Puppies with ‘severe genetic abnormalities’ rescued from backyard breeder

In a post on Facebook Monday, a California nonprofit revealed how it rescued five puppies with “severe genetic abnormalities.”

Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue founder Zach Skow explained that the puppies were missing one or more limbs.

Rescued from a puppy mill, the dogs were taken in by the shelter to be cared for and hopefully rehomed.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are more than 10,000 puppy factories in the United States that breed dogs whose priority is profit, not animal health.

Skow founded Marley’s Mutts in 2009 in the midst of a deep personal crisis.

“I started the organization after being diagnosed with end-stage liver disease and having less than 90 days to live,” he said news week. “When I started caring for animals after six weeks in the hospital, my body began to repair itself along with my mind and spirit. A dog named Marley, along with many other foster dogs, helped save my life and put me on the path to salvation.”

Now 14 years sober and having adopted and cared for more than 10,000 animals, Skow runs the sanctuary from a 50-acre ranch in Tehachapi.

The puppies rescued by the breeder come from a litter of 12 and are the result of improper breeding.

“When you inbreed or cross breed dogs, that’s what happens. Some of the dogs have to have partial amputations so they can live freer lives,” Skow said. “Each of them will need a cart or a prosthetic to help them with mobility. All five children are bottle fed, but once they are well enough to eat solid food we need foster care for each of them.”

After sharing the pups’ story on Facebook, Marley’s Mutts received thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments.

“Backyard breeding should be against the law,” said one commenter. “We need strong animal protection laws.”

Another wrote: “So incredibly sad. Those poor babies, they don’t deserve this.”

Currently, the puppies are only about two weeks old, but rescue is hoping to find foster homes for them at some point.

“The home should be prepared to provide them with a safe environment, help them eat and drink, and be prepared to take measurements for a cart and just provide them with general care and love,” Skow said. “We’ve had countless dogs with amputated front or back legs. At Marley’s Mutts, we focus on those special needs dogs.”