Video of a Pomeranian, (oops, later found out she was a Spitz or Eskimo dog, sorry!) before rescue, living in a pen in a yard with three chained dogs. She/he is blind and deaf, suffering from horrible flea infestation, and has a very, very severe ear infection. I'm happy to report all four dogs were seized and given up by the caretaker when the Pennsylvania SPCA worked with Dogs Deserve Better, got a warrant for the dogs, and got them out of there.

That's the way the system SHOULD work, and finally has in Pennsylvania!

Here's the media release. Please visit our site at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org to find out how you can help dogs in your area.

Dogs Deserve Better and Pennsylvania SPCA team up to rescue four chained and suffering dogs in Centre County

Video and photo evidence of neglect posted on Facebook leads to linkup with PSPCA and a warrant and subsequent relinquishment of dogs by guardian

September 6, 2009, Tipton, PA — The anonymous tip to Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Ci Thayne said only two things: dogs were abandoned at a property in Centre County near Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and there were at least two starved, chained shepherds on the property.

Dogs Deserve Better, who works on numerous fronts to end the suffering endured by dogs that are kept perpetually chained or penned, is currently pushing a Pennsylvania bill, HB1254, which would limit the amount of time a dog can spend chained, thereby granting dogs more of the protection that should be required by law.

Thayne, armed with camera, food, and water, journeyed to the location to assess the situation and document the neglect. She found not two but four dogs chained and neglected on the property: two seriously underweight shepherds, covered in fleas, with fly strike on their ears and lacking food and water; one blind and deaf Pomeranian in a pen with only a crate for shelter; and a chained black Lab/border collie mix.

The property appeared abandoned, over-flowing with garbage and old, broken-down vehicles but no signs of human life. Thayne thoroughly documented the dogs' conditions and gave them food and water. That evening she posted her frustrations with getting the dogs help on her Facebook page, showing photos of the matted and filthy blind and deaf Pomeranian, and video of the female shepherd running back and forth carrying her empty food bowl—literally begging for food and water.

Thayne was contacted from those postings by the PSPCA, who acted quickly to get an officer to the property on Saturday, September 5th. Finding sufficient cause to warrant removal of the dogs, the organization obtained a warrant on Sunday, September 6th, brought a truck from Philadelphia, found the property owner, and obtained a release of all four dogs to the organization.

The dogs are being taken to the Philadelphia shelter, evaluated for health issues, and then may be released to Dogs Deserve Better's foster program or adopted out to loving homes and families.

Thayne states, My dream has finally come true! I am so ecstatic tonight, I feel like I just won the lottery. This is the first time in my seven years of working for America's chained dogs that the system has worked the way it should work. An animal advocate such as myself, or any concerned neighbor or citizen, should be able to get help for a suffering animal immediately and in a way that limits the amount of continued suffering the animal must endure. Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, this has not been the case. I thought I would be facing another arrest for helping these abandoned and mistreated animals, but instead law enforcement stepped in, did their job, and did it beautifully. And on a holiday weekend, which makes it even more amazing! I am more grateful to the Pennsylvania SPCA than you can even imagine. Thank you, PSPCA, not only from my heart, but from those suffering dogs who truly deserved better!

Video and photos of the dogs are available at Dogsdeservebetter.org or by calling 814.207.4586. Video footage is posted on You Tube, Facebook, and other internet sites. (less info)