German shepherds, huskies rescued from breeding operation are up for adoption after months of ‘legal limbo'

Boston Globe

24-05-2025

Unable to put the dogs up for adoption, and unsure whether they'd eventually have be returned to Wrentham, shelter staff and foster volunteers couldn't publicly discuss the dogs, who came to them emaciated, sick, and unsocialized.
'It's been a secret. It's almost like they're in the witness protection program,' said Maddy Berthold, who works at the humane society and cared for the dogs after their June 2024 rescue.
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A Wrentham woman who allegedly bred the dogs pleaded not guilty to charges of animal cruelty, according to court records, but this spring admitted to 'sufficient facts' in the case, Norfolk District Attorney press officer David Linton told the Globe in an email. That allowed the humane society to begin advertising the animals for adoption in recent days, Berthold said.
'It's like the light at the end of the tunnel is here,' Berthold, 26, said.
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'Harrowing' rescue, 'challenging' recovery
In an announcement on their website, the Baypath Humane Society thanked the Wrentham community members who first reported concerns about the dogs.
A husky named Koda gave birth to three surviving puppies less than two weeks after being rescued.
Baypath Humane Society
'This has been one of the most challenging efforts we've ever taken on,' Executive Director Elizabeth Jefferis said in the humane society's
In May 2024, Wrentham Animal Control Officer Lexi Klenk inspected the kennel facility where the dogs were kept after neighbors reported concerns about poor conditions on the property. Klenk discovered unsanitary conditions, 'an overwhelming odor or urine and feces,' and some dogs appeared to have skin conditions, according to court documents.
A lawyer for the dogs' former owner did not respond to a request for comment.
It was Klenk's first year on the job, she told the Globe, and she was determined to 'take care of the situation.'
She rescued the dogs one by one after the property owner did not improve conditions for the animals, Klenk, 27, said.
'We had to try to pet them and be very patient with them because you could tell they hadn't been handled a lot,' Klenk said.
Baypath was unable to hire their own lawyer to fight for ownership of the dogs, and in the meantime, most needed expensive veterinary care, Berthold said.
Many of the dogs had to receive behavioral therapy for stress disorders, and two dogs died soon after the rescue operation from 'severe health issues that were left untreated,' Klenk said.
The dogs' former owner was ordered to 18 months probation, and may not own or have custody of any new animals, according to court records.
Puppies born 2 weeks after rescue
Mother Goose, a female German shepherd, was one of the oldest dogs rescued and was clearly overbred, Berthold said.
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'After years of raising litter after litter in an overcrowded breeding operation, Ms. Goose is ready to be pampered and loved in her golden years,' the humane society's announcement said.
Another female, a husky named Koda, gave birth to three surviving puppies less than two weeks after being rescued, Berthold said.
Her pups are Finn, Bea, and Gunner, and two of them have striking mismatched eyes — one blue, one brown — that are common about the breed.
'The best thing about the puppies was seeing Koda's relief that she was in a safe place able to have these babies,' Berthold said.
Horton and Cleo
Most of the dogs didn't know how to interact with humans and lacked social skills many pet owners take for granted, Berthold said.
A white male husky named Horton became Berthold's favorite of the group after he overcame his social anxiety by latching onto another dog already at the shelter.
'He fell in love with one of our dogs, Cleo, who's not part of the case,' Berthold said. 'Cleo has so much confidence, and Horton is kind of able to follow that.'
Squeaky toys, kiddie pool and lots of walks
Klenk and Berthold said their favorite memories of the dogs include seeing them learn to use squeaky toys, which they never had before.
'It gave us hope that that was something in their furniture,' Berthold said.
The dogs, which weren't leash trained, also had to learn how to go on walks. This spring, Horton was also particularly confused when humane society staff set up a kiddie pool for the animals to cool down. But seeing Cleo bound into the water helped Horton enjoy it, too, Berthold said with a laugh.
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Each of the 23 adult dogs will need more patience, socialization, and training than is typical, Berthold said, adding that there hasn't yet been much interest from would-be adopters.
'They're going to need some patience and some time to really decompress in their new homes.'
The three husky pups born post-rescue, however, are fully socialized and have been getting all the inquiries so far.
'They're just literally adorable,' Berthold said.
A female German shepherd named Mother Goose.
Baypath Humane Society
Claire Thornton can be reached at