LITTLE ROCK — An agency that advocates for preventing animal abuse says it is helping remove more than 100 dogs Monday from a purported puppy mill outside Hot Springs.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is evacuating the dogs to an emergency shelter and collecting evidence from the puppy mill, 210 Barber Shop Trail. It described the business as a "substandard commercial breeding facility."
The group said it was acting at the request of the Garland County Sheriff's Department and in cooperation with International Fund for Animal Welfare, PetSmart Charities and the Garland County Humane Society.
The owner of the facility, Pam Thomas, was arrested Monday on charges of felony animal cruelty, Lt. James Martin said.
The investigation has reportedly been ongoing since 2009. ASCPCA said the dogs, which included chihuahuas, Boston terriers and dachsunds, lived in feces-encrusted pens and showed signs of neglect, such as skin problems, flea infestation and other medical issues.