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Case #13274 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
Hoarding cats and birds, animals found dead
New London Township, OH (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008
County: Huron
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Donna Dennis
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A complaint of dead birds, dead cats that looked like they were eaten by other cats, a pile of animal carcasses and a dog whose paws were frozen to the ground prompted authorities to get a search warrant for a New London Township home late last month, according to the document filed at the Norwalk Municipal Court.
Investigators searched outside a 1056 SR 60 home, just south of the Fayette Road and SR 60 intersection on Feb. 20, the warrant stated.
Mike and Donna Dennis are listed as residents of the home, but Donna Dennis is apparently considered the owner of the animals, the warrant stated.
Donna Dennis was charged in Norwalk Municipal Court this week on four counts of animal cruelty and is scheduled for a hearing on March 24, court records stated.
On Feb. 19, a citizen contacted the county dog warden's office complaining about the residence and the condition of the animals, the warrant stated.
The citizen reported deceased animals on the property. The complainant told the dog warden that the dogs' owners refused to provide water to the animals kept outside because the water ''would only freeze,'' the warrant stated.
The warrant also stated, ''in numerous places on the property there are too many dogs confined in cages that are too small, there is a significant accumulation of animal feces in the residence and inside the cages where the animals are kept in, there are still many carcasses of deceased animals inside the home.''
Another complainant told investigators deceased cats, guinea pigs, birds and other carcasses were removed from the residence. The complainant stated that ''Mike and Donna do not feed or take care of the animals they have and the cages are filled with feces and dead animals,'' the warrant stated.
The complainant also told the investigators there is a room inside the home with plastic on the walls and that in that room there are about 60 dead birds, the warrant stated.
He also complained of ''piles of dead animals between the back barn and the field'' and dog carcasses are concealed under tarps and in garbage container, the warrant stated.
Cages that kept cats reportedly contained cat carcasses ''that look like they have been eaten by other cats,'' according to the warrant.
''One day, there was a dog froze to the ground and was stuck to the ground, it had its chain wrapped up and it could not move,'' the complainant's statement said.
No one was home at the residence when investigators from the Humane Society and dog warden's office went out to inspect, the warrant stated. However, the investigators found between 14 to 15 dogs confined outside the residence with no apparent source of food or water, nor containers in which food or water would be kept in, the warrant stated.
''Most of the dogs appeared to be underweight,'' the warrant also stated.
The warrant included 13 photos of the dogs tied up in various areas in the yard as well as those kept in kennels.
Donna Dennis turned over four dogs to the Humane Society, all older than two years, according to the warrant.
Case UpdatesA New London woman accused of hoarding dozens of dead and starving animals is going to jail.
Donna Dennis, 41, of the1000 block of Ohio 60 changed her not guilty plea on animal cruelty charges to a no contest plea Tuesday morning in Norwalk Municipal Court.
She was sentenced to 60 days in jail and five years probation.
By entering a no contest plea, two of the four animal cruelty charges Dennis faced were dropped.
Judge John Ridge also ordered Dennis to abstain from owning any animals for five years. He said she could not live in any home that contains an animal during the same time frame.
Norwalk assistant law director T. Douglas Clifford said he was pleased with the outcome.
"I am glad she won't be having any contact with animals ... because it is our goal to protect the animals of Huron County," Clifford said.
The animal cruelty charges arose from an investigation the Huron County Humane Society conducted with help from the Huron County Dog Warden's office.
Investigators searched her New London residence after receiving a tip.
The scene inside Dennis' home was horrifying to animal investigators. They reported seeing an entire room full of dead and starving birds, at least a handful of underfed cats, and some hamsters and turtles. Dead animals littered the property.
More than 40 dogs living outside her New London home were not much better off. They were not given sufficient shelter, bedding or food.
One of the dogs taken in by the Humane Society had flaky skin and callouses on his rear end and legs from not having a cushy place to lie down. He was at least 20 pounds underweight.
But at least his teeth hadn't rotted, as one yellow Lab's had. That dog had to be euthanized.
Humane Society investigations officer Karla Williams said Dennis shows many of the signs of an animal hoarder - someone who keeps a large number of animals without having the resources to care for them.
"It's just a compassion for animals that gets out of hand," Williams said. | Source: sanduskyregister.com - Apr 30, 2008
Update posted on Sep 11, 2011 - 11:24PM |
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