In the News

Humane Society of Missouri rescued 209 dogs from substandard puppy mill in Southwest Missouri

Urgent appeal for pet supplies to help care for these animals. Second major puppy mill rescue for the Humane Society of Missouri in the past week

February 20, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued 209 dogs and one cat living in very unsanitary conditions in a substandard dog breeding facility near Seneca, Missouri yesterday. One adult Bengal Tiger was also rescued. The Newton County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant that was served to remove the animals. The animals were removed at the recommendation of an independent veterinarian.
Read full story.

 

 

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescuing more than 90 dogs from unlicensed, substandard puppy mill in Greene County

February 13, 2009-Working in cooperation with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force is rescuing more than 90 dogs living in filthy conditions on the site of an unlicensed, substandard dog breeding facility near Pleasant Hope, Missouri. The Greene County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant that was served to remove the animals today. Read full story.

 

Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response Team Returns Today from Relief Work in Southeast Missouri with Pets Surrendered After Devastating Ice Storm

Disaster Response Team aided more than 200 pets and 1000 families and distributed
more than 30,000 lbs. of pet food provided by Purina®, PetsMart, PETCO and Walmart

Thursday, February 5, 2009-The Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team returns to St. Louis today after a week of coordinating animal rescue operations in New Madrid, Missouri. The Disaster Response Team provided food, water and emergency temporary shelter for pet owners with no water or electricity in New Madrid, Butler and Pemiscot counties hit hard by the ice storm on January 27. A rescue diary and on-the-scene photos are available at hsmo.org

 

Humane Society of Missouri issues urgent appeal for pet food and supplies for animal rescue efforts in Southeast Missouri

Monday, February 2, 2009-HSMO Disaster Response Team has aided more than 200 pets and 500 families and distributed more than 18,000 lbs. of pet food provided by Purina® and PetsMart to those adversely affected by last week’s ice storm; Pet food and supplies continue to be needed in hardest-hit counties. Read rescue diary.

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Called to Southeast Missouri for Emergency Animal Rescue and Shelter

60 animals from Caruthersville shelter to arrive at Humane Society Headquarters this evening

Friday, January 30, 2009-At the request of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response Team has set up animal rescue operations in New Madrid, Missouri, to assist with feeding, watering and setting up temporary shelter for pet owners with no water or electricity in New Madrid, Butler and Pemiscot counties hit hard by the ice storm earlier this week. Read full story.

 

KMOX Reports on Missouri's Breeding Facility Inspections

In July of 2008, the State Auditor released its most recent audit of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Animal Care Facilities Act program. In a news story aired on November 25, 2008, investigative reporter, Megan Lynch with KMOX, finds that despite three audits, (2001, 2004 and 2008), the Missouri Department of Agriculture continues to fall short of meeting the state's requirement of inspecting, on an annual basis, commercial pet breeders, pet stories, kennels and animal shelters.

You can read and listen to the story and follow related links at Missouri Breeding Inspections Still Fall Short.

 

Humane Society of Missouri Called to Rescue 49 Pekes, Poodles, Pugs and More from Oklahoma Puppy Mill

Freezing Temperatures Threaten Lives of Pets

Humane Society of Missouri only shelter in the region with resources available to rescue largenumber of animals on short notice

 

Reward Offered in Horrific Animal Abuse Case

Cat suffers brutal beating then is set on fire.

October 27, 2008 - The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a $2,500 reward to each of the first three persons who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who severely abused an adult female domestic cat.

On Saturday afternoon, October 18, the Humane Society of Missouri responded to a call from the St. Louis City Police Department and a concerned citizen about an injured cat in north St. Louis City. The HSMO Animal Cruelty Investigator and St. Louis City Police Officers determined that the cat had been bound, beaten numerous times with a metal object and set on fire. Humane Society veterinarians who examined the cat found she was suffering from numerous abrasions and bruises, her lungs were irreparably damaged by inhaled smoke and her flesh was severely burned. To alleviate further suffering, the cat was humanely euthanized.

“The excruciating pain and agony this helpless victim suffered is unfathomable,” said Dr. Steve Schwartz, director of Veterinary Medical Centers for the Humane Society of Missouri. “Already battered and bruised, this poor creature’s suffering only intensified once she was set on fire.”

The Humane Society and the St. Louis City Police Department determined the incident occurred about midnight, Friday, Oct. 17 in the 3100 block of Brantner Place. Authorities believe there were numerous witnesses to this incident.

“The heinous nature of this blatant act of animal torture is frightening,” said Tim Rickey, director of Rescues and Investigations for the Humane Society of Missouri. “I implore anyone with information about this despicable act of cruelty to come forward and help us protect other animals from such a horrendous fate.”

