Dogs Seized in Hoarding Case Get Groomed in Largo

A Largo groomer learned about the animal hoarding case on Facebook and offered to help cleanup and groom some of the dogs.

For about eight hours Friday night, a volunteer team from helped about a dozen rescued dogs.

The rescue.

VIP Rescue, based in Clearwater, rescued nearly two dozens dogs from an animal hoarding case in Venice.

Late last week, Sarasota County Animal Services pulled out dog after dog in chicken coops and have weighed, examined and catalogued them, said Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the

Terri Ensign, with VIP Rescue, transported 13 dogs from Sarasota County Friday.

"The vet bills are going to be outrageous," Ensign said. "Every dog will have a bill. They have ear infections and eye infections."

Help in Largo.

Matted, filthy and covered in urine and fleas about a dozen dogs received helped Friday from about 4 p.m. until around midnight. Some of the dogs stayed overnight in Largo before returning to VIP Rescue.

The national master certified master groomer, Lisa Menze, and her team worked in pairs on the poodle mixes, yorkies and maltese dogs. The extra groomer was needed just to hold and comfort the dog.

"They were not used to any form of human contact. They had never been groomed, " Menze said. "Its just a really, really slow process of getting them used to the equipment."

Menze often aids dogs in need. She helps with its and offers grooming vouchers to people who adopt cats and dogs at the Largo shelter.

Menze said for 22 years she has been "blessed" to have a career caring for people's pets. She feels like she doesn't "work" because she loves what she does.

"When making a living with animals. You should give back to animals, not as fortunate," she said.

If you want to help.

Volunteers say they need donations and foster homes. For more information contact VIP Rescue at (407) 504-8318 or find them on Facebook.