is one of the most offensive things you could say and so far from the truth it is ridiculous!! You go ahead and "back up" Hurley, I'm sure he is just THRILLED to have someone like you on his side! I'll continue to support Tami along with the rest of the majority out here!!
You too have a great day! I know I will when I go home to my BOUGHT pure-bred dogs!

Wow, who is this Mikki?
Attacking the integrity of people she knows nothing about.
I understand her defending someone she knows but.......
Wasn't it just a few short months ago that the organization she and Mr. Hurley work for had their "integrity" and "ethics" publicly questioned?
Wasn't their an accusation of "hoarding" involved?
Wasn't a director "removed"?
I would think this organization would want to keep a low profile for some time until they can regain a certain amount integrity and honor and not make rogue statements to the press etc.
Didn't they get the memo??

Hannah- your dad seems like a great guy. Yes pets have been known to travel thousands of miles to get home. Not so dumb animals after all.

Mikki-- Actually it's you that sounds like the one that's whining. Obviously you posted something that was offensive and THAT'S why your post was removed. And btw does the HS recieve money when you "rescue" an animal? So I guess you buy the animal then. It could well be that people don't want to go thru the hassle of dealing with the HS to "rescue" a dog.
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Just what percentage of dogs at the shelters are purebreds? I mean the type people pay good money for? with papers?
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Hurley is just doing what the HS and other "alphabet" groups do; using the media to push the beliefs of that group, they don't think people are smart enough to reason for themselves, so hey, let's just pass a law.

arent the number of pets you can have laws DIFFERENT if youre a breeder!!!!!!!

hard to have a limit of 3 cats and 2 dogs or only 4 of one kind if youre a breeder!!!!
what do you do if you bread one cats and she has more than 3 kittens- toss them in the trash. no the laws are different.

another question- can you be a breeder if you live in the city- maybe this is a good difference. but people in the city have cats that have kittens so there must be a law on this too in the city yould be over the linit if your caT had kittens. this would happen so often if people WOULDNT let their unfixed cats ROAM as they please. i am not complaining BUT this is where lots of those poor little kitties come from. i like the cats that roam in my neighborhood but PLEASE FIX THEM. my dad has a couple oudoor cats that roam around. he grabed them and took them to the vet and fixed them. they still roam around. theyre NOT his cats and he doesnt waant to take them to humane society . theyre cared for well and have winter protection. he did try to take one to milton for a family but he came back home to janesville- WOW long way. amazing to me.

very cool to save the kitty- i hope if this happened to me yould try to save my kitties too.

I too noticed the referance as to MAYBE this happened cause too many animals in the home. what ever. did they have all their ipods hooked up to just one outlet????


I would hope since these pups are income she had some insurance. that may recoop the loss of the business loss of the pups.

i also her the radio version of this where they brought up the fire VERY BRIEFLY then went into the lots pof dogs and seemed to relate it somewhat to those huskies. no more mention of the home or WHAT kind of pups parished-( breeder). it was strange.

Just want to clear up a bit of misinformation. You CAN adopt purebred pets from humane societies and rescue organizations. There are several breeds that are overrepresented in the shelters and though I wouldn't want to outlaw responsible breeding, people who breed animals that tend to end up in shelters are NOT responsible no matter how well they treat them. Let's NOT see any more pit bulls or labrador retrievers in the shelter before people keep breeding them.

Mikki- quoted from your post "aw, you poor little thing. At least you learned how to cry and whine and get people's comments removed.
Shame you don't know Jim personally, as I do. Or perhaps worked for the Humane Society, as I have."

SHAME ON YOU!!! Do YOU know Tami personally? How is it your quick to jump to Jim's defense without knowing Tami? She has more experience with rescuing, and caring for those animals than you probably are in age.. So don't jump on your bandwagon until you know all the facts and the people involved...

Shanbass, aw, you poor little thing. At least you learned how to cry and whine and get people's comments removed.
Shame you don't know Jim personally, as I do. Or perhaps worked for the Humane Society, as I have.
Go ahead and back up your little friend and her puppy mill, and I will back up a man with years in service, and the Humane Society, where people RESCUE animals, not BUY them.
You have a great day!!

I have a question, since it is now haying time for most farmers, if a barn fire starts due to hay being combustable and a farmer loses cattle, sheep, or whatever in a barn fire does that raise a concern with the HS for too many animals in too small of a space? It sounds as if the issue should be the terrible loss of home, pets, and belongings should be the issue here, not the amount of "well cared for" animals. My sympathies are with the family.

