Almost 50 helpless dogs were rescued from a horrifying suspected puppy mill operation in Oregon.
Deschutes County Police said they uncovered the alleged abuse after a tip-off from a woman who purchased a dog from Kameo Poodles in South Bend, about 180 miles southeast of Portland.
She noticed odd behavioral issues and unusual health problems in her new animal and alerted police that it may have been brought up in a neglectful environment.
Police searched the home of business owner Lorinda Maxwell and discovered dozens of poodles in need of grooming and medical care.
When the 62-year-old refused to give up the 44 standard, miniature and toy poodles voluntarily, police came back with a warrant and forcibly removed the animals from her home.
Deschutes County Police arrested Maxwell on 49 felony counts for Second Degree Animal Neglect on September 5.
The herd of neglected dogs included two litters of puppies all living in allegedly filthy and unhealthy conditions.
If poodles, like the ones in Maxwell’s care, are not properly groomed and cared for, they can develop painful matting in their fur. They are also prone to dental issues and ear infections.
Lorinda Maxwell operated Kameo Poodles out of her home. Police found 49 animals in need of care
Reports say that the dogs had been living in filthy, unhealthy conditions
Many of the poodles were in need of grooming. If they are not groomed frequently it can cause matting which pulls on their skin
They were staying in dirty crates among soiled blankets, according to images of the living conditions. Reports noted that the home smelled like urine and ammonia, while many of the animals were underweight.
Maxwell also voluntarily surrendered two additional dogs and three cats.
The public information officer for Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said: ‘Our Animal Control Technicians are committed to protecting animals in our community and are highly trained to notice signs of neglect.
‘In this case, we believe Maxwell prioritized quantity over quality with profit as the main goal.
‘And given how long she’s been breeding and the unhealthy conditions in the home, we’re considering this a puppy mill.’
After Maxwell’s arrest, the dogs were taken to the Humane Society of Central Oregon and will act as evidence in the ongoing investigation. She has not yet been formally charged but was taken into custody at Deschutes County Adult Jail.
Out of the 44 poodles that were taken by police, there were two litters of puppies
In Oregon, animal neglect becomes a felony if the case involves 11 animals or more
The home reportedly smelled like ammonia and urine and the dogs were living in dirty crates on soiled blankets
The Humane World for Animals describes puppy mills as high-volume breeding facilities where profit is prioritized over the health and well-being of the dogs.
An estimated 2.2 million dogs are sold each year from puppy mill operations.
As a result of the bust, the Humane Society in Deschutes County is at 200% capacity, but the poodles can’t be adopted until the investigation is finished.
Deschutes County has seen an uptick in large-scale animal abuse and neglect cases have risen substantially in 2025, according to Central Oregon Daily.
