DOUGLAS COUNTY, MO – The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) recently intervened in a dire situation involving 43 Shiba Inu dogs in varying states of health and age. The dogs were found in a state of neglect on a property in Douglas County, Missouri, where they were under the care of a commercial breeder. In addition to the living dogs, the bodies of nine deceased dogs were also retrieved from the premises.
The surviving dogs were found to be malnourished and suffering from a number of health issues and injuries. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department issued an order to remove the dogs from the property, placing them temporarily under the care of HSMO. This action led to the rescue of the dogs, who are now receiving emergency medical attention and health evaluations.
The HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) was the first to respond to the situation after the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department intervened. Tragically, one of the dogs rescued on October 16 passed away shortly after being taken into custody. The ACT was able to recover its remains, along with those of eight other dogs.
A veterinarian from the Missouri Department of Agriculture was on-site to assess the dogs’ health before they were transported to HSMO offices. A formal custody hearing is scheduled for November 9 at the Douglas County Court in Ava, Missouri. At this hearing, HSMO will seek full custody of the dogs.
Once in HSMO’s custody, the dogs will be prepared for adoption following a clean bill of health from the veterinarians and assessments from the animal behavior team. The HSMO is currently seeking donations to support the care of these animals and is also requesting items such as blankets, newspapers, dog toys, and dog beds to aid in the dogs’ recovery.
For updates on the dogs’ availability for adoption, the public is encouraged to check the HSMO website. If anyone encounters an animal in danger or suffering from neglect or abuse, they are urged to report it to the authorities or contact the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Hotline.