Puppy mill - approximately 30 dogs seized Tennyson, IN (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 County: Warrick Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Helen A. Geary Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 10603 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in IN (US) Login to Watch this Case

According to officials, Helen Geary, who has operated her own dog and cat kennel for nearly 30 years, had several of her dogs signed over to the Warrick County Animal Control and the Warrick Pet Adoption Center in mid-January, following a complaint from a concerned citizen that the animals may be neglected.

Bobby Avery-Seagrave, daughter of Geary and resident of Indianapolis, said all of the dogs and cats had proper shelters and were not abused.

She said the accusations of the dogs being filthy, as presented in the picture that appeared in the Boonville Standard and the Newburgh-Chandler Register, and which was also submitted by local officials, puts the situation in a false light because it had been raining that day and the days prior, thus making the ground muddy.

"What isn't shown is the portion of the pen where there is a shelter for the dog and a portion of the pen where it�s not muddy,� said Avery-Seagrave. �The dog, obviously excited by somebody approaching the pen, walked into the mud.�

The Pet Adoption Center recorded that none of the dogs or cats were starved nor malnourished, which Avery-Seagrave concurred with.

�All the animals were loved and all the animals were well-fed,� she said.

Avery-Seagrave explained that the animals� annual vaccinations were filled this past October or November.

�They were all seen by the vet,� she said.

Avery-Seagrave admitted to her mother using electrical wiring on some of the pens to keep the animals in, but said the wiring was the same that is used to keep rabbits in their pens.

�It was completely and perfectly safe for use for dogs,� she said. �If it is not safe, then it is a misrepresentation of the manufacturer.�

But perhaps the biggest issue is the fact that it has been alleged that Geary doesn�t have a proper kennel license to operate her business.

Avery-Seagrave explained how state regulations regarding kennel licenses were changed last June, meaning Geary is going through the process of obtaining a new license.

Geary is currently on the agenda for the Wednesday, Jan. 24 meeting of the Warrick County Area Plan Commission.

She is requesting a special usage of her land to allow a dog kennel not to exceed 30 dogs in an agriculture zoning district.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the Warrick County Courthouse.

Avery-Seagrave said her mother also doesn�t have 30 to 40 cats in her kennel.

�There are feral cats out there,� she said. �My mother has requested that animal control catch them because my mother is elderly and she can�t catch them. People know that my mother raises dogs and cats and they drop animals off at her doorstep all the time.�

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References

Warrick Publishing - Jan 24, 2007

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