Survivors Of Notorious Tampa Puppy Mill Gather A Year Later

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — What a difference a year makes. More than 350 dogs celebrated Thanksgiving in the loving homes of their Hillsborough County owners, free from starvation, fleas and mange.

About 20 owners and their now-healthy, happy dogs gathered at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center for a reunion Nov. 17, marking a year since the largest animal seizure in the county's history took place.

A year ago, the 352 mostly small-breed dogs arrived at the Pet Resource Center with runny eyes and noses, fur matted with urine and feces, missing eyes and teeth, flea-bitten skin and mite-infested ears.

All had been seized by the county from the Toyland Pet Resort at 2507 E. Diana St., in East Tampa after a yearlong court battle in which the county claimed pet resort was actually a puppy mill and the dogs were living in unsafe, unsanitary conditions and receiving no veterinary care.

When they took possession of the dogs, animal control officers were taken aback by the "deplorable" condition in which the dogs lived. They were surprised to find only one dog dead.

Following the seizure, the Pet Resource Center was overwhelmed by residents offering to adopt the dogs, mostly poodles, terriers, Maltese and shih tzus.

So, as soon as the dogs were given a clean bill of health, the county held a random drawing for pre-qualified residents wishing to adopt a dog. More than 1,000 people submitted applications and the drawing was live-streamed, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Bradley Pinion on hand to pull names from a drum.

About 20 dogs and owners were invited back this month for a reunion. Among those attending were Renee and Robert Capano, with their Chinese crested powderpuff and poodle mix, Kobe.

Kobe darted around the play area, greeting other dogs and their owners, chasing a ball and playing tug with a toy. He responded to "sit" and "shake" commands from Renee, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the outing. "He likes people. He likes dogs. He likes our two cats," Renee Capano said. There was no evidence of the horrible condition Kobe had been living in a year earlier.

"What you guys did is awesome," Renee Capano told the Pet Resource Center staff. "Everything about Kobe just fit into our family. Everything."

See related stories:

• 352 Seized Dogs Found In 'Deplorable' Conditions, Officials Say
• Animal Shelter Grapples With County's Largest Dog Seizure