Want To Adopt One Of Nine Puppies From Bogus Irvine Puppy Rescue? Here's How

IRVINE, CA — They've come a long way, baby. Cabo, Cozumel, Cancun, Crush, Darla, Dory, Peach, Puebla and Ensenada are the nine puppies who lived following the busting of the bogus dog rescue organization "Pawlosophy." All will be available for adoption on Wednesday.

"The adoption will be handled like a lottery, with those interested in taking the puppies home filling out paperwork from Irvine Animal Care Center, 6443 Oak Canyon, on Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m., Kim Mohr of the Irvine Police Department said.

The lottery drawing for the dogs will be held at the Irvine Animal Care Center at 2 p.m. that same day.

"The public should keep in mind that these animals were very ill and lived through a traumatic experience," Mohr said. "Anyone wishing to adopt one of the puppies should have extra time to devote to their care and socialization."

Being selected in the lottery is not a guarantee of placement; IACC staff will determine the suitability of potential adopters according to release.

View all nine puppies here.

A woman from Seal Beach was charged Monday with setting up a bogus dog rescue organization that led to the deaths of at least 30 puppies and affected about 150 adoptive families, according to an Orange County prosecutor.

Megan Ann Hoechstetter, who ran the embroiled business, was charged with 24 misdemeanors involving animal abuse by a caretaker, according to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Malone.

Nine of the puppies who have been nursed back to health will be put up for adoption by Irvine police on Wednesday.

The nine were among 19 puppies in Hoechstetter's possession at the time of her arrest, according to Mohr.

Hoechstetter, 42, allegedly established a fake rescue organization online to sell dogs she may have gotten from Mexico and who did not receive proper care, Mohr said. One of the business names she operated under was "Pawlosophy," Mohr said.

The 30 dogs either succumbed to their illnesses or had to be euthanized, Malone said.

The defendant, who is scheduled to be arraigned April 28, is accused of "puppy flipping," Malone said.

Hoechstetter allegedly was obtaining the puppies in Tijuana, Malone said. Adoptive families were paying about $450 for the puppies, but some ended up paying up to $7,500 in veterinary bills trying to save the dogs, Malone said.

"When police went to arrest the suspect at a hotel in Cypress, they found 13 puppies, which were taken to the city's animal care center for "much needed care," Mohr said.

The defendant pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor counts of grand theft on April 28, 2010, according to court records. Multiple other charges of forgery were dismissed, according to court records.

Hoechstetter was sentenced to three years of informal probation and 120 days in jail as part of the 2010 plea deal, according to court records.

Images, courtesy Irvine Police Department, Irvine Animal Care Center