28 abused dogs seized in S. Phila.
An unlicensed dog breeder running his own "puppy mill" out of his South Philadelphia rowhouse raked in as much as $1,000 for some of the crossbred pit bulls, German shepherds and mastiffs he produced, an animal-cruelty investigator said yesterday.
An unlicensed dog breeder running his own "puppy mill" out of his South Philadelphia rowhouse raked in as much as $1,000 for some of the crossbred pit bulls, German shepherds and mastiffs he produced, an animal-cruelty investigator said yesterday.
Agents from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Tuesday seized 28 dogs - some with scars around the face, indicating they had been in dog fights - from the breeder's home at 17th and Moore streets. Three more connected to the breeder were taken from a house on Leithgow Street near Rockland in the Logan section, said George Bengal, director of investigations for PSPCA.
Among the animals were 15 puppies taken from the South Philadelphia location. All had worms, and were kept in small cages stained with feces and urine, said Bengal.
Bengal said a warrant was being obtained for the "breeder," a man in his 50s, who previously had been cited for animal cruelty in 1994. Bengal said the man, not identified because he had not yet been charged, had no kennel license.
The man was not home at the time of the raid.
There was no indication of any dogfighting, or dogfighting paraphernalia, in the house, the cruelty investigator said.
Bengal termed the operation a "backyard puppy mill."
The man allegedly advertised the pups for sale in the newspaper and online.
"He was selling them for up to $1,000 and more."
"We got numerous complaints of sick animals" from purchasers, Bengal said.
Before the raid, an undercover animal-cruelty investigator purchased one of the dogs from the man for $500, Bengal said.
Agents moved in quickly after buying the puppy because of the condition of the pups, he said. *
