Pet Save in Sudbury recently rescued 27 dogs from a hoarding situation in a Sudbury apartment. When the animals arrived, officials said they were very skittish and untrusting. They are now being socialized with patience and are making great progress. The parents of three litters of puppies were among the dogs rescued. Mukwa and Shadow have now been spayed and neutered and will be returned to their owner. Pet Save director Jill Pessot said the rescue was the result of patient negotiations. “We responded to the call and started to engage with the gentleman and just talk to him about overpopulation,” Pessot said. “What are his plans for these animals? He was definitely in trouble, so we just reached out to say, let’s work it out.” She said pet hoarding is a growing problem and that people need to ask for help before situations they are overwhelmed, a situation that results in neglect. “You can imagine going into a two-bedroom apartment with 27 dogs and 25 of those being puppies -- you can imagine the conditions,” Pessot said. “I mean, that would be hard for our shelter staff to maintain in a small space, let alone, you know, an individual who works and has to come home and deal with the care level that they require. She said the youngest litter was sent to Throw Me a Bone Canada in Parry Sound. Right now, animal care attendants at Pet Save are working with puppies that are ages nine to ten months, building trust, TLC and socialization. “When these dogs came in, they were terrified,” said Jennifer Ullrich, Pet Save animal care attendant. “They had never gone outside before, so we have to take our time with them and we just have to make sure we are going at their pace. Lots of treats, lots of praise.” In just a week, Ullrich said there is already a big difference, with the pups going from barking and hiding at the sight of people to now building social skills. First time seeing grass They are also seeing grass for the first time. “It’s incredibly heartwarming,” she said. “We are so happy for them, so proud of them. They are going to have great lives when they are done here.” The cost to care for the dogs rescued from this hoarding situation alone is more than $25,000. The dogs will be available for adoption with spay/neuter once they are properly socialized. On May 24, Pet Save is holding A New Lease On Life Walkathon at Bell Park starting at 10 a.m. It’s one of its largest fundraisers supporting the animal welfare charity.
