Three weeks ago I had the chance to go along with the SPCA of Wake County to rescue more than 100 dogs from a Puppy Mill in Brunswick County. Wow! I worked with the SPCA twice before taking portraits of the pups rescued from a Jones County and Wilson County puppy mill bust, but the dogs were already at the shelter at that point. It was so amazing to be there on the scene this time and see the rescue efforts first hand and have the chance to do some action/documentary photography.
A long day ahead of us
I worked my regular job reporting for WRAL-TV 1:30-9:30am and then ran home to change, let my pups out and then was immediately on my way to the coast with Darci from the SPCA. It was a long ride to the Sheriff’s Office, but after one missed turn, a crazy downpour and bumper-to-bumper traffic for no reason, we made it…only to wait about two more hours or so to finally head to the house where these dogs were being kept in dirty cages stacked on top of each other.
It was very systematic. First the Sheriff’s Office went in with the Humane Society to secure the scene and check it out. Then the rescue crews (and news crews) were able to come. One volunteer mapped out the house and the backyard and divided them into zones. We’d go zone by zone to remove the dogs. Each dog was given an evidence number, photographed and checked out by volunteer veterinarians at tables set up outside the home. Then they were divided up between three shelters (The SPCA of Wake County, a group from Charlotte and one from Guilford County).
I couldn’t believe what I saw
There were puppies with roaches crawling all over them, puppies whose tails were being docked by having a rubber band tied tight around them. I stood and watched as a vet tried to cut off the rubber band only to have the dog’s tail fall off right there at the table. These dogs were dirty, stinky and in bad health…many were dehydrated and needed emergency fluids.
By night fall, we were just getting to the pups in the backyard. I put down the camera and jumped in shuttling the dogs from the vet table to the trucks. We finally had one of two SPCA vans full of pups ready to head back to Raleigh, so Darci and finally pulled out around 9pm. There were still chickens and exotic birds to be rescued from the home and yard as well.
I tried desperately to stay awake with Darci for the ride, but kept waking up literally with my head straight down in my lap! I had been up for 24 hours by the time we got back to the SPCA. I wanted to stay to help unload the dogs, but knew my body had nothing left to give at that point.
Not only did I get to shed some light on the horrible issue of puppy mills (ADOPT! don’t SHOP!) as a photographer and volunteer with the SPCA, but I was able to have my other profession follow along as well. WRAL was the only local Raleigh news station there to watch these pups be pulled from this home. You can watch the news coverage here and may even see me in the background.
There are responsible breeders out there. So please do your homework if you are in the market for a specific breed. There are also many rescue groups that focus on particular purebred breeds.