Meer dan 100 verwaarloosde honden en andere dieren gevonden in woning Kinsman, Ohio (VS) - Ook vuilniszak met dode puppies aangetroffen

Scores of animals found

More than 100 dogs, other animals removed from

home

13-02-2010 By JOE GORMAN Tribune Chronicle,


KINSMAN - The barking dogs and smell of animal waste at Kathy Witzman's home Friday was the soundtrack as sheriff's deputies and volunteers spent most of the day removing animals from the yard.

Debbie Coll of the Animal Disaster Team from Cuyahoga County, crouches in front of a row of cages filled with dogs that were taken from a home in Kinsman Friday morning. More than 100 dogs and several other animals were found on the property. The owner of the property has been taken into custody.Tribune Chronicle photos / Joe Gorman

Trumbull County Sheriff's deputies as well as the Animal Welfare League and what seemed like an army of volunteers descended on the 5175 state Route 87 home late Friday morning to take more than 100 dogs and several other animals.

Witzman also was taken into custody and is expected to be charged with several counts of animal cruelty, said sheriff's Detective Harold Firster. He said he won't know how many counts will be filed until it is determined how many animals she had.

Firster said health officials also were inspecting the property, which he described as "deplorable." He said the home has been an ongoing problem since 2003.

Besides the pens, there was also a large blue barrel filled with animal bones and a garbage bag with several dead puppies inside. A snowed in pickup truck in the front yard housed several cats and smelled of urine. Workers carried animals to trucks in cages to the constant backdrop of barking and honking.

The majority of dogs were pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers, Firster said. There were also two horses and other animals, including several ducks and chickens.

Barbara Busko of the Animal Welfare League said it took about two weeks to plan Friday's operation.

''This is a huge effort,'' Busko said.

There were five veterinarians on hand, as well as the Animal Disaster Team from Cuyahoga County and other volunteers, Busko said. She said one man tried to take his dog and was caught by deputies.

The dogs and other animals will be taken to an undisclosed location where they can be nursed back to health, Busko said. Some of the dogs may have health issues, however, and may have to be put down.

''Our intent is to save as many of them as we can,'' she said.

Debbie Agostinelli of the Animal Welfare League said some of the dogs were aggressive when approached by the volunteers. She said a thick layer of snow may be covering up other health issues, such as animal waste and dirty water. She said several dead animals also were found.

Michelle Strickland, who said she, her boyfriend and daughter help Witzman feed the animals, said Witzman's main fault is she has too big of a heart.

''She is a very nice lady,'' Strickland said. ''We are in shock about what happened. She never turns anybody away.''

Strickland said she thinks authorities may have gone over the top Friday in dealing with Witzman. She said that maybe authorities could have worked with her to try and solve the problem instead of raiding her home and arresting her.

jgorman@tribbtoday.com

(Bron: http://www.tribtoday.com/)
(Bron foto: Tribune Chronicle)