36 Dogs Rescued From 'Illegal Kennel Operation' In Midland

MIDLAND, WA — 36 dogs have been rescued from what deputies call an abusive, illegal kennel operation in the Midland area.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the rescue started with a tip from a neighbor. Deputies say a concerned neighbor called to report that they had seen the property owner shooting dogs with a pellet gun, and that there were numerous dogs living at the home who appeared to be suffering abuse.

The neighbor submitted several photos of the dogs and the alleged abuse, and after interviewing that neighbor and several other witnesses, on Wednesday deputies received a search warrant to raid the home.

Once on site, deputies were stunned to find 36 kenneled dogs, 15 of which were puppies under 12 weeks old. Investigators say it appears the dogs were being used for breeding and selling, which they say is illegal because the property owner did not have a kennel license. Pierce County requires anyone who owns more than five dogs to obtain a kennel license.

Deputies seized all 36 dogs and have since taken them to receive medical attention. The sheriff's department says the dogs have all already had a cursory examination, but will also be receiving blood work and x-rays over the next few days to check for parasites or other injuries. Veterinarians have also noted that several of the dogs have small scars or marks, which may have been made by pellets, though the cause is still being investigated.

No arrests have been made, as the sheriff's department says they will depend on what veterinarians discover and a ruling from the prosecutor's office.

This is not the first time the sheriff's department has been called to this home on concerns of animal abuse: deputies say just last winter they were called to the home for reports of dog fighting and animal cruelty. In that case, the property owner was arrested. The dogs in the home at that time were also seized and have since been re-homed.