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Louisville, KY (WHAS11) - Puppy auctions are something many puppy mill operators and pet store owners don't want you to see.
WHAS11's Melanie Kahn went undercover to one of the auctions last weekend, where hundreds of dogs were sold. She and the crew did not leave empty-handed.
They were working with a rescue group called Luv 4 K9s, a group based out of Dayton, Ohio.
Together, they brought nine dogs home, which is all they could fit in the car.
On the way, they stopped at a veterinarian just outside Holmes County.
This is the conclusion of this WHAS11 Investigation.
Hundreds of dogs stacked up in wire crates, all waiting to be put on the auction block and sold to the highest bidder.
WHAS11’s hidden camera went inside the Buckeye Dog Auction in Farmerstown, Ohio.
Dog auctioning is a multi-million dollar national industry and it is legal in almost every state, including Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. But animal rights groups say it's an inhumane practice that should be stopped.
The auction house WHAS11 visited is owned by Harold Neuhart. When WHAS11 confronted him and asked to speak to him, he refused and at one point, grabbed the camera.
After Neuhart refused an interview, WHAS11 News left the auction house, but not empty handed.
The volunteer who brought us into the auction bought nine dogs.
After leaving the auction house, WHAS11 and the volunteer went to Dr. Jeff Baranack, a veterinarian at the Oak Pointe Veterinary Care Clinic, in Dover, just outside of Holmes County.
For years, Dr. Baranack has worked with the Humane Society of America, helping dogs like the ones at auction.
When WHAS11 brought in the dogs, he agreed to examine and treat all of them for free.
One by one, he carefully examined each dog, many were still afraid to come out of their carriers and a few shook in the doctor’s hands.
Some of the dogs WHAS11 brought in had minor problems; slight eye problems, ear infections and tooth problems.
Then others, like one little dachshund, known as #244, had bigger issues. She had a large bump on her back, requiring immediate treatment.
"Something that she hit her back against caused some bleeding and it clotted and what's left is a pocket of serum... We call it a seroma. That's such a large one on her back, that, to be honest when I feel it from the outside, it's probably been there a while. There's some scaring around it, so in my opinion, it's been there a while," explained Dr. Baranack.
Others were living in such poor conditions, that they had ears infested with ear mites.
According to state law it is legal to breed puppies for commercial purposes, but it is illegal to treat them inhumanely or to keep them in unsanitary conditions.
"There’s a demand for puppies and where there's a demand, people will find a way to make a buck off of it," added Dr. Baranack.
According to Dr. Baranack, the people who make the most money are pet stores.
"You go into these pet stores and you see these cute little puppies you have to realize, great you want the puppy, but you're supporting a lifestyle," added Dr. Baranack.
This lifestyle and the industry continues to be one of the largest in the United States.
All nine of the dogs are well now.
Eight are living with either foster families or at the Luv 4 K9's Animal Rescue in Dayton, Ohio.
One dog did come back with WHAS11 and we have some photos of her.
The dachshund who suffered from the seroma on her back, the dog once known as #244, is now named Annabelle.
She was adopted by one of our photographers, Aron Pryor, who says she is doing well, and started wagging her tail for the first time Tuesday.
You can see photos of Annabelle and all the dogs from the auction in our photo gallery. If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs, you can find more information at Luv4K9s.com or by calling 937-974-7325.
If you'd like more information on dog auctions and the effort to ban them, visit the Coalition to Ban Dog Auctions Website.
