Georgetown backyard breeder surrenders more than 50 dogs to Brandywine Valley SPCA

A Georgetown backyard breeder surrendered more than 50 dogs to the Brandywine Valley SPCA this past weekend, after a complaint to the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare.

The breeder, who operated a kennel with 161 dogs and puppies on the premises, was issued "corrective notices" for unsanitary conditions and medical issues after a visit by the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare on July 23. She still has 103 small dogs.

Through a partnership with the Brandywine Valley SPCA, the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare brought in a team from the SPCA to help reduce the number of dogs, per an agreement with the homeowner. Fifty-eight dogs were initially surrendered, though the breeder requested that four be returned the following day, according to the SPCA.

If the breeder does not make the necessary corrections involving medical and grooming concerns, then citations may be issued against the breeder, according to the state Office of Animal Welfare. The investigation remains open and ongoing, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

The SPCA on Thursday asked for donations on its website and Facebook to help cover costs in the case. The Saturday visit and subsequent care provided by a team of 15 medical and animal personnel, including two veterinarians, cost the shelter more than $20,000.

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That number doesn't include the costs of emergency boarding, spaying and neutering the 50-plus animals or medical care needed for the dogs taken in after Saturday's eight-hour visit, according to the organization.

“It’s unfortunate when we see an elderly person who cares about their pets get into a situation where the numbers and care required exceed what they can handle,” said Adam Lamb, CEO of the Brandywine Valley SPCA. “We need to be there for the community in cases like this and to help raise awareness to prevent such situations in the future.”

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The surrendered small dogs include a variety of breeds, including Pomeranians, shih tzus, dachshunds, miniature poodles and pugs. The dogs are mostly adults, though some are considered senior animals. 

The Brandywine Valley SPCA expects that some of them will be available for adoption later this week, while others will take longer before they are ready for adoption.

All of the dogs were given age-appropriate vaccinations, heartworm testing, de-worming and flea/tick treatment, as well as any additional treatment required for their medical conditions.

Helping dogs that need extra time and care before an adoption is what inspired the SPCA to put a Rescue and Rehab Center in Sussex County, said Lamb in a statement Thursday.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA plans to open that center in early 2019 in a Georgetown facility that was once home to a 13-acre animal sanctuary. Plans for the center include a behavior center, a kitten nursery, housing for pending cruelty cases, and an intake center for emergency placements and transfers of at-risk animals from other shelters, according to the SPCA.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.