This is an article in the newspaper that tells of the condition in which precious little Tafiann's life was before I had the monumental pleasure of adopting her and bringing her into our home.
""Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
Posted on 1/24/2003
Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
By Paul Fredericks
NEAR HARPER, OR - "Just mud and feces. It's just a sea of mud and feces." That's how the President of the 2nd Chance Animal Shelter describes the conditions. Barbara Hutchinson helped haul away 492 dogs from a home near the tiny town of Harper in Malheur County.
"I feel really sorry for these animals," Hutchinson says. "I imagine a lot are going to have to be euthanized because of their condition."
A hundred dogs were living outside the home... and hundreds more were found in a small room inside the home. The scene and the stench are unlike anything local authorities and animal groups have ever seen. One volunteer with the animal shelter showed us one small dog barely clinging to life. "It's alive," says Sarah Sharette. "But, it won't make it through the night."
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has been investigating this home -- on and off -- for the past six years. But, laws there don't put a limit on how many animals someone can have on their property.
"Our investigators are finding this problem is well and way beyond what they were ever able to find in the past," says Sheriff Andrew Bentz. "It's just absolutely mind-boggling, for a lack of a better word, what's happening inside the home."
One of the dogs owners, 64-year-old Robert Erickson, cooperated with deputies. His wife, Barbara, was not home at the time. Both are facing misdemeanor charges of Animal Neglect in the 1st Degree.
Authorities tell us 76-year-old Barbara Erickson was cited for a similar situation near Council, Idaho. She then moved to Malheur County, Oregon.
Officials with 2nd Chance Animal Shelter say Erickson has a condition called "Animal Hoarding." She just keeps taking in more and more dogs. "People feel that they're doing a wonderful thing for these animals," says Hutchinson. "It gets out of control, and they can't take care of them. It's a mental illness."
"This is like us coming in and taking her babies," says Sharette.
The animals are being taken to a facility in Fruitland, Idaho where a veterinarian will examine them. The 2nd Chance Animal Shelter is overwhelmed by the amount of dogs... and needs help. The shelter is in desperate need of donations such as food, lumber, carriers, dishes, and cash to help cover veterinary costs. The numbers you can call are 642-2790. Cash donations can be made to Intermountain Community Bank (2nd Chance Animal Shelter Fund) in Payette, Idaho.""
Tafi's "forever home" story:
A house without a dog wasn't ever in my "cards". After the passing of our magnificent Bull Mastiff "Grizzly Barr" I set out to find a small little soul to warm up our home with puppy love. This horrific hoarding case was being aired and I dug around on the internet to find out if I could adopt. I found a frightened, traumatized little terrier mix name Hershey. Tiny, 10 pounds of fear and distrust...I renamed her Miss Tafiann the Princess. I could write for hours about this precious little girl. What an amazing little love! She took care of us for 10 years...making her about 14 when she passed. The devastation of losing her....and the joys of sharing our home with her! Forever and always our princess.
""Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
Posted on 1/24/2003
Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
By Paul Fredericks
NEAR HARPER, OR - "Just mud and feces. It's just a sea of mud and feces." That's how the President of the 2nd Chance Animal Shelter describes the conditions. Barbara Hutchinson helped haul away 492 dogs from a home near the tiny town of Harper in Malheur County.
"I feel really sorry for these animals," Hutchinson says. "I imagine a lot are going to have to be euthanized because of their condition."
A hundred dogs were living outside the home... and hundreds more were found in a small room inside the home. The scene and the stench are unlike anything local authorities and animal groups have ever seen. One volunteer with the animal shelter showed us one small dog barely clinging to life. "It's alive," says Sarah Sharette. "But, it won't make it through the night."
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has been investigating this home -- on and off -- for the past six years. But, laws there don't put a limit on how many animals someone can have on their property.
"Our investigators are finding this problem is well and way beyond what they were ever able to find in the past," says Sheriff Andrew Bentz. "It's just absolutely mind-boggling, for a lack of a better word, what's happening inside the home."
One of the dogs owners, 64-year-old Robert Erickson, cooperated with deputies. His wife, Barbara, was not home at the time. Both are facing misdemeanor charges of Animal Neglect in the 1st Degree.
Authorities tell us 76-year-old Barbara Erickson was cited for a similar situation near Council, Idaho. She then moved to Malheur County, Oregon.
Officials with 2nd Chance Animal Shelter say Erickson has a condition called "Animal Hoarding." She just keeps taking in more and more dogs. "People feel that they're doing a wonderful thing for these animals," says Hutchinson. "It gets out of control, and they can't take care of them. It's a mental illness."
"This is like us coming in and taking her babies," says Sharette.
The animals are being taken to a facility in Fruitland, Idaho where a veterinarian will examine them. The 2nd Chance Animal Shelter is overwhelmed by the amount of dogs... and needs help. The shelter is in desperate need of donations such as food, lumber, carriers, dishes, and cash to help cover veterinary costs. The numbers you can call are 642-2790. Cash donations can be made to Intermountain Community Bank (2nd Chance Animal Shelter Fund) in Payette, Idaho.""
Tafi's "forever home" story:
A house without a dog wasn't ever in my "cards". After the passing of our magnificent Bull Mastiff "Grizzly Barr" I set out to find a small little soul to warm up our home with puppy love. This horrific hoarding case was being aired and I dug around on the internet to find out if I could adopt. I found a frightened, traumatized little terrier mix name Hershey. Tiny, 10 pounds of fear and distrust...I renamed her Miss Tafiann the Princess. I could write for hours about this precious little girl. What an amazing little love! She took care of us for 10 years...making her about 14 when she passed. The devastation of losing her....and the joys of sharing our home with her! Forever and always our princess.
