Hoarding - 39 animals seized
New Carlisle, OH (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Sep 19, 2008
County: Clark

Disposition: Not Charged

Abuser names unreleased

The Clark County Humane Society has seized 39 animals of varying species from a house at 204 Prentice Drive after finding them and their owners living in filthy conditions.

Neighbors had complained for weeks, but the couple living in the house had, until Friday, Sept. 19, denied authorities following up on the complaints access to the home. Authorities did not have probable cause to enter the house without permission.

It was when following up on a complaint on Friday that one of the house's occupants, Dennis Wilt, agreed to allow authorities into the home.

There, officials with the Humane Society and the Clark County Health Department found seven dogs, nine cats, 14 domesticated rats, four mice, one hamster, one rabbit, two turtles and one bull python.

Conditions in the house were so bad the home will likely be condemned, said Ed Sisler, Humane Society director.

The home also had feces on the floors, he said.

"You could smell the odor all the way from the street," Sisler said. "The garage was wall-to-wall garbage."

The hamster had been living in a plastic hamster ball, Sisler said, and the seven dogs tested positive for sarcoptic mange. The turtle was living in an aquarium in which the water apparently had never been changed.

The animals were nonetheless well-fed and in relatively good health. Sisler said he asked the owner how conditions had got so bad.

"He said it just got out of control," Sisler said.

To date, no charges have been brought against the animals' owners, but authorities still are investigating.

References

• « OH State Animal Cruelty Map

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