//Burleson, Texas// - August 27, 2008 - On behalf of Manuela Daugs, Andrea Blath traveled across the ocean to hopefully do what the American officials have been unable to accomplish stop local animal cruelty and business fraud. Cheryl Billedeau of "Lionhounds" in Burleson, Texas has been accused by individuals and rescue groups over the years of being a puppy mill and using a deceptive website (www.lionhounds.org) to lure unsuspecting puppy buyers. "However, after numerous complaints, local officials have not closed her breeding operation down," stated Roy Hughes with Texas Independent Ridgeback Rescue, a private organization with no affiliations to any registries or clubs. Mr. Hughes also stated "Ms. Billedeau's operation with the vast number of dogs on the property poses a significant health threat to the general public due to the risk of Giardia parasites from unsanitary stagnate water."

Manuela Daugs from Germany, who does not speak English, has been trying for over a year to get someone to respond to what her daughter, Delia Daugs, experienced in July of 2007. Delia Daugs stayed at Ms. Billedeau's place of residence and was emotionally disturbed by her experience. One of the dogs that Ms. Daugs brought to America was attacked and severely wounded by Ms. Billedeau's "pack" which reportedly numbers between 17 to 40 Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The majority of the dogs run loose during the day. Ms. Daugs stated that she was "shocked to see the injured dog returned to the pack, without an opportunity to heal", after being treated by Ms. Billedeau's veterinarian. Ms. Daugs further reported numerous other cruelty and neglect issues including the use of electric shock collars. The Daugs wanted their dog back, but Ms. Billedeau would not allow one of them named "Paul" to leave because of their previous arrangement. "Delia returned to Germany with the severely injured dog and had to leave Paul behind," stated Manuela Daugs.

After hearing of a slander suit Ms. Billedeau filled against a rescue organization owner for calling her a "puppy mill", Manuela Daugs decided to come back to the U.S. in an attempt to help the dogs at the Lionhounds' facility. She could not understand why Americans would allow such blatant animal abuse to continue. Since Ms. Daugs does not speak English and her daughter was too disturbed by her previous experience to return to the home, Andrea Blath agreed to go for them and get whatever information she could. Planning to purchase an adult dog previously imported by Ms. Billedeau, Ms. Blath flew to the U.S. and stayed at the Billedeau residence from August 15th to 17th, 2008. Her experience was so traumatic that it took her a week to recover and document what she witnessed. Her experience which includes two young dogs being killed during her visit is now being investigated by authorities. One of the dogs was electrocuted while attempting to chew free of her entanglement with a power cord. Ms. Blath reported that she "heard the dog whining early in the day but could not investigate alone because she was afraid of the aggressive behavior of the other animals." The electrocuted female was found dead later that evening. The second dog was attacked or killed by the pack of older dogs sometime during the day. According to three separate rescue organizations, "No one actually knows how many dogs have been mauled and killed in this same manner, but dogs bearing numerous injuries and scars have been reported, photographed and/or rescued from Ms. Billedeau's facility during the past four years."

AKC records indicate Cheryl Billedeau registered her first Rhodesian Ridgeback in late 2000 and began breeding in 2001. She primarily exhibits her dogs at UKC shows and the UKC website lists Ms. Billedeau as an approved conformation judge at this time. Ridgeback rescue in Texas began to receive calls from people who purchased sick or dysplastic puppies from Ms. Billedeau as early as 2002. "Caring people and breeders throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia and Africa (where the breed originated) are trying to figure out why it is so hard to stop this kind of abuse and neglect," replied Angel Smith who has been in contact with both Daugs and Blath.

Ms. Daugs has spent her personal money to travel from Germany to help and in rescuing an imported dog. Both Delia and Andrea state they are "willing to travel thousands of miles from home in order to testify in court if needed." According to several sources, "Ms. Blath's statement of her account is currently being forwarded through fax and e-mail to breeders and rescue operations around the globe in the hopes that someone will be able to help."

Pictures are available upon request.

For more information or verification of any information, you can contact the following individuals:

Angel Smith - mail@hckarate.com / 830-626-2622
Andrea Blath - Zimtstern1977@freenet.de / Phone: +49 34745 97049,
Manuela Daugs - ridgebackland@googlemail.com
or Anke van Wyk - bellakimba@gmx.net