Nine dogs injured, neglected Vero Beach, FL (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 County: Indian River Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » William Rigby » Michelle Rigby

Case ID: 11276 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

The owners of nine injured or sick dogs confiscated in mid-March have been charged with unlawful confinement of animals.

The State Attorney's Office charged William Rigby, 28, of the 600 block of Fifth Street Southwest, with nine counts of the misdemeanor offense, with each count punishable by up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. His wife, Michelle Rigby, 28, is charged with one count, court reports show.

They were arrested Aoril 9 night at their home. William Rigby was released on $45,000 bail and Michelle Rigby posted a $5,000 bail.

William Rigby "admitted to being the caretaker, while she was a partial owner," Assistant State Attorney Ed Taylor said Tuesday.

The dogs temporarily are being cared for by the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County. The Humane Society is seeking permanent custody of the animals through the courts.

"They are doing much better," said society field investigator Ilka Daniel, who is the society's director of outreach services. "Their wounds are healing beautifully," and parasites have been treated in the seven pit bulls, a boxer and a hound. Except for one female puppy, all are adults.

From having seen the dogs after their seizure, "If these are pets, good God," Taylor said. "How can you treat pets that way?"

The dogs were kept in individual cages in the yard.

"Some looked like they cut their faces from trying to get out," Taylor said. "It was very apparent the cages had not been cleaned in quite some time."

The arrests resulted from an investigation by the county's Division of Animal Control, said investigator Jerry Dixon.

"The puppy had no shelter or water. One adult pit bull had chunks of flesh missing from above his eye, his shoulder blade and back," Dixon said. "One dog had lots of scars." When Dixon first met with the owners on March 9, the couple wanted to keep caring for the dogs.

"They don't know why we are removing the dogs and why we can't give them a couple of months to fix things," Dixon wrote in a report.

All the dogs were seized March 15. Last week, Taylor got arrest warrants that were served at 9:45 p.m. Monday.

In an unrelated case, charges still are pending against an 18th Avenue couple on charges of neglect and unlawful confinement of pit bull dogs, eight puppies and three adults. Recently, the courts awarded the Humane Society custody of the dogs that required veterinarian care.

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TCPalm - April 11, 2007

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