Jim Hurley's comments are not totally true, especially the statement of "the humane society's focus is on the care of animals, not to be a politically active organization trying to push laws through".
While the HS is focused on the care of animals, the HS, locally and nationally are backing and "pushing" laws in many state legislatures currently in the midwest. Many of these laws negatively effect beeders, hunters, kennels etc.
It is unfortunate the he must convey his "agenda" in this type of tragedy.
Ms. Babcock I am truely sorry for your loss.

The fact of the matter is that Tammy Babcock is an AKC certified breeder who cared for and loved each of these animals as if they were her own children. It is a shame that “reporter” Gina Guwe failed to do her research and find out why the animals were in the home, how they were cared for on a day to day basis, and the reputation of the breeder in question. And if she did know that information it does not show in her article. Her article came off as ill-informed and unprofessional, turning a tragedy of a house fire with the loss of pets into a sales pitch for Rock County Humane Society and Mr. Jim Hurley to push their agendas’. I find it amazing how they tell us that the animals were all taken care of yet they also claim that she should not have been allowed to have them. The fire was the tragedy here (not the number of animals), the facts regarding the animals were withheld, and the fire took second stage to the opinions of Mr. Jim Hurley, this was an extremely distasteful article and I pray that Gina Guwe uses this as a learning experience for future work with the Gazette. By the way, if we did not have responsible breeders there would be worse inbreeding problems and temperament issues with dogs which would result in the Humane Society having an even worse issue consisting of overpopulation of violent untrained dogs that they would have to find homes for. Mr. Jim Hurley never mentioned the benefits of how responsible breeders help with the temperament of the pets that they find good homes for, he merely tried to keep the issues focused on the number of animals and not on how necessary responsible breeders are to maintaining proper temperaments in animals, and unfortunately the article written by Gina Guwe might as well be written by Mr. Jim Hurley because she did not do enough research to find out the information on how responsible breeders are necessary and actually help the Humane Society by screening their potential clients, having in-depth contracts with each sale, limiting the numbers of litters out of each female for her safety, and making sure that they only breed with other animals of proper temperament and pedigree. This helps to insure that each of the animals that a responsible breeder sells go to homes where they stay throughout their lifetime and that they do not end up in a Humane Society, each breeder that I know will buy the dog back before allowing it to go into a Humane Society, and that is usually in the contract that is signed and agreed upon (with agreed upon fines if the contract is not followed).

Mikki- I was able to read your post before it was wisely removed by the Gazette staff. The reason I just registered yesterday is because I have never felt the need to comment on stories before but since this story was written about my cousin Tami I was compelled to contribute.
I'm sure that Hurley is a dedicated HS worker but when someone makes judgements without knowing all the facts first they open themselves up for critisism. He gets PAID to help animals... Tami has always done it for free. Showing dogs is not a money making sport for most people. Tami works very hard everyday to cover all the expenses involved in raising and showing dogs. Her dogs were NOT income as 'Rickwantsmoney' said but they are the reason she goes to work everyday!
These animals were beloved and well taken care of pets and when people suggest otherwise without knowing the truth they are just being hurtful.

This wasn't a case of hoarding and she wasn't running a puppy mill. The dogs were well cared for and the humane society needs to focus it's efforts on those who aren't being taken care of. There's plenty enough work there. I don't have a problem with the Gazette including his comments in the article though I think in this instance he is off base.

You know, I have one of the Huskies from that house which had over 40 of them. It's a great pet and he's happy as a lark. This woman proabaly feels horrible about these dogs having perished.

To "wtf": I understand where you're coming from about shelter dogs, but a shelter dog isn't necessarily good for everyone. A breeder doing something they love isn't a bad thing. Yes, there are many shelter dogs that need good homes. There are also many children in orphanages and foster homes that need good homes, too. Does that mean people shouldn't be able to have their own children? I know it's not exactly the same thing, as children aren't comparable to pets to some people, but it's still somewhat similar. My heart goes out to Tammy on the loss of her home and pets.

This newspaper article is a disgrace and irresponsible reporting. You should keep to the topic of the tragedy of the loss of the animals and the household of this person. It is not about the number of dogs, it is about a person and her terrible tragedy. All of the commenters who digress, forgetting the tragedy and focusing on irrelevant topics should be ashamed of themselves. Turning this into a forum for pet-haters is wrong.

