87 animals removed from Lithia breeders' home

LITHIA -- Deputies investigating a puppy breeder Wednesday afternoon called the detached garage filled with sawdust, compost and feces where the animals were kept "the dungeon," according to Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Puppy Luv, owned and operated by Ian and Chrissy Roth at 1306 Pelote Cemetery Road, specializes in small- breed dogs such as poodles, Pomeranians, Havanese and Shih Tzus.

But after Animal Services received a tip about the substandard treatment of the puppies the couple was selling, investigators went to the property and removed more than 87 animals, including four cats and four dead dogs, said Marti Ryan, an Animal Services spokeswoman.

Most of the dogs were sickly. Fur was matted with feces, and they had been deprived of light for some time, Ryan said.

"Some of them were so dehydrated they were chasing after empty bowls in the back of the transport van," she said. Neighbors told her they knew the dogs lived on the 1-acre lot but never saw them outside.

The dogs and cats have been taken to the shelter, where they will be examined by county veterinarians and brought back to good health.

But Ryan said potential adopters shouldn't rush to pick one up just yet.

"We don't have custody of these dogs to even put them up for adoption, and we're not sure how much of a fight that will be, so people shouldn't call and ask about them just yet," she said.

Ryan said the Roths would be charged with several counts of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty, but neither had been arrested as of this posting.

Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer

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