Ag department rescues 50 dogs from Stone County facility

The Missouri Department of Agriculture cracked down on an unlicensed dog-breeding facility near Hurley in Stone County on Monday, as part of the department's Operation Bark Alert efforts.

The dogs, mostly dachshunds, great pyrenees, terriers and mixed breeds, lacked adequate living conditions, medical care, food or clean water, according to a department news release. The Stone County Sheriff's Department acted with the state to execute a warrant to take possession of the animals, which have been transported to a humane shelter in St. Louis, according to the release.

"Unlicensed breeders such as this one in Stone County continue to put the health and welfare of animals at risk and our legitimate professional licensed pet breeders at a competitive disadvantage," agriculture department Director Jon Hagler said in the release.

The Department of Agriculture requires animal shelters, pounds, boarding kennels, commercial kennels, pet shops, exhibition facilities, dealers or commercial breeders to be licensed and inspected annually. The department has rescued 3,200 dogs through Operation Bark Alert since launching the program in January 2009.