Some of the dachshunds found over the weekend in a puppy mill in Parkersburg, W.Va., may be headed for the Pittsburgh area today, but it could be several months before rescuers have them ready for new homes.

Representatives from Dachshund Rescue of North America, or DRNA, including volunteers from southwestern Pennsylvania, will be in Parkersburg this morning to assist with the rescue of the 927 dachshunds taken from the Whispering Oaks Kennel during a two-day operation.

"It's sad, it's very sad," said Dora Show, Pennsylvania's lead DRNA representative. "Puppies from mills are not very socialized because they've not had much human contact. They're snappy, they're not friendly, they're scared to death of everything."

Ms. Show drove a rented, air-conditioned cargo van from Markleysburg, Fayette County, to Parkersburg last night, where she met Jill Blasdel-Cortus, president of the DNRA, from Greensburg, Ind. Together, the two women hoped to take more than 100 of the dachshunds from the American Humane Society warehouse where they're being kept.

The dogs they take will be treated by veterinarians and placed in DRNA foster homes across Pennsylvania. "Some Pittsburgh shelters have called me, and we have several Pittsburgh adopters," Ms. Show said. "I've already been contacted by a couple people in Pittsburgh who are interested in adopting one of these dogs."

Deputy Robert Sims, of the Wood County (W.Va.) sheriff's office, said authorities descended upon Whispering Oaks Kennel, an Internet-based dog-breeding facility run by Sharon and Edwin Roberts, on Saturday morning after tests by the Environmental Protection Agency showed fecal matter in nearby bodies of water.

"Because of past complaints that this was a puppy mill, we contacted other agencies before going onto the property," said Deputy Sims, who served the search warrant. "We wanted assistance if we found [what we anticipated]."

Joining the sheriff's officers were representatives of the Humane Society, the EPA and the W.Va. Department of Environmental Protection, and Wood County prosecutor Ginny Conley.

"We were removing animals from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and we were working Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.," Deputy Sims said. "I have to be honest; I saw only a few counts of neglect requiring immediate medical care. But there were just so many animals."

The Parkersburg News yesterday reported that the kennel owners will face environmental charges but added that Ms. Roberts disputed accusations of cruelty, neglect or abuse of the animals. She called the raid "a witch hunt," orchestrated by animal rights activists.

Her husband has been charged with assaulting a police officer and obstructing an officer for allegedly threatening a deputy with a chain saw. He was released on $2,000 bond.

Deputy Sims said the dachshunds were kept in small, wire mesh enclosures in eight different buildings on the property.

"The odor was horrendous," he said. "I've been in meth labs that smelled better. Not good."

Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said this was not the first time her organization has run into the Roberts' kennel. In February 2000, she said, the rescue group took 35 dachshunds from Ms. Roberts because she could not document the dogs' breeding to the American Kennel Club and she wanted to get rid of them.

"But the condition of the dogs was the red flag more than the fact that she couldn't document their lineage," Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said. "The batch we saw before probably had the worst teeth we've ever seen. One dog had to have its entire lower jaw removed. He's still ticking, though. He's about 17 now."

Ms. Blasdel-Cortus defended authorities for not raiding the facility in the years since that incident. "To undertake a project like this, the logistics are huge," she said. "It's very expensive. The rescue and the investigation. Once you enter into this project, you have to follow through."

While the rescued dogs will be properly cared for, it will be some time before they are placed.

"Dachshunds are a stubborn and intelligent breed," Ms. Show said. "They are hard to housebreak and often they're not good with children -- especially dogs that have been abused or have never had human contact. When we place these dogs, we look at references, we check with your vet, and even do a home visit to make sure that you're not running a puppy mill yourself and that you're prepared for a dog. We want their next home to be their forever home."

Ms. Blasdel-Cortus said people love dachshunds because they are small and cute, but that's not the best reason to adopt one.

"They are not little lap dogs," she said. "They are a hunting breed, and a lot of people don't expect the behavior that comes along with a hunting hound. While they can be an excellent couch potato, they also are an active breed. They can track, go into tunnels, they do it all. It's a hunting dog in a small body."

The DRNA rescues dogs from one or two puppy mills a year, she said, and the best way to stop the mills is to buy dogs from reputable breeders.

Anyone interested in helping with the rescue efforts should visit www.drna.org.