State animal welfare workers continued to care for 100 dogs this week at the site of a Buxton kennel raided late last month by the state as the owners of the kennel awaited a Sept. 26 court date that could determine whether the state will take custody of the dogs.

A national animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), urged psychological evaluation for the owners and jail time if they are convicted.

Kennel owners John and Heidi Frasca, who have alleged the state violated their rights leading up to and during a raid on their home in late August, this week called the state’s actions “organized, criminal animal racketeering.”

“My biggest job is to pray,” said John Frasca. “My hope is that God is going to send someone to speak for us.”

New Sharon woman, Carol Murphy, claimed in a letter released this week by the attorney general’s office that the state stole her dogs that were in the Buxton kennel.

The developments stem from a raid by Maine’s Animal Welfare Department agents and Buxton police at the J’aime Kennel, 35 Paucek Road, Buxton, on Aug. 21. The state, which claimed the kennel mistreated animals, seized a large number of dogs and other animals. The Frascas were issued 14 summonses for an unlicensed kennel, two summonses for animal cruelty and one summons for failing to provide necessary medical treatment to animals. The Frascas have denied all charges.

In the raid, the state seized records, which Frasca said he needs to defend himself. “They still haven’t given us anything,” Frasca said.

A court date for the summonses comes in November, but a hearing has been set for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Maine District Court, 25 Adams St., Biddeford, to determine whether the animals should be seized permanently. “We will present the board’s case,” said David Loughran, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, which provides legal services to the Department of Agriculture.

Norma Worley, director of the Animal Welfare Department, which is part of the state’s agriculture department, said animal welfare workers are continuing to care for about 100 dogs still at the site. Many are being treated for Sarcoptic Mange and Giardia, both contagious. She said some of the most critically ill were taken to animal clinics for treatment.

“We’ll keep providing treatment to bring them back to health,” Worley said, “And proceed with the court hearing to retain possession.”

Sixteen of the dogs are being housed at the Animal Refuge League in Westbrook. Andrew Ferreira, director of the refuge league, didn’t know Wednesday how long the dogs would be there. He called it week-to-week.

Ferreira said the dogs at the refuge league are doing well. “The ultimate disposition rests with the courts and the state,” Ferreira said.

Worley said the seizure came after her department had received complaints from the public about the kennel, though she didn’t disclose any specifics. She said department’s attempts to work with the kennel failed. “Those talks broke down,” Worley said.

Then, the Animal Welfare Department worked with Buxton police and obtained a warrant for the raid.

Rep. Don Marean, R-Hollis, who represents part of Buxton, said the state handled the situation appropriately. “If they are going to breed and sell dogs, they have to comply with the law,” Marean said. “I don’t find any fault with the department. I don’t think they’ve made a mistake.”

The Frascas claim the state violated their constitutional rights several days before the seizure, when agents illegally entered their property without a warrant. They notified Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe, Agriculture Commissioner Seth Bradstreet III and Worley by letters received on Aug. 10 of their intent to sue.

Also threatening legal action is a New Sharon woman, Carol Murphy. In documents made available Tuesday by the attorney general’s office, Murphy said in a letter Aug. 23 to Bradstreet, Worley and a state veterinarian, Christine Fraser, that she owned four French bulldogs that were seized and she has a bill of sale dated Aug. 17.

“Actually they were purchased by me for a friend out of state. … if the dogs are not all returned to me by the court on the 26th, I will file a lawsuit out of state in a U.S. District Court,” Murphy said in an e-mail response.

Murphy said the dogs hadn’t been returned to her by Wednesday.

The Frascas four children, Jordan M. Frasca, Robert J. Frasca, John Corey Frasca and Jaime L. Frasca, have also stated in signed letters they owned several of the dogs and puppies that were seized. “Give me my babies back,” Jaime Frasca wrote.

Frasca said the state hadn’t returned the animals to his children.

The case is now drawing national attention from an animal rights advocacy group. On Tuesday, Kristin DeJournett, cruelty caseworker of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) based in Norfolk, Va., urged York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence to “vigorously prosecute” the Frascas.

“Reports indicate that the majority of the animals allegedly had health problems – including giardiasis and sarcoptic mange – and were reportedly confined to small, dirty living spaces,” wrote DeJournett in a letter. She said the group was alerted to the incident by e-mails from concerned citizens.

Elsewhere in Maine, a group of breeders will meet at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13, in the Callahan Room at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St., to discuss the Frasca situation and a new bill, LD 1615, affecting animal owners, which goes into effect Friday, Sept. 21. Among other provisions, the new regulations require a temporary vendor license for people wishing to sell or exchange for goods a dog or cat.

Steve Mason, who owns a kennel in South Paris, said he believed the meeting would be standing-room-only. Frasca said his wife planned to attend the meeting.

Mason said breeders fear the new bill increases the powers of the Animal Welfare Department.

“I think we’re going to have a really good turnout,” he said. “This is the beginning of a coalition.”

American bull dog pups whimper for their mother who occupies an adjacent kennel in the week after they were seized from a Buxton kennel.Animal Welfare workers were still caring for approximately 100 dogs this week at J’aime Kennel on Paucek Road in Buxton.Heidi and John Frasca confront Buxton Police Officer Mike Grovo when they returned to their home in late August. John Frasca said, “This is Nazi Germany,” in response to the raid that occured at the J’aime Kennel.