I Fell in Love with the Cavalier King Charles Which the Dogs Were Being Kept

able to see, hear, and smell the conditions in I fell in love with the Cavalier King Charles which the dogs were being kept. From 25 feet away, the ammonia from urine was so over- spaniel breed of dogs in 1999. Shopping in an powering that I had to cover my face.” antique store in Fairhope, Alabama, two Cav- Wilk and Thompson made numerous attempts to contact the owner, offering assis- alier “shop dogs” greeted me. I had never seen tance to help her and the dogs. “As rescue rep- resentatives, we offered to take in any of the such beautiful dogs. Interest quickly turned dogs,” Wilk says. “We also had many people into obsession, as I began to research these offering large lump sums to buy some of the breeding stock, in efforts to help her ‘down- small spaniels, classed as a toy dog by the Ken- size.’ She refused any offers of help.” Ingram contacted the Humane Society of the United nel Club and the American Kennel Club. In States (HSUS) for guidance. As instructed, 2000, my family adopted Monte, a Cavalier she filed a formal complaint with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, along with puppy. In 2012, we adopted two more Cava- photographs. According to the Sheriff’s Dept. investigation, there were 161 dogs on liers, Hallee and Wyckie. the property, with 127 of them living inside the single-wide trailer. The investigation also The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a eager to please. found two dogs in need of emergency veteri- 20th-century recreation of the legendary span- In 2013, my friend Ashley Rhea invited nary care. A veterinarian attending the inves- iel so beloved by King Charles II of England me to join a private Facebook group, where tigation documented that 60 to 70 percent in the 17th century. Ever present in his life, I met rescue volunteers Crys Carnes, Angie of the dogs had conjunctivitis. “While HSUS the King Charles spaniel was often painted Ingram, Lisa Thompson, and Brittney Wilk. was more than willing to assist, their help was in portraits with the king. In the early part The Facebook page, for owners of Cavaliers never accepted by the local authorities,” In- of the 19th century, the breed’s appearance who live in the Birmingham area, provides a gram says. “The county never filed charges, was altered by breeding King Charles span- forum for members to ask and share advice, explaining that the dogs had adequate food, iels with pug breeds to reduce the length and support, and awareness and to post pictures water, and shelter.” size of the snout, which was fashionable at of our dogs. “The social group is not only When Ingram posted the pictures on the time. During the first half of the 20th cen- for the humans, but also for the Cavaliers,” the group’s Facebook page, members were tury—due in great part to American Roswell Wilk says. Individually and collectively, many outraged. Many of us could not sleep all Eldridge—a breeding movement was initiated group members also respond to the needs of night for weeks. We began posting pleas to to breed dogs of the “old type” as seen in Cavaliers that are in need of a forever home the owner on her business Facebook page. I portraits of King Charles II, with longer and by fostering, rescuing, and adopting them. invited David Martin, a friend, Tuscaloosa larger snouts and flat skulls. And offline, social outings serve as fundrais- attorney, and owner of a Cavalier named Afterward, World War II almost eliminat- ers for local Cavalier rescue efforts. Geoffrey to join the group and then discov- ed this movement, leaving only six dogs from In late 2013, 12 Cavaliers were taken ered Geoffrey also came from this breeder. which all Cavalier King Charles spaniels have into rescue from an anonymous source; all He assisted Ingram, a Birmingham attorney, the descended. The new breed of Cavalier King of the pups had extremely serious and simi- who was already providing free legal help and Charles spaniels was first recognized by the lar health problems. “We knew they had to guidance in the attempted rescue. The group Kennel Club in 1945 as a tribute to the Cava- all be coming from the same place,” Ingram rallied together, offering to do whatever it A handful of Birminghamians liers who defended the throne of Charles I says. After much investigative work online took to first rescue these dogs and afterward Rescue th during the 17 century English Revolution. and offline, suspicions became reality. On stepped in to stop the cruelty to work toward strengthening the animal cru- The breed became popularized in America a sweltering hot July day in 2014, Ingram elty law in Alabama. of an Alabama puppy mill. after President Reagan gave his wife, Nancy, drove to rural Lineville, Alabama, where