VANLEER, Tenn. -- Dozens of animals were seized on Monday morning in what police are calling a suspected puppy mill in Dickson County.
At least 50 dogs -- including 13 Pomeranians, spaniel mixes, pugs and shelties -- and more than a dozen cats were confiscated from one home on Lee Road outside of Vanleer. Several horses were also found on the property after an anonymous tip led to the raid.
"We've seen maggots in living dogs," said Scotlund Haisley of the U.S. Humane Society. "It's certainly not the biggest I've seen, certainly not the worst, but the conditions are pretty horrendous."
Officials said the owner told them she got in over her head, felt badly about what's happened and gave up ownership of the dogs and cats.
The dogs were taken from the property will eventually end up in Nashville and put up for adoption once they are treated.
"They've just been left to suffer in this condition for a while, so we're pretty confident that our vet team will be able to rehab them and get them out for adoption," said Tennessee state director for The Humane Society of the United States Leighann McCollum.
The district attorney's office will look at the information and decide if charges will be filed against the owner of the animals...More & video
