This is Coco, a mixed breed dog who was sharing a backyard pen with 75 other large-breed dogs at the home of an animal hoarder. Some of the dogs were "overflow" from a local no-kill shelter. Several of the dogs were culls, brought home from the puppy mill where the "owners" worked. The owners considered themselves to be "rescuing" the dogs who, not having been spayed or neutered, were allowed to continue breeding there in that yard.

       When there got to be just too many puppies, the owner started advertising them in the local classifieds -- until a would-be customer, answering one of these ads, reported the crowded, filthy, and stinking conditions she found when she went to purchase a puppy.

       Even though local authorities decided that no laws were being broken, a team of several humane agencies (including the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project) was asked to intervene and remove most of the dogs -- including 39 puppies. Coco was one of them, and was almost immediately adopted.

       All of the dogs who remained with the"owners" were spayed or neutered, so at least they would have no more puppies. However, the county granted these people a kennel license, and we have no doubt whatsoever that they are obtaining more dogs again. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can legally do to stop them.