POSTED: 3:46 pm EDT May 7, 2007
UPDATED: 6:21 pm EDT May 7, 2007

PITTSBURGH -- Channel 11's Gordon Loesch investigated an animal shelter after receiving complaints from people who drove 200 miles to buy dogs only to find out they were sick.

Maggie was one of those dogs. Her owners said they had already purchased her when they found out she was seriously ill.

She had a severe upper respiratory infection and an enlarged heart.

Her owner Heather Yanyo told Loesch, "She was real lethargic. She wouldn't get up on her own. She wouldn't come out of the kennel. All she wanted to do was lay around.

"Meanwhile, other new dog owners in Pittsburgh told Loesch they were making even more startling discoveries.

Marisa Rose adopted Sentinel on Jan. 29th. Seven days later the puppy was dead.

Both dogs, as well as a third in our area that also quickly died, were all adopted from the same place.

In each case the Pittsburgh-area owners drove across state lines to West Virginia to pay and then pick up their dogs in an abandoned parking lot.

Online Katie's Rescue Shelter shows adorable dogs available to loving 'homes.

'But just what kind of 'home' is this shelter?

Loesch traveled to Summersville, W. V. to find out.

With no listed address it wasn't easy to find. He finally found the long driveway that led to Katie's Shelter. It was chained and locked. ...Click here to read the whole story

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Comment From Nicholas County Sheriff's Office


Press Release from Nicholas County Sheriff's Office on Katie's Shelter:

"I, Deputy R.T. Allison of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s department. We have been conducting and investigating complaints on Katie's Rescue for allegedly selling sick animals to several people from the Western Pennsylvania area. I have been in contact with the West Virginia State veterinarian office, Dr. Starcher. I have also been in contact with the Secretary of States office of West Virginia and talked with Mr. Cummings. The case has also been referred to the State Tax department and the Internal Revenue Service. I have also referred the case to the Nicholas County prosecuting attorneys office, also being investigating is the fact that the subjects that bought the sick animals and took them across state lines without a certificate of health. We can not answer any questions at this time due to the case still being under investigation."