Ray County Sheriff’s Office demolished puppy mill, 50 to 70 dogs found

Camden, Mo. – A phone call to the Ray County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the discovery of a dog breeding facility and dog meat mill in the rural county.

Now, the community and area rescuers are stepping in to help the dogs find a permanent home.

Sheriff Scott Childers went to an elderly couple’s home after receiving a tip. The couple told him they had a problem with their dogs.

“[I found] 25 bulls and 25 chihuahuas, so I contacted a local shelter in our area and Ray County called Reno Ranch,” Childers said.

Childers and local rescuers said they discovered the condition was worse and there were more dogs.

“We found between 50 and 70 dogs,” Childers said.

Reno Ranch and other rescuers got to work right away.

“We immediately started weeding out dogs that we knew we could locate immediately,” said Susanna, who represents Pet Connection. “Small dogs, puppies, old dogs, injured dogs.”

Reno Ranch Resuce is off Highway T in Ray County, and there are still 20 little boys and girls who need to find a permanent home.

The ranch said it is working with other rescue agencies to help find those permanent homes.

“We need other rescue groups ready to take on some of these larger dogs, because all of our rescues are at full capacity,” says Susanna. “They’ve never left this property. They’ve never been in a car, never been to the vet, they’ve never been on a leash, they just have no experience with the outside world.”

Childers told KSHB 41 that his agency continues to investigate the property and will not file charges as long as the landlord cooperates with certain conditions.

This includes not breeding on the premises and keeping one large dog and one small dog.

At the same time, the rescue community says all these dogs need is a caring environment.

Susanna says: “It’s amazing that just a little love, good food, a clean bed and a calm, quiet environment can do all that for these dogs. “Because they know nothing but chaos.”

Childers was one of those providing that little love.

“I even brought a puppy home myself and my son named him Presley after Elvis Presley,” Childers said. “And I’ll tell you what, he follows my son around. He’s going to be the best friend for the next 10-15 years you know.”

It was a rescued dog, with many more waiting to be welcomed as members of local families.

Anyone interested contact the Reno Ranch Rescue Team in Ray County to help the dogs do the same for them anyway. Facebook page.

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