On July 7, 2017, 

Thirty-Five dogs were seized from the home of Marleen Elizabeth Puzak. Marleen was hired to train, groom, and show the dogs. Unbeknownst to the owners, Marleen continued collecting dogs and the household escalated into a hoarding situation. Denver Animal Control came out and seized the dogs. At least some of the French Bulldogs were taken to Denver Animal Shelter. 

Owners of the dogs began calling Denver as early as July 10th to alert them that many of these dogs were owned by other people and the dogs were show dogs. Despite Denver's knowledge that at least some of the dogs were owned, the city decided to promote and sensationalize an adoption event. 

The owners were told their dogs were going up for adoption, so they decided to hire The Animal Law Center to assert their legal rights. The Animal Law Center worked to get two of the dogs back. Upon the return of the two dogs, the owners discovered there had been unnecessary and elective surgeries that had been performed without the owners' consent. In addition, at least some of the surgeries were performed by a veterinary fellow, without any oversight. Seeing no other alternative, The Animal Law Center filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of their clients for the return of the dogs and also to stop any further unauthorized or mutilating surgery on the Frenchies. The Animal Law Center is also fighting to get interim placement/foster for the dogs, so they do not have to be imprisoned in the shelter during the pendancy of this litigation. 

Please help the owners challenge Denver on their constitutional violations and unnecessary and unauthorized surgeries performed on these innocent pups. Let's get these Frenchies out of the shelter, away from Denver's veterinary scalpel, and back with their rightful owners!