Tammy Babcock is a highly respected breeder and handler in the dog show world. Tammy has been showing dogs since her early teens. She has spent years donating her time and skills to the Janesville Beloit Kennel helping people learn how to train and care for thier pets. Notice "rickwantsmoney" Donate...that means not receiving compensation...Her dogs were always well cared for and in top condition.
She did not breed very often and when she did, it was a thoroughly planned breeding and she had a waiting list for people who wanted puppies from her. She could never fill the waiting list, because she didnt breed very often. She also cared for rescue dogs, rehabilitating them at her EXPENSE. Notice mr
rickwantsmoney....HER EXPENSE. She also found permanent new homes for the rescue dogs she did care for.
There are people that want purebred dogs and not dogs from a shelter from unwanted litters.
Lets face it...there are some people out there that shouldnt have one dog.

MIKKI: just because someone may have registered today to comment on this story doesn't make them a idiot. Many times people just decide to finally comment on a cause that means something to them. This was just one of those time when people final decided to speak up.
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That said I do believe that Jim is a dedicated humane society worker and that he is just expressing a concern for ALL animals, but his comments on this particular story should have been limited. This story was about the unfortunate loss a a home and beloved family pets. Thats where the story should have focused on. There was no need to make it into a political platform for creating a law on how many pets a family should own. There is a time and place for everything and this was one time when those kind of comments were not warranted, no matter how dedicated a animal shelter worker you are...show some compassion please.
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Oh by the way I have been a member of this blog a long time and I do not know the woman in this story, and I send my heart felt sympathies out to her on her loss.

I agree with deborah21154. No laws on how many people you can shove into a single family house or apartment for that matter. No laws on how many children people can pop out at the tax payers expense and then not care for them properly. And someone wants to complain about well cared for animals? Really???

Im so sorry for the loss of Tammy's beloved pets and her home. I am sure she is having a very difficult and sad time in her life right now. I am glad that someone cared enough to help her cat that survived. Many people veiw their pets like children. Im sure her grief is very deep and my thoughts are with her. As long as they were all well cared for, and no neighbors complained, everyone needs to mind their own business.

I have started both regional and national breed rescues (501c3 orgs.). I have 3 canine rescues here and 2 fosters of another species that actually came through Rock Co. so don't lecture me about what I don't know about rescue. I never said Mr. Hurley isn't dedicated but to make a disparaging comment about someone he doesn't even know and pass judgement on the number of animals she had without knowing the situation is extremely unkind. (Does he think that having 15 dogs, some which were 2 week old pups, is what started the fire?) That is what caused me to register and make my comment as it has been so long since I posted a comment here I did not remember my user name/password. BTW, I am only registered one time so maybe it is you who have more than one username since you are obviously familiar with doing that type of thing!

The number of animals you own is not what's most important. What is, is how well you take care of those you have. Owning one dog is legal probably everywhere... yet so many people are not capable of properly caring for that one dog. I'm very involved with rescue so I see all too frequently how people do NOT take care of the pets they own. People want to establish laws or whatever on how many animals you can have.. where's the limit on the number of people who can legally reside in a single family home? Where's the limit on how many kids you can have when you can't afford and don't properly take care of those you already have?

Good breeders are in it for the love of dogs and the breed. For most breeders, their dogs are as much pets as the dog of the average family. In many cases, the bond is even stronger. Their lives revolve around these dogs -- raising them, training them, taking them to shows on the weekends. For many people, the dogs are at the center of their lives.

Dogs are not in shelters because of responsible breeders. *Responsible* breeders take their puppies back (generally no refund) and re-home them if the situation doesn't work out. (That is an important screening question that buyers should ask a breeder.) Dogs are in shelters because of back-yard-breeders, puppy mills and the "accidents" of non-breeder owners. Shelters are an attempt to clean up other people's messes, not a solution to the problem. I have had many rescued animals and applaud those who give a chance to a shelter dog / cat. Some of those dogs are lovely adoptable pets. Some of them have more than a few "issues" due to poor health, temperament or past treatment. Many are "difficult" breeds not suitable as pets for most people.

If a person wants to start with a registered, carefully-bred purebred puppy to show or as a pet, that option should be available to them. It is like saying why have your own kids when there are perfectly good kids languishing in foster care? Why not just adopt them instead? One isn't better than the other, it is just two different ways to do things.

Shame on Jim Hurley for implying that this tragedy was somehow related to having several dogs in the home. People don't deserve to have their lives destroyed by electrical fires just because they love dogs.

