PERRY COUNTY - Their tails are wagging and they bark with glee.

Their fur, dirty and matted last week, is now clean. The medical problems the 40 little dogs are suffering from have been diagnosed and treatment is under way. And community support and interest in adopting the canines rescued from a filthy rural Du Quoin home last week has been tremendous, said members of the Perry County Humane Society.

People from all over Southern Illinois have been calling and applying to adopt the animals taken from the urine-, feces-, and trash-filled home at 339 Kathleen Mine Road, a residence labeled by may local law enforcement officers as one of the worst things they've ever seen. The children living in the home are in the temporary custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. An aunt is caring for two boys, ages 15 and 10, and a 3-year-old girl.

John Todd Morris, 46, and Pruda Morris, 45, are the parents of the two boys, while Joey Simpson, 27, and Pruda Morris are the parents of the girl. All three were residing in the home with more than 41 dogs, some running loose and some in cages. The Morrises are each charged with three counts of endangering the life or health of a child and two counts of cruel treatment of animals and Simpson is charged with one count of endangering the life or health of a child. All charges are misdemeanors. The three have each posted $500 bond and been released from custody. They are to make their next court appearance on Feb. 14, 2005.

Last week, the three agreed to forfeit rights to 27 of the dogs and Wednesday they agreed to forfeit rights to all remaining dogs confiscated from their home by Perry County Animal Control officers on Dec. 8. Cleaning, feeding, caring, and seeking adoptive homes for the animals has kept volunteers with the Perry County Humane Society quite busy since the animals were rescued, organizers said.

"It's been a wild ride," said Society Secretary Sherry Mathis Thursday. "We're working on it, it's just been overwhelming."

All of the pups have gotten baths and medical checks but there's much more to be done including intensive medical care for some of the malnourished, ill, or eye- damaged creatures. Most of the dogs are now being housed at the society's no-kill shelter at 8446 E. Park St., but due to space shortages a few have been placed temporarily at two local grooming/boarding facilities.

Mathis said more than 50 applications have been submitted to adopt the rescued animals and two volunteers are working hours every day to screen the applications and call all references and vets listed on applications. Already, six animals are slated for final adoption within the next one to two weeks. They include two pugs, a pair of peek-a-poos and a "special needs" Chihuahua, she said. About 10 more dog adoption plans are being finalized. All animals are spayed or neutered, wormed, provided with shots, and given any other needed medical treatment before being placed.

Most of the animals are quite small. The largest are a Dachshund and a Boston terrier. Mathis said it appears all are purebred animals, including Pekinese, boxers and more. Some do have problems that are the result of inbreeding, she said. Officials said apparently the three were involved to some extent in boarding and breeding dogs. One of the animals taken from the home was actually proven to belong to a non- family member who has since paid all related fees and shown proof of ownership to reclaim the animal. The rest are all being placed in new homes.

Mathis said all applications are being reviewed and considered but the tremendous public response has been difficult for them to keep up with. The society's telephone message box keeps being filled to overflowing so they're encouraging people to get on the Web site at www.perrycountyhumanesociety.com to obtain and submit an adoption application or for more information. Some volunteers have been working 12 hours a day or more to help care for the animals and secure them new homes. The shelter is open from 2-4 p.m. Saturday for prospective adopters to visit.

Meanwhile, the national pet welfare organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has gotten involved, encouraging Perry County State's Attorney David Stanton to require that the Morrises and Simpson be prohibited from owning any other dogs in the future and require that they be required to undergo psychological evaluation and mandatory counseling.

Stanton said the maximum penalty for the misdemeanor charges against the three is up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500 or court supervision or probation for up to two years. Conditions could be included in any probationary terms. However, Illinois has special ordinances regarding animal hoarding and cruelty and if the three are convicted, they could indeed be required to undergo evaluation and counseling. By law, a judge can also prohibit them from owning or having access to any animal for a period of time deemed by the court to be reasonable.

mathis5@hcis.net 618-357-8391