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Case ID: 14359
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: bird (pet), dog (non pit-bull)
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10 Dogs, 55 birds found in rat infested home
South Akron, OH (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jul 30, 1993
County: Summit

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Richard Gilbert

Richard Gilbert, 48, has ten days to appeal the city's condemnation of his house after a raid on the home Friday night revealed 10 dogs, 55 birds, half of the birds dead, and rats living in the basement of the feces littered home. The rats were living in five nests in the basement. The rats would come upstairs for food.

The Akron dog wardens and the Summit County Humane Society said the floors of the home were caked with birdseed. Dog food was also all over the floors. "It's perfect for the rats - a safe place to live in the basement and plenty to eat."

Gilbert said, "I tried to do everything I could. I can only do so much due to my disability." He said he's physically limited in what he can do because he weighs more than 500 lbs. "All I could do was my best. I tried to get help, but I couldn't get any help."

He said, My dogs come first. I've tried to take the best care I can of them. They are the only thing I have. I love them, and they love me."

Gilbert's neighbors are relieved the house was raided. "In the summer the smell is so bad. Maybe once they get it cleaned up or torn down we can breathe again."

The Humane Society took the live birds and dogs, seven Rottweilers and three Doberman pinschers, to their facility. There were two aquariums containing fish that were not removed from the property.

Twenty-five of the 55 birds were dead, some of the dead birds were in cages with live birds. The dogs lived in cramped cages some of them feces filled.

The meter reader from the city water department hadn't been able to go into the basement since 1985.

Gilbert has been issued orders to lean up and repair the house. If he cannot meet these orders, the house will be torn down.

Newspapers smeared with human excrement were littering the bathroom, Gilbert had been using newspapers instead of toilet paper. Gilbert who is on disability was offered a place to stay, but he refused to move.

Police accompanied the dog wardens and the Summit County Humane Society officials because they were afraid they could be attacked by the dogs.

References

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