Last of 240 rescued dogs taken to shelter

Sunday, June 15, 2014

photo Ruth Smith, top right, looks in on more than 25 dogs she is transporting away from a suspected puppy mill Wednesday on Candies Creek Road in Bradley County.

A few days ago, more than 240 dogs were found in squalor at an alleged puppy mill in Bradley County.

Today, the last of them were transferred to an emergency shelter.

The Bradley County arm of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals started removing dogs Wednesday and had been gathering them throughout the week. It took seven puppies on Saturday and finished the job with the remaining 94 on Sunday, said Beth Foster, media director for the SPCA.

Others were taken in at other shelters that volunteered to help.

Owner and breeder Rebecca Vanmeter has been charged with one count of cruelty to animals. She has declined comment.