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23 dogs severely neglected, living in feces
Fort Ann, NY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
County: Washington
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» John J. Seeley
» Jane A. Seeley - Convicted
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
State police removed 20 collie dogs and three dachshunds Oct. 17 from what troopers called "deplorable" conditions, according to a news release issued Monday.
State police investigators called this the worst case of animal abuse they have seen, spokeswoman Trooper Maureen Tuffey said. Twenty dogs were caged 24 hours a day, while the others were penned in a living room. All areas of the house were covered with inches of fecal waste and some dogs were moved to new cages because their former cages were too full of feces.
The dogs have trouble walking after being caged for so long a period. One dog's fur was so matted with excrement it had to be shaved. The shaved hair and feces weighed 13 pounds, Tuffey said.
The dogs were in crates or pens in various rooms at 4 Gould Lane in Fort Ann. All the dogs were infested with fleas and coated with feces, troopers said.
Police discovered the conditions at the home after helping Washington County Adult Protective Services with a welfare check of the property. Troopers came back with a search warrant.
Two dogs had to be put down due to their condition.
The owners, John J. Seeley and Jane A. Seeley, were both charged with one count each of animal cruelty and were referred to town court.
The SPCA of Upstate New York Inc. in Queensbury is looking for volunteers to help walk the dogs. The SPCA can be reached at 798-3500.
Case UpdatesIt has been almost three weeks since a group of dogs were rescued from a filthy home in Fort Ann. While the dogs are on the road to recovery, it will stil take a lot of time and money to get these dogs ready for new homes.
Since they've been at the shelter the 21 surviving dogs have gained a few pounds and have higher energy levels.
The animals are still on special diets and their ears are cleaned twice a day to rid them of infection. Workers are also doing physical therapy with the dogs to strengthen muscles the animals have hardly ever used.
The cost of caring for these animals is also adding up. Each day it costs more than $400 to care for these animals alone-- thats close to $9,000 since the animals first came to the shelter.
The community has helped out with monetary donations to the shelter-- some professionals donating their time to perform surgeries and groom the animals.
The shelter still needs your help to care for these dogs-- and the others that call the SPCA home.
For more information you can visit the SPCA of Upstate New York at 588 Queensbury Avenue in Queensbury, New York. You can also call the shelter at 518-798-3500 or visit their website Source: Fox 23 News - Nov 6, 2007
Update posted on Nov 7, 2007 - 3:11PM |
Dog owner Jane Seeley pleaded guilty Wednesday in Fort Ann Town Court to misdemeanor animal neglect two days after police seized 20 collies and 3 dachshunds from her house on 4 Gould Lane.
The plea agreement puts Jane Seeley on three years' probation and bars her from owning any pets during that time.
Seeley, accompanied at the appearance by Washington County Public Defender Elan Cherney, also lost custody of her dogs.
Her husband, John Seeley, did not appear in court, and his charges are still pending.
"It's behind her," said Washington County Assistant District Attorney Christian Morris. "Now, she doesn't have to deal with this anymore."
Morris said that by pleading guilty, Seeley avoids a potentially long trial and stiffer sentence.
Seeley and her husband were charged with animal neglect earlier this week, when police found more than 20 ailing dogs in their house, covered in waste.
Some of the dogs had been locked in cages around the clock, according to police.
The dogs were in such poor condition from lack of exercise that many couldn't walk, police said. Two of the dogs were euthanized.
The 21 surviving dogs are at the SPCA of Upstate New York in Kingsbury.
The Seeleys' Fort Ann home was condemned after county code officials found it was covered in animal feces and lacked running water.
Before pleading guilty, Seeley sat quietly chewing on the end of her glasses, her elbow resting on a folding table, as she waited for her meeting with Fort Ann Town Justice James Richardson.
Seeley declined to comment after leaving court. | Source: Post-Star - Oct 24, 2007
Update posted on Oct 25, 2007 - 12:35AM |
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