I know Tammy and I can tell you that her dogs were treated better than most people treat their own children. Tammy is an amazing person that IS NOT in Beagles to make money. She often takes in rescue Beagles and is very dedicated to helping them find new homes and if she can't find them a home she keeps them herself. She is also the person that the neighbor kids know to take abandoned kittens to because they know she will do her best to find them homes or again add them to her family if a home can't be found.
I understand that the Humane Society is here to help animals but they are so quick to judge without knowing all the facts. Yes, there are way too many dogs without homes in shelters but they were not put there by honest, reputable breeders and breeders should not be held responsible for them. Breeding quality dogs is not a crime and there should not be laws against it!
How anyone could link this terrible accident to having too many dogs is crazy. It does sound like the Humane Society once again trying to shove their views down our throats. Hurley if you took the time to learn the facts you might realize that there are many people out there helping animals and Tammy is one of them. You don't have to work for the Humane Society to do your part!

Should this be made law to limit animals. Yes these where show dogs and if people wants a pure breed show dog, where do they get them from. A Breeder of course. Are you going to say people who raise sheep for fairs and shows can not breed and raise sheep. I know small farms around the area that have as many as 30 show sheep. You people need to use common sense.

Most of the true breeders I know don't actually make money on their litters...heck most times they are lucky to break even. A good breeder has much money invested in vet care to pay for, ie: first shots ($10 - $15ea), dew claws ($15.00ea), worming ($4.00ea), special food ($15 & up), sometimes a c-section ($300 and up) for the mom, and of course any other vet care that can pop up such as cherry eye ($200 and up ) and the list goes on. Plus most breeders microchip ($35.00ea), and have health papers( $50.00ea). So when they sell you a pup for $350.00 they are not raking in the money.
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A true breeder breeds for the love of the breed...to improve it for show quality standards, or to keep a breed line alive and well. There are several dog breeds that almost became extinct, but instead survived thanks to breeders.
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Just because someone decides to breed...it doesn't make them a puppy mill...there is a world of difference between the two.
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For some who want a pure bred they go to a reputable breeder for others who wish to adopt at a shelter that's wonderful, but it doesn't have to come down to one or the other, both can survive together...In fact I have had 3 adopted dogs(mutts) over the years, and now have a purebred from a breeder. In the end what does it matter where you got your pet as long as you love it enough to give it a happy forever home.

ricks---- SOME breeders should be outlawed. Your comment is silly.

Exactly what is the Rock Co. HS spokesperson trying to say here? If he doesn't want that many dogs in his house, fine but if someone can care for that number of dogs (he said everything was clean, etc.) then what is the problem? It isn't for him to judge as long as no laws are broken and animals are well cared for! I have almost that many dogs in my house,too. It is not illegal where I live (all are licensed), my house is clean, my dogs are well cared for and most are spayed/neutered. Because I show dogs,just like Tammy does, you end up with more dogs than the average person as you cherish your retired dogs just as you do your newest litter so you don't dump them just because they are older. Responsible dog owners/breeders are not criminals and just because someone has a litter of puppies doesn't mean their dogs are a source of income (Tammy is a dog groomer as far as I know and that is how she earns her living NOT from her dogs). Many responsible breeders only have a litter once every year or two and this is the situation here as most of her dogs are spayed/neutered so maybe you should offer her your sympathy for her loss of her beloved pets AND her home instead of criticizing her.

I would like to know how Mr. Hurley made the leap from a terrible and accidental house fire to "but the issue is the number of animals in that small of an area". What in the heck does the number of dogs in a home have to do with the cause of this fire? What a horrible way to get yourself publicity for promotion of your personal views. One thing has nothing to do with the other, and this man should know better. Also, Gina Duwe, in reporting on this tragic house fire, was way off target in inferring that the cause of the fire was too many dogs in the home. As a "journalist", she certainly took an irresponsible turn in her report. My sincere sympathies to Ms. Babcock on the loss of her champion dogs, the litter of puppies and the family kitties. That feeling should have certainly been expressed in the article, not the absurdities on "proposed laws" and personal views that were reported.

I agree with rickwantsmoney in the sense that there are soooo many animals in shelters that need homes.....why make more animals when there are ones that need homes????

Yeah outlaw, breeders. Then where do you suggest people get their purebred dogs? Or should we all be forced to have mutts?
More laws is not always the answer.

They weren't "pets", they were income. Big difference.

Breeders should be outlawed.

They were taken care of- whats the beef? Sorry for the loss of your home and pets!

Just because you shouldn't have that many animals doesn't necessarily mean you need to make a law about it.

Tammy is a well respected and responsible breeder of AKC champion beagles. The total number of 15 includes a litter of baby puppies who also perished in the fire. This was not a hoarding situation and I feel that it is irresponsible of Hurley to compare this tragic situation of the death of much loved and well cared for show dogs to the case of the cruelly neglected Siberian Huskies owned by a hoarder earlier this year.