Published: May 07, 2007 11:41 pm      

Plenty of takers for rescued pups

SOMERSET — Four “puggle” puppies were adopted Monday from the Somerset County Humane Society, less than a week after authorities seized the dogs in a raid of an Amish puppy mill.

Society officials said they already have enough applications on file for seven younger pups – a combination pug-beagle – now with their mother in a foster home until the animals are old enough to adopt.

“We’ve had a very good response,” said Denise Leydig, the humane society’s manager.

Three other dogs taken in the raid found new homes Saturday. Two of the canines remain at the shelter.

Leydig said the seven younger pups will remain with their mother in foster care for perhaps another week or two.

“We want to make sure they’re eating well on their own before we place them.”

On May 1, Humane Society Officer Elaine Gower and state dog law Warden Dennis Weizel seized the 17 dogs from a farm near Pocahontas in the southern part of the county.

The suspect, Bennie Hostetler, 41, of Salisbury, told authorities he sold the pups for $150 each to a man who takes them to a pet store in eastern Pennsylvania, where they often sell for $500 or more.

The dogs were kept in wire cages in a dark barn, where the mothers received little exercise, Gower said.

Hostetler has agreed never to breed dogs again, and he is being allowed to keep an adult male dog on the condition that he has it neutered.

Also cited for not having licenses or rabies vaccinations, Hostetler could face up to $300 in fines for each citation.