In October 2014, Carnes traveled to the a Cavalier named Rex as a Christmas gift in she suspected the dogs were located. “This Lineville neighborhood. She took numerous 1985. commercial breeding facility, owned by Terri zoomed photos that showed the dogs’ eyes Written by Jan Walsh There are four color coats: Blenheim, tri- Taylor Easterbrooks, had a single wide trailer were crusted over and cloudy. Carnes filed color (black, white, tan), black and tan, and at the side of the property. And through the Photography by Crys Carnes a new complaint. The Sheriff’s Dept. went ruby. As a breed, Cavalier King Charles span- windows I could see Cavaliers in wire crates, back to the property but no action was taken. iels are very affectionate, playful, and patient. stacked several crates high,” Ingram remem- Ingram asked him about the dogs with eye They need human interaction, adapt easily, bers. The trailer had very small windows and problems. “The sheriff told me that there are good with children and other dogs (es- no apparent ventilation, nor air conditioning weren’t that many, and they were being pecially other Cavaliers), and are extremely units in the windows. “At a distance, I was 110 B-METRO.COM B-METRO.COM 111 disease. Two of the dogs have had complex many rural corrective patella surgery and are currently areas where in rehabilitation, one will have to undergo these large, hip surgery, and a few others have luxating commercial patellas that may need future surgery. Emo- breeders are tionally, the dogs were extremely stressed allowed to from all they had been through. Most of the thrive. And dogs refused food and water and hid in their just because crates. “They were terrified of our hands and a commer- from being handled in general, even in the cial breeder gentlest way,” Wilk describes. “They would surrenders completely ‘pancake’ to the floor rigid and animals to frozen if a hand approached them.” The auction does Left to Right: Angie Ingram, Kara Ingram, Crys Carnes, Donna Berggren (from Charles- dogs have since learned to eat and drink not mean the town, Indiana), and Paula Sifford (from Manchester, Tennessee) from bowls, walk up and down stairs, walk same breeder on leashes, and to be less fearful of humans. has gone out are interested in a Cavalier, please contact The condition of the dogs and their living arrangements was heartbreaking. Alabama does not have any laws to regu- of business. Many begin selling online un- late large-scale commercial breeders. Local der a different business name. It is not wise Cavalier Rescue of Alabama and Alabama authorities can only pursue charges under to buy a puppy online without doing exten- Puppy Mill Project to assist you in finding a treated,” Ingram recalls. There were also en- an initial goal of $50,000, the GoFundMe effort.” Alabama’s animal cruelty statute. Section sive research on the breeder, researching the reputable breeder or a perfect match rescued vironmental concerns due to reports by sur- campaign raised approximately $150,000 The united forces of the four rescue 13A-11-240 defines cruelty as “[e]very act, breeding stock’s heath history, and visiting Cavalier,” Wilk suggests. And even if the rounding neighbors of the facility’s practices prior to the auction. groups rescued all 98 dogs (96 Cavaliers and omission, or neglect, including abandon- the property. In January 2015, Wilk and women are successful in putting new legisla- of burning feces and washing urine from the Carnes, Ingram, and Ingram’s daughter, two Cockers), with two purchased directly by ment, where unnecessary or unjustifiable Thompson founded Cavalier Rescue of Ala- tion in place, there will still be the same is- cages with bleach that was running into the Kara, represented the group at the auction. individuals who had coordinated with the pain or suffering, including abandonment, is bama with Ingram leading a division of the sue of “enforcement” that will have to be ad- creek and their drinking water. During the auction, Ingram was the desig- rescue. Of these 98, the Birmingham group caused or where unnecessary pain or suffer- organization focused on anti-puppy-mill ini- dressed. Once the legislation is introduced, As a group, we continued the fight to nated bidder. Kara handled the financial purchased and saved 46 Cavaliers, bringing ing is allowed to continue.” As an attorney, tiatives. Cavalier Rescue of Alabama and Ala- the general public can help by contacting shut down this operation with legal, envi- situation during the auction, crunching the 34 back to Birmingham for vetting and tem- Ingram believes that there should be stronger bama Puppy Mill Project is currently work- their local legislators and letting them know ronmental, and social pressure.

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