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Case ID: 11313
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, bird (pet), squirrel, other wildlife, chicken, bird (other farmed)
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Case #11313 Rating: 3.0 out of 5



Unlicensed breeder, animals living in filth
Delafield, WI (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006
County: Waukesha

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» George S. Kozlowski
» Taryn A. Kozlowski

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A 911 hangup call in August 2006 led police to a Town of Delafield residence that reeked so intensely of animal feces and urine, authorities could not remain inside for any length of time.

The house on Summit Avenue was filled with dogs that were nearly black from rolling in their own feces, filled litter boxes, thin birds living in filthy cages, and a menagerie of other animals, according to a criminal complaint filed in circuit court April 18.

The couple owned 19 dogs, nine cats, one squirrel, one skunk, two turkeys, four exotic birds, three ducks, 10 chickens, a pony and a raccoon.

George S. Kozlowski, 49, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of mistreating animals, and Taryn A. Kozlowski, 50, was charged with two forfeiture counts of failing to provide a sufficient supply of food to confined animals. The couple live at S11 W28491 Summit Ave.

George Kozlowski was also charged with domestic abuse/disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

According to the criminal complaint:

Taryn Kozlowski and her 14-year-old daughter left on vacation Aug. 16, and when they arrived home Aug. 27 found "the house was a disgusting mess."

"The dogs were extremely dirty from rolling in their own feces, and all the dogs were contained within the kitchen area and looked as though they had never been out. The cats' litter boxes were full and the house smelled horribly of urine," the complaint said.

George Kozlowski was supposed to take care of the animals in their absence.

The daughter became angry over the condition of the house, and she and her father argued and he yelled obscenities at her.

As they argued, Taryn Kozlowski told them to stop or she would call the police, the report said. George Kozlowski allegedly grabbed the cordless phone and dialed 911, hung up and then left the residence. He went to police to file a complaint himself.

When members of the Sheriff's Department arrived at the residence, "they were overcome by an extremely strong odor of ammonia or animal urine ... The officers were unable to breathe in the residence and could not tolerate it inside for any length of time," the complaint said.

Because of the stench the officers conducted interviews outside the house.

Taryn Kozlowski said she breeds bichons and has done so for about nine years and it is her only source of income. She told police, she does not have a kennel license from the Town of Delafield.

Taryn Kozlowski said there were 12 dogs in the kitchen and a mother with a litter of seven upstairs.

Police found the house in disarray and one bedroom had "a toxic odor."

Many of the animals appeared to be thin and malnourished. The birds were in cages that had not been cleaned for some time.

George Kozlowski told authorities he did not yell or use profane language at his daughter. He said he let the animals out every day and cleaned them up on a daily basis.

He did admit to not cleaning the birdcages because his wife and daughter were on vacation. He also said the floors were dirty because the dogs had been outside in the mud and also defecated and urinated on the floor.

He also said he found the house to be "unacceptable in its present condition," and the family does not have friends visit because of the large number of animals.

The couple is scheduled to make their initial appearance in court April 30.


Case Updates

A former Town of Delafield woman was fined for her role in an animal abuse case that included underfed birds and dogs that were nearly black from rolling in their own feces.

Taryn A. Kozlowski, 50, was fined $491 on Sept. 24 by Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Linda Van de Water.

Kozlowski was charged with two forfeiture counts of failing to provide a sufficient supply of food to confined animals. Her husband, George S. Kozlowski, 50, now of New Berlin, was charged with three misdemeanor counts of mistreating animals. The couple are getting a divorce, and, according to court records, Taryn Kozlowski's address has been sealed by Judge J. Mac Davis.

According to the criminal complaint, a 911 hangup call in August 2006 led police to S11 W28491 Summit Ave. Officers found that it reeked so intensely of animal feces and urine they could not remain inside for any length of time.

On the property were 19 dogs, nine cats, one squirrel, one skunk, two turkeys, four exotic birds, three ducks, 10 chickens, a pony and a raccoon, according to the complaint.

Along with the dirty dogs, authorities found filled-up litter boxes and birds that appeared to be thin and living in filthy cages.

George Kozlowski was also charged with domestic abuse/disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

Taryn Kozlowski and her 14-year-old daughter left on vacation Aug. 16, 2006. When they arrived home Aug. 27, they found "the house was a disgusting mess," the complaint said.

George Kozlowski was supposed to take care of the animals in their absence.

The daughter became angry about the condition of the house, and she and her father argued and he yelled obscenities at her.

As they argued, Taryn Kozlowski told them to stop or she was going to call the police. George Kozlowski grabbed the cordless phone and dialed 911, hung up and then left the residence. He went to police to file a complaint himself.

When members of the Sheriff's Department arrived at the residence, "they were overcome by an extremely strong odor of ammonia or animal urine. ... The officers were unable to breathe in the residence and could not tolerate it inside for any length of time," according to the criminal complaint.

Because of the stench, the officers conducted interviews outside the house.

Taryn Kozlowski said she breeds bichons and did so for about nine years, as it was her only source of income at the time. She said there were 12 dogs in the kitchen and a mother with a litter of seven in the upstairs of the house.

George Kozlowski told authorities he did not yell or use profane language at his daughter. He said he let the animals out every day and cleaned them up daily.

He did admit to not cleaning the birdcages because his wife and daughter were on vacation. He also said the floors were dirty because the dogs had been outside in the mud and also defecated and urinated on the floor.

He also said he found the house to be "unacceptable in its present condition," the complaint said. George Kozlowski has entered no-contest pleas to the charges and is scheduled to be sentenced by Van de Water on Nov. 26.
Source: Kettle Moraine Index - Oct 4, 2007
Update posted on Oct 7, 2007 - 5:08AM 

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