63 Chihuahuas rescued from Colo. home breeding operation

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — As Larimer Humane Society Humane Law Enforcement Captain Bill Porter carried a trembling Chihuahua to a transport van Tuesday, the animal shed a tear.

The dog and 62 of its companions were part of the largest animal rescue Larimer Humane Society has coordinated since 111 live bunnies were taken from a Pinewood Springs home following the September 2014 floods.

The dogs' former owner will not face charges for keeping and breeding nearly 70 Chihuahuas without a license inside a southern Larimer County home. He or she — Larimer Humane Society would not confirm any information about the owner — gets to keep four of them.

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Larimer Humane Society Executive Director Judy Calhoun also declined comment on where exactly in Larimer County the dogs came from, citing confidentiality protections for owners who surrender animals. 

The shelter began working with the unidentified owner a few weeks ago after getting a call about the home from Larimer County Sheriff's Office. For about two weeks, Larimer Humane Society and an investigator with the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act Program tried to convince the owner to surrender the animals, Calhoun said.

Because the owner willingly surrendered all but four animals, all of which will be spayed or neutered, the individual will not face charges for mistreatment or for breeding without a proper license, Calhoun said. There isn't a limit to how many dogs people can keep in most parts of Larimer County, including Fort Collins.

The Chihuahuas were kept in "reasonably good health," she said. No dogs showed signs of undernourishment or significant health problems, though most need some dental care. Porter said the animals were kept inside the house and exposed to high levels of ammonia.

"The owner didn't know where to turn for help," Porter said.

Many of the dogs showed signs of emotional distress, including shaking and hiding in their temporary kennels, during Tuesday's transfer operations.

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"They're all a little scared as you can see," Calhoun said. "But I think with a little bit of patience and some time, mostly they'll be OK."

Larimer Humane Society intends to keep 10 or more of the animals with more intensive health needs, according to spokeswoman Kaylene Weingardt. The remainder have been or will be transferred to Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, Dumb Friends League, Denver Animal Shelter and Longmont Humane Society, where they will await adoption.

Follow Sarah Jane Kyle on Twitter: @sarahjanekyle