Rescue group adopts abandoned dogs

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Basset Hound lovers united to find homes for five dogs, abandoned by their owner.

2 News was there when a rescue group picked up some of the pups from the animal shelter on Friday. 

Basset Hound lovers said, as soon as this story hit the web, they got busy making phone calls and sending out emails, in an effort to get these dogs out of the shelter and into good homes.

Cathy Rudert drove all the way from Fort Thomas, Kentucky to get the dogs and deliver them to a group from New York.

"I found a rescue up in New York that wanted them, and they're going on a transport tonight in upper NY state," said Rudert.

Three other dogs have already been adopted by individuals who walked into the shelter.

Election poll workers found the five dogs abandoned at Bark Park, by the Animal Resource Center on Webster Street, last month.

2 News tracked down the owner of the dogs, to find out why she had abandoned her pets.

In an interview with reporter Holly Samuels, dog owner Connie Davis said she did not feel that she had harmed the dogs.

"I didn't let them off in the street. I left them in a field with a bag of dog food and wished them luck. I put them where I knew they would be okay," said Davis.

Davis said she was in the middle of a divorce, and her home was under foreclosure. She said she had contacted the animal shelter to see if they would take her dogs, but was informed that she would need to pay a $200 surrender fee.

Mark Kumpf, Director of the Animal Resource Center said they did charge a fee, but every case is different.

"Many of those fees are able to be waived under certain circumstances, if people have the opportunity to come in and speak with a supervisor and come in and explain their situation," said Kumpf.

Davis said she felt helpless at the time.

"They asked if my husband he could prove it. He said I have the foreclosure papers in my hand, and their response was, I don't know what to tell you, sir," said Davis.

In this economy, animal advocates said it was not uncommon to find people abandoning their animals. Thanks to rescue groups like Basset Lovers, some breeds got that second chance to be part of a family.

"These dogs will be placed very quickly because they're healthy, young, and beautiful," said Rudert.

Davis could face charges for neglecting her animals.

The Basset Hounds were scheduled to be picked up at 2 AM on Saturday morning, for their long ride to New York.