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Last updated on Thursday, August 28, 2014
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Officers were called back to a familiar address on Monday.
Two weeks after removing 21 puppies from a home infected with the highly contagious Parvovirus, officers were called again to the 1400 block of South Euclid Avenue. Neighbors told police they had seen the woman who lives in the home arrive with several more new puppies.
"We went out and there were more animals present," said Animal Care and Control Spokeswoman Dawn Contos. "So we took three."
The pups have so far tested negative for Parvovirus, Contos said. But early negative tests can sometimes be followed by positive tests.
Neighbors hope Monday's incident will be the last time they have to call police about animal problems at the home.
Ronnie Vaughn, who lives a few doors down, says he originally called police two weeks ago because he believed the puppies were being abused.
"I'm not going to sit here and watch a dog get backed over by a car," Vaughn said. "I'm not going to sit and watch a dog be hauled in the trunk of a car."
FOX59 is not naming the woman because she has not been arrested and is not currently facing criminal charges. But she does have more than 20 pending citations related to neglect of the animals.
It's believed she has been finding puppies from various sources and arranging to sell them for cash over Craigslist and yard sale sites.
Vaugh says puppy buyers are constantly visiting the neighborhood.
"She lets them come up to the house and play with them in the yard," Vaugn said. "I watch them give her cash when she leaves."
Technically, "dog flipping" or "puppy flipping" is not illegal. However, the rules on Craigslist require sellers to use the term "re-home."
"It may not be illegal, but it is immoral," Contos said. "You never know what you're getting when you buy a dog on Craigslist."
The Hamilton County Humane Society took in 13 of the 21 puppies removed from the home two weeks ago. Five did not survive, two are still struggling to recover from Parviovirus, and six are doing well.
A final round of tests will be conducted this week before the six thriving puppies are put up for adoption. Humane Society officials hope that will happen this weekend.
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