This is an article in the newspaper that tells of the condition in which precious little Tafiann's life was before I had the monumental pleasure of adopting her and bringing her into our home.
""Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
Posted on 1/24/2003
Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
By Paul Fredericks
NEAR HARPER, OR - "Just mud and feces. It's just a sea of mud and feces." That's how the President of the 2nd Chance Animal Shelter describes the conditions. Barbara Hutchinson helped haul away 492 dogs from a home near the tiny town of Harper in Malheur County.
"I feel really sorry for these animals," Hutchinson says. "I imagine a lot are going to have to be euthanized because of their condition."
A hundred dogs were living outside the home... and hundreds more were found in a small room inside the home. The scene and the stench are unlike anything local authorities and animal groups have ever seen. One volunteer with the animal shelter showed us one small dog barely clinging to life. "It's alive," says Sarah Sharette. "But, it won't make it through the night."
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has been investigating this home -- on and off -- for the past six years. But, laws there don't put a limit on how many animals someone can have on their property.
"Our investigators are finding this problem is well and way beyond what they were ever able to find in the past," says Sheriff Andrew Bentz. "It's just absolutely mind-boggling, for a lack of a better word, what's happening inside the home."
One of the dogs owners, 64-year-old Robert Erickson, cooperated with deputies. His wife, Barbara, was not home at the time. Both are facing misdemeanor charges of Animal Neglect in the 1st Degree.
Authorities tell us 76-year-old Barbara Erickson was cited for a similar situation near Council, Idaho. She then moved to Malheur County, Oregon.
Officials with 2nd Chance Animal Shelter say Erickson has a condition called "Animal Hoarding." She just keeps taking in more and more dogs. "People feel that they're doing a wonderful thing for these animals," says Hutchinson. "It gets out of control, and they can't take care of them. It's a mental illness."
"This is like us coming in and taking her babies," says Sharette.
The animals are being taken to a facility in Fruitland, Idaho where a veterinarian will examine them. The 2nd Chance Animal Shelter is overwhelmed by the amount of dogs... and needs help. The shelter is in desperate need of donations such as food, lumber, carriers, dishes, and cash to help cover veterinary costs. The numbers you can call are 642-2790. Cash donations can be made to Intermountain Community Bank (2nd Chance Animal Shelter Fund) in Payette, Idaho.""
Tafi's "forever home" story:
A house without a dog wasn't ever in my "cards". After the passing of our magnificent Bull Mastiff "Grizzly Barr" I set out to find a small little soul to warm up our home with puppy love. This horrific hoarding case was being aired and I dug around on the internet to find out if I could adopt. I found a frightened, traumatized little terrier mix name Hershey. Tiny, 10 pounds of fear and distrust...I renamed her Miss Tafiann the Princess. I could write for hours about this precious little girl. What an amazing little love! She took care of us for 10 years...making her about 14 when she passed. The devastation of losing her....and the joys of sharing our home with her! Forever and always our princess.
""Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
Posted on 1/24/2003
Almost 500 Dogs Seized From Malheur County Home
By Paul Fredericks
NEAR HARPER, OR - "Just mud and feces. It's just a sea of mud and feces." That's how the President of the 2nd Chance Animal Shelter describes the conditions. Barbara Hutchinson helped haul away 492 dogs from a home near the tiny town of Harper in Malheur County.
"I feel really sorry for these animals," Hutchinson says. "I imagine a lot are going to have to be euthanized because of their condition."
A hundred dogs were living outside the home... and hundreds more were found in a small room inside the home. The scene and the stench are unlike anything local authorities and animal groups have ever seen. One volunteer with the animal shelter showed us one small dog barely clinging to life. "It's alive," says Sarah Sharette. "But, it won't make it through the night."
The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has been investigating this home -- on and off -- for the past six years. But, laws there don't put a limit on how many animals someone can have on their property.
"Our investigators are finding this problem is well and way beyond what they were ever able to find in the past," says Sheriff Andrew Bentz. "It's just absolutely mind-boggling, for a lack of a better word, what's happening inside the home."
One of the dogs owners, 64-year-old Robert Erickson, cooperated with deputies. His wife, Barbara, was not home at the time. Both are facing misdemeanor charges of Animal Neglect in the 1st Degree.
Authorities tell us 76-year-old Barbara Erickson was cited for a similar situation near Council, Idaho. She then moved to Malheur County, Oregon.
Officials with 2nd Chance Animal Shelter say Erickson has a condition called "Animal Hoarding." She just keeps taking in more and more dogs. "People feel that they're doing a wonderful thing for these animals," says Hutchinson. "It gets out of control, and they can't take care of them. It's a mental illness."
"This is like us coming in and taking her babies," says Sharette.
The animals are being taken to a facility in Fruitland, Idaho where a veterinarian will examine them. The 2nd Chance Animal Shelter is overwhelmed by the amount of dogs... and needs help. The shelter is in desperate need of donations such as food, lumber, carriers, dishes, and cash to help cover veterinary costs. The numbers you can call are 642-2790. Cash donations can be made to Intermountain Community Bank (2nd Chance Animal Shelter Fund) in Payette, Idaho.""
Tafi's "forever home" story:
A house without a dog wasn't ever in my "cards". After the passing of our magnificent Bull Mastiff "Grizzly Barr" I set out to find a small little soul to warm up our home with puppy love. This horrific hoarding case was being aired and I dug around on the internet to find out if I could adopt. I found a frightened, traumatized little terrier mix name Hershey. Tiny, 10 pounds of fear and distrust...I renamed her Miss Tafiann the Princess. I could write for hours about this precious little girl. What an amazing little love! She took care of us for 10 years...making her about 14 when she passed. The devastation of losing her....and the joys of sharing our home with her! Forever and always our princess.
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