Agriculture Ministry, police raid ‘puppy mill,’ rescue 30 neglected dogs

Agriculture Ministry inspectors and police raided a puppy mill in central Israel on Tuesday and rescued more than 30 dogs being kept in makeshift pens and cages, surrounded by scrap metal and grass.

The operation followed a tip by the not-for-profit organization Let the Animals Live.

Criminal proceedings have been opened against the owners of the breeding facility, located within the Sdot Dan Regional Council in central Israel, which covers eight moshavim, the Kfar Chabad community settlement, and an Arab village.

The ministry said in a statement that the small-breed dogs were found in cages that were too small, and were suffering from long-term neglect and lack of medical care. They were thin and had eye infections, worms, skin problems and illnesses caused by inbreeding.

Ministry officials took the dogs to a facility where they will get veterinary care until they are rehabilitated.

While some 3,000 puppies are bred and registered annually under the Israel Kennel Club’s strict rules, an estimated 30,000 are handled by pirate breeders, importers, and traders, without any supervision or restriction.

This is while many thousands of healthy, abandoned animals are euthanized annually.

The ministry encouraged people to report those involved with the illegal dog trade at *6016.

Agriculture Ministry director Oren Lavi said he had “zero tolerance” for illegal breeding.

A ministry statement added, “Thousands of dogs are waiting for adoption in official kennels and associations. Don’t buy dogs; adopt them.”