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Local Shelter Teams Up With ASPCA to Rescue 41 Dogs From ‘No-Kill’ Shelter

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A “no-kill rescue” turned out to be a home where dogs lived in deplorable conditions.

Last week officials descended on Happy Endings Animal Rescue after numerous complaints by locals were lodged against the founder, David Gosselin.

Related: An Abused Bait Dog Was Found Just In Time, Now Feels Love for the First Time

What was discovered were dogs living in filthy conditions, including some living in inches of feces, without water or food and in overcrowded conditions, both inside and outside. Twenty-two large-breed dogs — including chow, pit bull and shepherd mixes — were found in just one room. Some had not been spayed or neutered, while others suffered from medical issues — emaciation, dental disease and severe hair loss, to name a few. But for many, the issues were more than skin deep.

Image via ASPCA

Image via ASPCA

“You can hear it every night, beating dogs, this in the middle of the night,” neighbor Jamichael Alexander told WSMV. “You shouldn’t be woken up at your house from dogs crying.”

Alexander added that, “He told them to shut up and they kept barking. He got upset and grabbed one by the neck and ran them together, went to get a paddle and kept beating them.”

Gosselin was arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Related: Dog Recovering After Being Abandoned on the Beach With 46-Pound Tumor

“What we found here is horrific,” Kathryn Destreza, Investigations Director for the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team, said in a statement. “This facility claimed to be a safe place for animals, but the truth is these dogs were suffering greatly, both physically and emotionally.”

Image via ASPCA

Image via ASPCA

The complaints for Happy Ending Animal Rescue aren’t new, with the oldest dating back to 2009. According to outlets, officers were at Gosselin’s home as recently as July 17 and June 24. (We reached out to the ASPCA and Nashville government, asking why it took so long to rescue. We haven’t received comment before time of publication.) 

The dogs are currently in an undisclosed shelter being treated for both emotional and physical trauma. Many of the animals are seniors and will require additional TLC.

Related: NFL Player Skips Puppies at Shelter, Instead Takes Home ‘Non-So-Adoptable’ Dog

Main image via ASPCA

By Andrea Huspeni

Andrea Huspeni is the founder and CEO of This Dog's Life. Her mission it to help dogs live a happier, healthier and longer life. When she isn't working, she spends time with her two dogs, Lola and Milo. She resides in Brooklyn, NY.

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