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310 Dogs Found in Wicomico County Alleged Puppy Mill

creative commons

EDEN, Md. (AP) - Wicomico County authorities have arrested the owners of 310 dogs living in an alleged puppy mill.

Media outlets report that 60-year-old Robert Murphy and 67-year-old Susan Murphy were arrested Monday on 84 counts of animal cruelty.

Wicomico Sheriff Mike Lewis says the dogs - mostly Pomeranians - were seized following a kennel check April 6. Inside the house, authorities found 166 dogs, while 144 more were in three other buildings on the property.

Lewis says the scene was "disturbing." Many of the dogs had matted fur and were covered in feces. Some had worms.

Of the 310 dogs, Lewis says only one had to be euthanized, and 27 are still receiving veterinary care at the Humane Society. The rest have been adopted.

It's unclear if the Murphys have lawyers.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.