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Here's a story from Sunday's Roanoke Times about 63 dogs seized from a breeder in Hillsville. The dogs are now being cared for by volunteers at Angels of Assisi. If you want to help, please contact Angels about volunteering or making a donation of money or food.

Please keep in mind that these dogs will likely not be available for adoption for a while, if at all, and since Angels is caring for these newcomers, that may limit their ability to take in other homeless pooches. 

The best way to remedy the potential space problem is to look at the great dogs and cats available and ready for adoption now at Angels.

By Laurence Hammack

A state trooper holding a clipboard stood guard at the back of a truck, which was slowly filling up with Yorkshire terriers, dachshunds, poodles, Boston terriers and schnauzers.

The dogs watched apprehensively from behind the metal grates of their carriers, which were being loaded one-by-one into the truck Saturday afternoon by volunteers at Angels of Assisi, a Roanoke animal shelter.

"Number 38," volunteer Elizabeth Sweet said as she carted a piece of canine cargo, a white Lhasa apso. "10-4," Senior Trooper Gary Chafin said, making a note on his clipboard.

The reason for all the security and record-keeping: Two days earlier, these dogs had been seized from a Carroll County business, where they were being kept in kennels so cramped and filthy that authorities decided to rescue them. All 63 dogs were taken to Angels of Assisi.

No charges have been filed against the dogs' owner, David Winesett of Hillsville.

After consulting with the state veterinarian, Virginia State Police took custody of the animals under an impoundment law. "The conditions were such that they warranted removing the 63 dogs," said Sgt. Michael Conroy, a state police spokesman.

Animal welfare groups said that abuses are all too common among unregulated dog breeders and sellers, also known as puppy mills.

"This is probably one of hundreds of operations in Virginia alone," said Richard Samuels, president of the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force. "If they go unmonitored, this is what they can turn into."

Samuels said his group received an e-mail tip about Winesett's operation, which they forwarded to state police.

In the coming days, police will consult with the Carroll County commonwealth's attorney about the possibility of bringing criminal charges, Conroy said. Meanwhile, a civil hearing will be held in General District Court within the next 10 days to determine where the dogs will be placed. Winesett could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Not long after police arrived at Winesett's business, Angels of Assisi was called in to help.

Within hours, the nonprofit organization mobilized what volunteer Lisa O'Neill called its "puppy mill rescue" operation. A truck loaded with medical supplies and crates was sent to the scene. It returned to Angel of Assisi's Roanoke clinic late Thursday afternoon, full of dogs that needed immediate attention.

Although there were no life-threatening injuries, many of the dogs were suffering from damaged nails, decayed teeth and infected ears and paws -- likely the result of living in cramped and dirty quarters, O'Neill said.

And all of them were filthy, their fur matted with urine and feces.

"They were so terrified when they came in," O'Neill said.

"But as soon as they got a bath and they got groomed, their heads went up. The difference after a bath is huge."

Veterinarians who volunteered their services stayed at the clinic until 3 a.m. Friday performing triage and first aid on the dogs, and volunteers were working through the weekend to get them bathed and groomed.

Authorities said the dogs seized Thursday -- mostly small breeds commonly used as household pets -- had no apparent connection to Horton's Pups, another Carroll County dog business where more than 1,000 dogs were seized last year.

That case brought national attention to the problem of puppy mills in Virginia, which led to the passage of legislation to crack down on the industry. The new laws, which do not take effect until Jan. 1, put stiffer regulations on commercial dog breeders across the state.

The new laws require that those in the business breed only female dogs between the ages of 18 months and 8 years and have licensed veterinarians certify each year that the dogs are in suitable breeding health. It also stipulates that breeders maintain records of animal sales, purchases, breeding history and veterinary care, and requires no more than 50 adult dogs be kept at one time unless approved by a local ordinance after a public hearing.

Angels of Assisi hopes to put the dogs up for adoption but must wait until the legal aspects of the case play out, O'Neill said. Anyone interested in adopting a dog should watch the shelter's Web site, www.angelsofassisi.org, for details. Meanwhile, the shelter is asking for donations to cover the costs of caring for the dogs.

Because puppy mill dogs are not used to human contact, they take to adoption a little slowly.

"They don't know how to be a pet. They don't know how to be part of a family," O'Neill said.

"But once they figure that out, they are the most wonderful dogs."

Staff writer Jorge Valencia contributed to this report. Photos by Stephanie Klein-Davis.