GOLDSBORO (AP) ó A judge has decided not to return nearly 300 dogs that were seized from an alleged puppy mill last week in eastern North Carolina.
A Wayne County judge ruled Tuesday that the county could keep the roughly 283 dogs seized from Thornton Kennels. The county later signed the animals over to the Humane Society of the United States.
Authorities said the kennelís owner, Virginia Thornton, appeared to be running a puppy mill. A message left for Thornton at her home Friday was not immediately returned.
Humane Society spokeswoman Jordan Crump said the dogs are being treated for various infections, though two young puppies have died. Most of the dogs are shih-tzus, chihuahuas and lhasa apsos.
Crump said the dogs should be ready to be adopted in two to three weeks.