Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

Robyn Schon cuddles Theodore, one of 63 dogs that Angels of Assisi rescued from a Hillsville commercial breeding operation late last year.

Meet Theodore, the canine formerly known as Chompers.

The apricot-colored toy poodle was one of 63 dogs seized when state police raided a Hillsville commercial breeding operation in November 2008.

Theodore's teeth were so deteriorated that most had to be pulled, which prompted the volunteers to dub the lovable fellow "Chompers." He has only about a half-dozen teeth left on one side of his mouth, and his little pink tongue hangs out the other, where there are no teeth left.

He was adopted in January and has gained a healthy 3 pounds, bringing him up to 9 pounds. Although he now weighs on the high end for his breed, his little butterball body still fits into doggy sweaters.

"I probably overcompensate for his lean years," said Robyn Schon, the woman who adopted him.

Theodore (or Theo-dorable, as Schon likes to call him) and the other rescued dogs -- mostly Boston terriers, Yorkies, schnauzers, poodles and dachshunds -- arrived at Angels of Assisi, an animal shelter in Roanoke, with damaged nails, decayed teeth, infected ears and fur matted with excrement.

They received immediate medical attention and weeks of tender loving care at the shelter while the kennel owner, former chief dog warden David Winesett, fought in Carroll County court to regain custody of his dogs. After the civil case was dismissed on a technicality, Angels bought the dogs from Winesett and put them up for adoption.

Schon, an Angels volunteer and assistant general manager of the Roanoke Civic Center, jumped on the chance to bring home Theodore and Winston, another poodle rescued from the Hillsville operation.

"They adopted me, really," she said.

Schon brought the dogs to her Southwest Roanoke home, where she already had a German shepherd, a border collie mix and two cats -- all adopted. Theodore and Winston have their own space in the house; a spare bedroom blocked with a baby gate. Winston has been slower to adapt, but even Theodore was disoriented at first.

"For the first three or four nights, I didn't hear them bark," she said. "I didn't hear them make a noise. Then I woke up one morning and I heard them playing together and romping."

Schon lay in bed and cried.

She said she was emotional because she knew the dogs most likely never had a warm, dry, comfortable spot where they could just be dogs.

Veterinarians estimate Theodore is between 7 and 9 years old. Of the dogs that were rescued, only about 10 were puppies; the rest like Theodore, were older dogs that likely were bred excessively.

Lisa Knoble-O'Neill, the Angels' volunteer coordinator, said she knows paying Winesett for the dogs was not ideal.

"Anyone will tell you the last thing you want to do is give money to someone who is exploiting a living creature to make money," she said.

But it was what had to be done for those dogs, she said. A condition of the sale prevents Knoble-O'Neill from disclosing the terms. She said if it came down to it, she would do the same thing again. All the dogs rescued from the Hillsville operation have been adopted.

"It was the very best thing for the dogs," she said. "They come back to visit and they are entirely different -- full of life and free from fear."