Puppy mill' owner sent to state hospital

A 51-year-old Gilmer resident, Teresa Dawson, has been order to spend 120 days at Rusk State Hospital. Ms. Dawson has been charged with cruelty to animals and the surviving 244 dogs awarded to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

She was ordered to pay the SPCA $24,700 for the food and veterinary care received by the dogs, in addition to court costs.

Ann Barnes, vice president of operations for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the animals would be spayed or neutered and placed for adoption.

Ms. Barnes said she thought the chances were slim that the organization would ever actually be paid.

"There was no statute of limitations on the judgement," said Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd. "It will always follow her," he said.

The dogs were very thin, balding, covered with sores and had other medical problems when they were removed from Ms. Dawson's property.

The property was described as a "puppy mill."

Cages with mostly small breed dogs lined the property and filled a shack. More dogs were confined to a house infested with roaches and vermin.