22 Great Danes rescued in Hudson Valley effort

MILAN — Twenty-two dogs, all Great Danes, were rescued from a home on Thursday after the death of their owner, State Police said.

The dogs were found after State Police conducted a welfare check on the older man who lived there and found that he had passed away, said Trooper A.J. Hicks.

The animals were “undernourished” and confined to a house that was in “terrible condition,” said Lynn Meloccaro, executive director of the Dutchess County SPCA, which took six of the dogs, ranging from puppies to two years of age. The animals’ owner had been struggling with hoarding the animals.

“The dogs had clearly not gotten any veterinary care. They did not know how to walk on leashes. They were very under-socialized,” Meloccaro said. “All needed medical attention. And that’s what we’re providing right now.”

Meloccaro said the Dutchess County SPCA was aware of the man’s situation and had convinced him to surrender all but two dogs in 2021 under the condition that he not breed them again.

“But he obviously did not keep that promise,” Meloccaro said. “He was a

nice gentleman. It was just an out-of-control situation for him.”

Besides the Dutchess County SPCA, other animal rescue agencies like the Ulster County SPCA, Ulster County Canines, Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League and the Hudson Valley SPCA are caring for some of the dogs and currently taking donations. The animal control officer for the town of Milan and the Dutchess County sheriff also assisted, Hicks said.

“You always get these comments from people just wanting to punish the person. But in this case, all we wanted to do was to save the dogs,” Meloccaro said. “Hoarding situations are often mental health issues. People are not being malicious. They just need help.”