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PLEASANT GARDEN — Authorities have seized 97 dogs from a Pleasant Garden kennel as part of a four-month investigation into what Sheriff BJ Barnes called “a puppy mill out of control.”

So far, no charges have been filed against the owner of Rush Kennel or her employees. The investigation by the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing.

Sheila Rush Savage, owner of the business at 6324 Maplewood St., could not be reached for comment.

Her son said the 12-year-old kennel has a quality record.

“This has nothing to do with cruelty to animals,” said Tyler Rush as he stood outside the family business Thursday. “These dogs weren’t malnourished or anything.”

The dogs were taken to the Guilford County Animal Shelter. Officials there who viewed and examined the animals said:

• Two Chihuahuas will require surgery. One has a busted left eye socket, which has left the dog blind. The other has a puncture to her side that allows air to leak from her lungs.
• A 10- to 12-year-old greyhound is missing much of her lower jaw and nearly all of her teeth from poor dental care. The dog is pregnant. A shelter veterinarian said the dog shouldn’t have been bred after age 2 or 3.
• An adult Weimaraner is malnourished to the point where the outline of his ribs and hip bones could be seen through his skin. Officials said the dog weighs about 40 pounds, but should weigh about 75 pounds.
• Other dogs have dozens of ticks — more than 30 on one greyhound; mammary tumors; bloody diarrhea; heartworms; missing teeth; bruising; and open wounds.

Sheriff’s officials said the investigation began in December and progressed as authorities received complaints from 14 customers regarding sick dogs purchased from the kennel, including at least one dog that died.

Undercover deputies purchased a toy poodle from the kennel and it died within two weeks.

On Wednesday, officials spent 12 hours at the kennel, seizing the dogs and records.

Officials declined to describe the dogs’ living conditions.

The dogs are being examined to determine the full scope of their health problems. Findings will be turned over to the district attorney’s office.

“The conditions they had going on out there came down to nothing more than nastiness,” the sheriff said.

Barnes said detectives found several cases of upset customers. In one instance, a customer asked to see the parents of a puppy. The father was dragged out on a choke chain and threw up. “The mother of the dog couldn’t even stand up,” he said.

Robin Breedlove of Asheboro said she purchased a Weimaraner from the kennel in 1999, but the dog was diagnosed with a neurological hip disorder, which caused her to have him euthanized before he turned 4 years old.

“He had problems walking up and down steps, running and he fell all the time,” Breedlove said of her dog Bentley.

She called Savage to find out if there were problems with other puppies in the litter.

“She said there was no way they would have a disorder,” Breedlove said. “She said she was in charge of the breeding and that none of her dogs have any genetic neurological conditions. I got a not-so-friendly vibe when I made that call.”

On the kennel’s Web site, a guest book boasts dozens of happy customers. Attempts to contact them for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.

Tyler Rush said the kennel always has acted quickly with customer complaints.

“We’ve always had complaints, but we always gave them back their money,” Rush said. “Each customer signs a contract saying after the first year, Rush Kennels is not liable for any defects.”

Sheila Savage, who then was Sheila Rush , appeared on the ABC reality show “Wife Swap” in 2007.

In an interview with the News & Record about the TV show, Savage said many of her dogs lived indoors with the family and ate filet mignon on china, while the family ate off paper plates. The dogs were pampered with wardrobes and jewelry, and they slept in her king-sized bed.

“I think a lot of people will relate to me because a lot of people do treat their dogs like children,” Savage said of her appearance on television. 

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com