Dogs from suspected puppy mill meet their new families

Oliver wore a new coat on Sunday.

Blue, knitted thick to keep his small body warm, the coat helped him look his best. It was a big day.

Oliver snuggled into the coat as rain splashed the pavement just outside the open door. He gazed, wide-eyed, at the other orphans gathered at the Evergreen Fairgrounds to meet their adoptive families for the first time.

Excited and a little nervous, Oliver, a Boston terrier, and dozens of other dogs burrowed into the cradled arms of their new moms and dads. Their tails wagged, their noses sniffed, their paws reached out for a first, tentative shake.

Then, finally, they went home.

It was a happy ending for the dogs, which were all rescued in January from a filthy, over-crowded suspected puppy mill near Gold Bar. Since then, the dogs have been examined by veterinarians and other specialists, slept and played at the Everett Animal Shelter, and were taken in by foster families.

“These dogs have been abused, so they have special needs, but they have so much love to give,” said Lynne Hollister, who served as a temporary foster mom to Oliver.

Police and animal authorities seized more than 150 dogs in January. Many of the dogs suffered from serious physical problems, and some did not survive after being rescued. It’s difficult to determine the age of most of the dogs because their teeth are in poor condition, said Hilary Hager, an activities coordinator for the Everett Animal Shelter.

No one knows exactly what happened to the dogs, but it’s clear that they weren’t allowed to exercise or interact with people, Hager said. Many of the dogs cannot bark because their vocal chords were snipped. Most of the rescued dogs were used for breeding. Very few puppies were found, Hager said.

“It’s a common misconception that these dogs are puppies,” she said. “They’re from a puppy mill, but they were the ‘mill’ part. They were the breeders.”

Even though many of the dogs may struggle with house-training or learning to play with people, their story made them among the region’s most sought-after pets. The Everett Animal Shelter received more than 450 applications to adopt the 68 dogs that were available Sunday, Everett city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said.

More than 80 people applied to adopt one dog, a terrier-poodle mix, Reardon said.

A committee at the Everett Animal Shelter reviewed the applications and matched dogs to adoptive families. The approved families were invited to meet the dogs Sunday. After a training session with veterinarians and other experts, the families spent time with the dogs. They paid a $200 adoption fee, selected toys, beds and other supplies, and took the dogs home.

Families came from as far away as Idaho to adopt the dogs, Reardon said.

Most introductions went off without a hitch, but a few families decided not to adopt after spending time with the dogs, Hager said. They worried that the dogs wouldn’t get along with other pets or didn’t have the right temperament to fit in with a family’s lifestyle.

“That’s OK,” Hager said. “I’d rather they decide now that they don’t want this commitment.”

The dogs that weren’t adopted Sunday will most likely be offered to families who weren’t selected in the first round, Hager said.

“We have so many great applicants for these dogs,” she said. “We’ll find a home for each one.”

Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422, kkapralos@heraldnet.com.