SAN DIEGO - A van-load of beagles rescued from a commercial breeder arrived in San Diego County Monday to be put up for adoption.
According to the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, the dogs were taken in by National Mill Dog Rescue from a large breeder in the Midwest.
John Van Zante of the RCHS said those operations produce as many puppies as they can, and when the market becomes saturated, they switch to different breeds. The rescue organization stepped in just in time, he said.
"They could have become excess inventory at the large commercial breeding operations," Van Zante told a local media outlet. "(The breeders) have to get rid of their inventory one way or another."
He said National Mill Dog Rescue has been reaching out to such breeders in order to collect the "discards."
Most of the canines brought to San Diego are males, with adults up to 10 years old and puppies 4-8 months old.
"Those we got at Rancho Coastal Humane Society, they'll have medical exams, vaccinations, spay and neuter, microchips -- and hopefully, if everything goes the way we want it to, they should be available (for adoption) starting in about 10 days to two weeks," Van Zante said.
He said the public can submit adoption applications at any time. Interested families can meet with adoption counselors to discuss whether a beagle is a good match for them.
The Rancho Coastal Humane Society received 13 of the dogs. Others went to Four Paws Coonhound Rescue and Friends in El Cajon.
