Hoarding - 8 animals seized
Bloomington, IN (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Aug 11, 2008
County: Monroe

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Ethel D. Hubbard

Two dogs were euthanized and a Bloomington woman was arrested this week after officers found eight animals living in filth.

Ethel D. Hubbard, 37, faces eight charges of animal cruelty.

Monroe County Animal Control officers were called to investigate Hubbard's home in August after receiving a tip that the animals were not being cared for. According to the probable cause affidavit by Officer Jessica Niver, on Aug. 11 the officers went to the home, where they heard dogs barking, but no one answered the door.

After leaving two abandonment notices on the home's door over the next two days, police returned on Aug. 14 with a search warrant to seize the animals.

Upon entering the home, officers found a male pit bull named Goliath tied up near the front door. The dog was "mildly underweight" with hip and rib bones visible, according to the affidavit. Officers also noted the animal's white fur was stained brown from the feces the animal was forced to stand and lie in. Because the dog was tied up, the area around him was covered in urine and feces. The animal also had no food or water.

The affidavit also states the home had "several inches" of trash, decomposing food and animal waste. There was also a severe cockroach and flea infestation.

In a bedroom, officers found six cats. In the room was a mattress soiled with cat urine and feces. A bathtub was also full of cat feces, according to the affidavit. The animals were infested with fleas and earmites and a few had open wounds behind the ears from scratching at the pests. None of the cats had access to food or water.

Officers also found a female pit bull named Diva tied to the back door. The dog was reported to be in poor condition with ribs and hip bones "protruding prominently."

It is unclear where the dogs got their names. Bloomington Animal Shelter director Laurie Ringquist said sometimes the animal control officers will name them. Currently, all the cats have been named by shelter staff.

Officers took the animals outside, where they were given food and water that the animals ate "ravenously," according to the affidavit.

After the animals were taken into custody, the owner did not respond to numerous requests to discuss the animals' future or relinquish them, according to Ringquist.

After over a month of legal wrangling, Hubbard was finally charged. Because of the length of time, the cats have had some difficulty being caged in the shelter. The animals could not be adopted because Hubbard had not talked to shelter employees about them. After their month-long stay, the two dogs had to be put to sleep, as their behavior was aggressive. The dogs continually rammed the staff members who tried to work with them. Ringquist said one employee had bruises from where one dog continued to run into her.

References

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