The PetSmart Charities® Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicle has been dispatched to a second large-scale animal rescue in Texas, this time to an alleged puppy mill in Kaufman County, where more than 500 dogs and 15 cats were reportedly in need of assistance.

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For the 10th time this year, PetSmart Charities® has dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicle to the scene of a large-scale animal rescue – this time a dog fighting raid and rescue in St. Louis, Mo.

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PetSmart Charities® has dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicle to the scene of a large-scale animal rescue in Montague, Texas, where more than 450 dogs and puppies were rescued from an alleged puppy mill.

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For the second time in one week, a PetSmart Charities® Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicle is on the scene of a large-scale animal rescue – this time at an alleged puppy mill in Kennewick, Wash., where miniature white American Eskimo dogs (also known as Spitz-type dogs) were reportedly bred for sale in substandard conditions.

Witnesses on scene Wednesday described the conditions as “deplorable.”

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PetSmart Charities® is on the scene of a large-scale animal rescue effort in Wisconsin, ensuring hundreds of rescued pets have enough food and supplies.

The animal-rescue effort began yesterday and continued today in Cazenovia, Wis., where more than 350 animals including dogs, horses, fowl, livestock and other small animals were taken from a self-described “animal rescue and sanctuary.”

PetSmart Charities® dispatched its Emergency Relief Waggin’® on May 15 from the PetSmart® Distribution Center in Ottowa, Ill. at the request of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle is set up at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison, Wis., where rescuers are caring for the animals. The vehicle is stocked with 16 tons of supplies, valued at $60,000, including 26 pallets of dog food, wire crates, plastic carriers, bowls and leashes. The vehicle also comes stocked with items such as fans, a generator, tents, a battery charger and lights to aid the animal rescuers on scene.

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At approximately noon today, a PetSmart Charities ® Emergency Relief Waggin’® trailer, stocked with at least 16 tons of much-needed pet food and supplies, was deployed from the PetSmart® Distribution Center in Phoenix, Ariz. to the Santa Barbara Humane Society, 5399 Overpass Road in Santa Barbara, Calif. to assist pets who have been displaced or injured by the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara County. “We received a request May 6th for assistance from officials with Santa Barbara County Animal Services and began readying a vehicle for deployment to the scene,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities. Initial reports from Susan Klein-Rothschild, acting animal services operations chief in the emergency operations center, indicate that mandatory evacuations of people and animals have resulted in the shelter receiving more than 150 dogs, 140 cats and at least 50 horses, goats and llamas for emergency shelter and care, with many more expected.

PetSmart Charities dispatched an Emergency Relief Waggin' on March 13, 2008 to help the rescued animals of a Tucson-area pet hoarding situation. About 700 small dogs have been seized, along with 40 birds. 

The 53-foot semi-trailer was dispatched from PetSmart’s Phoenix distribution center loaded with food, crates, beds, bowls and other items required for the animal rescue effort.  The Waggin’ was received by the Humane Society of Southern Arizona at their training center the afternoon of the 13th.

The animals were removed from the property of a triple-wide trailer northwest of Tucson, in rural Avra Valley.  According to news reports, sheriff’s deputies visited the home after a tip from a woman who had bought a Chihuahua from the elderly couple who live there. The rescued animals will be treated and put up for adoption.

PetSmart Charities dispatched one Emergency Relief Waggin’ stocked with emergency pet supplies on November 6, 2007 to help the rescued dogs of a Hillsville, Va., puppy mill.  The 53-foot trailer contained enough pet products, food and supplies to support up to 700 companion animals.  The trailer was dispatched from PetSmart’s Hagerstown, Md., distribution center loaded with food, crates, beds, litter, tents, generators and other items required for the animal rescue effort.

Caroll County officials, vets and animal welfare organizations processed more than 1,000 dogs surrendered by Hillsville breeder Junior Horton.  Officials with the investigation called the operation the largest puppy mill rescue in U.S. history.