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Case ID: 16001

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, cow, goat

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Six dogs abandoned at roadside, more dead
Saint Paul, NE (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 17, 2009
County: Howard

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available

Alleged: Josh Bernt

The owner of six Great Pyrenees/St. Bernard mix dogs found on the shoulder of Highway 92 east of St. Paul Thursday morning has been referred to the Howard County attorney for prosecution.

Howard County Sheriff Harold Schenck said he initially believed the animals had only been there for a short while. However, further investigation indicates the dogs were away from their home for about a week.

Though the animals weren't wearing collars, deputies were able to trace them to Josh Bernt of 430 13th Ave. in Howard County, Schenck said.

Two dead frozen cats, two dead calves and several badly neglected horses and goats, including one goat whose feet had frozen off, were found on Bernt's property.

Deputies believe the dogs had been eating dead animals on the farm and a deer in the ditch before they were found.

"It wasn't pretty," Schenck said of the scene.

Deputies were called to the area of Highway 92 and Denton Road by a passerby at about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Chief Deputy Jerry Schenck and deputy Mike Hoff went to the location Thursday morning to keep the dogs off the highway until animal control officers could get there from Grand Island.

"We've got them corralled, and they're waiting for the Humane Society," the sheriff said that morning. "They're friendly dogs."

Central Nebraska Humane Society Executive Director Laurie Dethloff said the dogs were very scared and hungry when they arrived at the shelter. They ate and drank water before resting in kennels to calm down, she said.

"We keep telling them they're at the spa," she said with a laugh. "They're friendly, but they aren't used to a lot of human contact. They are hungry and cold."

The Humane Society's veterinarian technician and a veterinarian will examine the three adult and three juvenile dogs. The animals appear to have sores on their paws and noses, and they have matted coats. They also have fleas and the female adult may be pregnant, Dethloff said.

She said it's unclear if the dogs were dumped or if they wandered away from their home in search of food.

The goats and horses stayed at Bernt's farm because the Humane Society didn't have the legal right to remove them Thursday, she said.

Schenck said the animals at the farm have food.

Dethloff is glad Schenck contacted her office to collect the dogs. She said "part of the battle" the Humane Society faces is people dumping dogs in unsafe places and the limited resources of some of the smaller area counties.

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