Anyone with information about this crime should contact:
Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Abuse Hotline
314-647-4400

 

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Called to Texas Will be among first responders in aftermath of Hurricane Ike

September 13, 2008- At the request of the Houston SPCA, a ten-member team from the Humane Society of Missouri's Disaster Response Unit will leave about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 from Humane Society Headquarters, 1201 Macklind Avenue to travel to the Galveston, Texas area to aid in the rescue of pets in the aftermath Hurricane Ike in the hardest-hit coastal areas of Texas. Because of the Humane Society’s disaster and animal rescue and handling experience and expertise, the HSMO Disaster Response Team has been asked to be prepared for both water and land rescue operations. Read updates.

 

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team is a Key Part of Hurricane Gustav Evacuation and Recovery Efforts Disaster Preparation Yields Excellent Result for Pets in New Orleans

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008- At the request of the Louisiana SPCA, an eight-member team from the Humane Society of Missouri's Disaster Response Unit has been in the New Orleans area since August 29 aiding in the evacuation and care of pets in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Read full story.

Rescue Team Caring for Animals Sheltered in Baton Rouge

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 – Yesterday, the rescue team safely waited out the hurricane north of Baton Rouge – lots of rain, wind, humidity and no electricity were reported.

Today, they are back in Baton Rouge helping to care for evacuee pets at the temporary shelter while an assessment is being made of the conditions in New Orleans. Authorities have informed our team that water rescue will not be necessary; therefore, several members will leave this afternoon to return to St. Louis.  At the request of the Louisiana State Animal Rescue Team, the remaining Humane Society of Missouri team members are on standby to perform animal rescue in some of the hardest hit parishes over the next several days.  

HSMO Team to Evacuate Personal Pets of First Responders

August 31, 2008 - Today the team resumed efforts to evacuate pets and people from New Orleans. The mayor of New Orleans has ordered that all persons, including first-responders, evacuate the City today. Therefore, this afternoon the HSMO team will relocate to Southern University in Baton Rouge to wait out the storm.

With the HSMO team will be the personal pets of first responders living in New Orleans. Those pets will be sheltered at Southern University in a temporary shelter set up by the Louisiana ASPCA.

A member of the HSMO team, Debbie Hill, also reported that our team was able to help two distraught pet owners who were concerned their pets would not be evacuated. Our team was able to help the owner of an aggitated pit bull and the owner of a 200 lb. English Mastiff that also had been evacuated after Hurricane Katrina. The pit bull was successfully loaded into a crate and onto the air conditioned animal evacuation truck. The Mastiff required a crate larger than immediately available; however, due to the ingenuity of the HSMO team, a larger crate was found and the dog successfully evacuated. Both owners expressed relief that their pets could be taken to safety during the storm.

August 30, 2008 - The Humane Society Disaster Response Team arrived in New Orleans about 3 a.m. this morning. After a brief rest, they went into action at the Amtrak receiving center helping unload semi trucks full of crates and helping load the personal pets of people who were evacuating to Shreveport, LA. According to Debbie Hill, HSMO director of Operations, who's on the scene, hundreds of animals and thousands of people were bussed out of New Orleans from this location today.

Disaster Response Team Deploys to New Orleans

August 29, 2008 - At the request of the Louisiana SPCA, an eight member team from the Humane Society of Missouri's Disaster Response Unit left today to aid in the possible evacuation and rescue of animals in the wake
of Hurricane Gustav.

The call came to the Humane Society of Missouri as a result of a Memo of Understanding between the Louisiana ASPCA and the Humane Society of Missouri following Hurricane katrina in 2005. Both organizations have agreed to assist one another in times of disaster.

 

More Humane Society News:

Humane Society of Missouri conducting largest animal rescue in organization’s history

Humane Society of Missouri Rescuing 30 Dogs from Newton County
Breeding Facility Damaged by May Tornados

Humane Society of Missouri provides immediate response to persons and pets affected by Pin Oak levee breach near Winfield, Missouri

Cat stuck in tree in flooded field rescued today; Humane Society boat loaned to National Guard

Humane Society now receiving flood displaced pets at Winfield High School; temporary shelter at Pike County Fairgrounds remains open

Humane Society of Missouri Opens Temporary Emergency Pet Shelter in Pike County

Humane Society of Missouri Deploys Rescue Team to Aid Flood Victims in Iowa

Humane Society of Missouri Disaster Response Team Comes to Aid of Pets Displaced by Tornado in Southern Missouri

St. Louis City Police Department and Humane Society of Missouri Respond to Report of Dog Shot Twice in Face; Humane Society of Missouri Offering $2,500 Reward For Information about the
Perpetrator(s)

Humane Society of Missouri rescues 152 animals from property in Monroe County

Humane Society of Missouri rescuing more than 50 animals from property in Monroe County

Humane Society of Missouri Again Called to Caruthersville to Rescue Second Group of Cats, Dogs and Puppies Displaced by Threatening Floodwaters

Humane Society of Missouri Rescues Cats, Dogs and Puppies Displaced by Rising Floodwaters in Southeastern Missouri

Humane Society of Missouri receives custody of dogs in Stoddard County dog fighting case