East Bay SPCA Says Backyard Dog Breeding Appears on the Rise

The East Bay SPCA announced Friday that an increased number of puppies have been coming into the shelter over the last few years.

Many of the puppies are suffering from malnutrition and neglect. Others have contracted the deadly canine parvovirus.

Some are brought in by people who find them abandoned in parks or on the street, while others are left in boxes by the shelter doors.

“It appears that backyard breeding is on the rise,” said East Bay SPCA Executive Director Allison Lindquist.

“It is likely that some people are selling puppies to generate income during these difficult economic times," she said. "Unfortunately many of the pups making it to the shelter are in bad shape, which indicates an inability or lack of preparedness to care for these litters.”

Just this past Tuesday, the shelter took in three tiny puppies — one of which had already died. Because of their severe malnutrition, the shelter said it was difficult to identify the breed and age of the pups, although they are estimated to be 6 to 7-week-old pit bulls.

It will take weeks of intensive care in a foster home to get these young pups healthy enough to be ready for adoption. 

In the last couple of years, the number of dogs and cats landing in East Bay shelters has increased (30 percent more dogs and 5 percent more cats landing in shelters annually since 2007).

These numbers are likely the result of foreclosures, layoffs, costs of pet care, and a host of other, largely economic, factors.

“It is a tragedy all around,” said Lindquist. “These pit bull puppies likely have spent their short five weeks on this earth outside in the cold and rain. They became so sick they were probably deemed unsalable, so they were dumped in a local park. There is no excuse not to spay or neuter your pet."

"The East Bay SPCA offers free spaying and neutering to all pit bulls and pit bull mixes to owners in Alameda and Contra Costa counties," Lindquist added. "We have affordable medical services, and for non-pits, we offer very affordable spay and neuter surgeries. And we offer discounts for those financially struggling.”

For more information, visit the East Bay SPCA’s website at www.eastbayspca.org or call 510-569-0702.