Hoarding - a dozen cats and dogs seized
Dayton, OH (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 1, 2009
County: Montgomery

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» Jerry Welch
» Charmion Burton

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A local couple was arrested in Dayton Wednesday night after police found several animals in uninhabitable conditions in their home.

Police were dispatched to the South Terry Street home of Jerry Welch, 64, and Charmion Burton, 35, after getting a call to check on the welfare of their 2-month-year-old son.

When police arrived to one of the homes the couple shares, they said they found the home in deplorable conditions with filthy rooms and dying dogs and cats.

Police and some officials from Montgomery County's Animal Resource Center said they removed a dozen cats and dogs barely clinging to life and one that died in the house.

Neighbor Linda Schacherer said the home smelled "horrid" and saw police carry out the animals.

Mark Kumpf, Montgomery County Animal Resource Center director, said what Welch and Burton did was hoard animals in horrible living conditions.

"There were a lot of trash and debris in their house and when they were taken into custody this evening the mini van they were driving with their child was filled to the top with trash," Kumpf said.

Both Welch and Burton were charged in 2005 with felony animal cruelty after Dayton police found a dog in their care partially frozen to ground on Geyer Avenue.

The couple was charged with roughly two weeks behind bars and ordered to not have any pets of any kind for a period of four years.

Welch and Burton were arrested and are housed at Montgomery County Jail and together are facing nearly 30 felony counts of animal abuse and possibly child endangering.

The child is now with Child Services.

Case Updates

References

• « OH State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Montgomery County, OH

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