70+ Dogs Rescued From Adams County Home
STRASBURG, Colo. (CBS4)- After a 21-month long investigation, state and local officials removed 75 dogs from a home near Strasburg on Thursday.
Homeowner Robert Attleson was operating a pet animal facility without a proper license and resisted court orders to comply with the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA), said program administrator Nick Fisher.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture led the investigation. Under the state's guidelines, Fisher says Attleson is only allowed to harbor up to 15 dogs without being licensed as a breeder. At one time, investigators say they counted 96 dogs on his property.
On December 7, an Adams County District Court judge issued a permanent injunction and restraining order, giving local and state authorities the power to remove all but 15 of the dogs on Attleson's property. Thursday, animal control officers from Adams and Larimer Counties and Aurora joined members of regional humane societies to assist PACFA investigators in carrying out an operation to remove the dogs.
"The dogs are in very good condition considering they had been housed some of them 30 into the kitchen, 15 into the garage," said Jim Siedlecki, Director of Public Information for Adams County.
Most of the dogs are Irish, English and Gordon Setters between one and seven years old. Siedlecki says the dogs did not appear malnourished and there were "obvious" signs Attleson had cared for them.
"For the most part, the dogs checked out very healthy," Siedlecki said.
During the operation, Siedlecki says Attleson cooperated with investigators.
Attleson, reached by phone Thursday, said he disagrees with the state's and local authorities' operation to remove the dogs. Attleson says he runs a breed-specific rescue group and all of the dogs on his property are animals he rescued throughout Colorado and nearby states. He's been showing dogs since the 1970s and believes he is operating now within the confines of Adams County's zoning laws.
"The action is wrong," said Attleson, who goes by Bob, adding that his number one priority is the care of the dogs. "If my dogs are coming out good and healthy, am I not doing the job?"
Attleson said he prefers now not to focus on the ongoing court cases regarding the issue, but rather finding the dogs loving homes. He hopes people come forward to take them in. Humane societies who participated in the operation share that same goal.
After performing medical and behavioral evaluations, the seized dogs will be available for adoption at several Front Range shelters. To ease the burden on the Adams County Animal Shelter, additional shelters offered to take in seven or eight dogs each. If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs, you can find them at any of these seven shelters:
Adams County Animal Shelter
Aurora Animal Shelter
Denver Animal Shelter
Dumb Friends League
Foothills Animal Shelter
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
Larimer Humane Society
While Attleson is not charged with any criminal offense in this case, Fisher says he could face fines and possible jail time for disobeying court orders to remove the dogs from his home.
Lauren DiSpirito is CBS4's Northern Newsroom reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.
