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Vets Believe Dumped Dogs Linked to Other Cases

PENN TOWNSHIP — Some veterinarians in Snyder County believe four beagles abandoned along a road over the weekend are from the same breeder who dumped at l...

PENN TOWNSHIP -- Some veterinarians in Snyder County believe four beagles abandoned along a road over the weekend are from the same breeder who dumped at least two other litters of beagles before.

There isn't much to see in this rural area near Middleburg. But according to the group "One Dog at a Time," over the weekend when a man drove by Shade Mountain Road, he spotted something that stood out: four puppies. The dogs were covered in ticks, were underweight, and appeared to have a skin infection. They were taken to an animal hospital in State College.

"It's unfortunate, but apparently this is a convenient dumping ground for whoever is doing this," Dr. Lynne McCaffery said.

According to veterinarians at Companion Animal Hospital near Selinsgrove, it's not the first time beagles like this have shown up.

"In the summer of 2014 we were contacted by the dog warden," Dr. Steva Stowell-Hardcastle said.

Veterinarians from Companion Animal Hospital near Selinsgrove say that dog warden found a beagle on Shade Mountain Road last summer.

"The dog was just in terrible, terrible shape. We kept him for a number of weeks, working on getting his weight back," Stowell-Hardcastle said.

The vets say a few days later another beagle was found in the same area, in the same condition.

"Overgrown nails, ribs showing, ticks, excoriations on the skin, and very little hair coat," Stowell-Hardcastle said.

The vets say earlier this year four more beagles were found in the same area. The vets had the beagles' skin biopsied and say the condition is hereditary. They want to get a message out to whoever is breeding these beagles.

"It's not the mange. It's not contagious, but you're never going to have normal puppies from these dogs that you're breeding and it's really unfair to dump them and expect other people to take care of them," McCaffery said.

State police have not said if they have any leads. If you have any information you are asked to contact state police.

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