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Case #16217 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
Over 100 animals removed from sanctuary
Kinsman, OH (US)Incident Date: Friday, Feb 12, 2010
County: Trumbull
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Kathy Witzman
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
More than 100 dogs, two horses, and dozens of ducks chickens and cats roam Kathy Witzman's property on State Route 87 in Gustavus township.
Witzman runs what she calls the Humane Sanctuary, but over the years, officials with the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County said it grew out of control.
"I'm sure that initially her desire was to help animals, but it just got out of hand," said Detective Harold Firster, Trumbull County Sheriff's office.
After an investigation and two weeks of planning, 30 volunteers, including five veterinarians, began a rescue operation early Friday, which continued for most of the day. Sheriff's deputies arrested Witzman on animal cruelty charges and transported her 97-year-old mother to Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Sheriff's deputies and fire crews said the house is deplorable and its conditions are some of the worst they've seen.
"The dog feces had caked the floor almost like a carpet," Firster said, "and the smell of ammonia was so pungent that it was very difficult getting the 97-year-old mother out of the house."
Officials said some of the animals are visibly suffering from skin disease and mange, while several week-old puppies are clinging to life after they were hidden in a barn.
"Others, when you look at them you can tell they're malnourished," said Barbara Busko, Animal Welfare League.
Witzman was previously charged with open burning back in 2007, after she allegedly burned several dead animals.
Case UpdatesFive dogs will get a second chance at life after their rescue from what one person called a "haven of death" in Trumbull County.
Missy Houghton and Tammi Rex of the Humane Society of Richland County returned Wednesday from northeast Ohio to their Park Avenue West facility with the canine crew.
The animals were among 162 dogs, 18 cats, 14 chickens, five ducks and two horses rescued last month from a no-kill facility in Kinsman called the Humane Sanctuary. Malnourished animals were living in poor conditions. Many had untreated health conditions.
"It's worse than anything we've ever been out on," Houghton said. "They didn't find any puppies or kittens alive. The other animals were so hungry, they were eating them."
Harold Firster of the Trumbull County Sheriff's office told a Cleveland TV station, "One person could not feed these animals if they had 25 hours a day, let alone take care of them."
A warehouse became a temporary shelter as the Animal Welfare League tried to find rescue groups to take the surviving animals.
"I told them we would take what we had space for," Houghton said.
Houghton offered a thumbnail sketch on each of the five dogs that eventually will be up for adoption:
Nana is a husky-hound mix that had puppies while at the warehouse.
"When they took the puppies away from her, she was so upset they had to get a stuffed animal for her to carry around," Houghton said.
Big B is a 75-pound mix.
"He is as strong as a bull," Houghton said. "His head is the size of a basketball."
Champ is a husky mix.
"He actually smiles when you talk to him," Houghton said. "He caught my eye."
Suey is a pit bull. Residents of Mansfield and Shelby are prohibited from owning pit bulls.
"She likes to play ball," Houghton said. "She's fine around people, but she needs some work to get her used to interacting with them."
Stella is another pit bull. Houghton said Stella quickly became their favorite.
"She is everything you would want good in a pit bull as far as being friendly," Houghton said.
Kathy Witzman, owner of the Humane Sanctuary, was found guilty this month of animal cruelty, a second-degree misdemeanor, in a plea agreement. She was sentenced to five years probation and fined $150. She cannot have any animals for five years and must undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Houghton said Witzman had two dead dogs in her bedroom.
"It's disturbing to see all the atrocities that were done, and then that's the end result," Houghton said.
The dogs will be up for adoption in a few days. People can stop by the shelter, 3025 Park Avenue West, Ontario. For information, call 419-774-4795. | Source: Mansfield News-Journal - Mar 25, 2010
Update posted on Mar 25, 2010 - 3:15PM |
A Gustavus woman who had more than 160 dogs on her property has pleaded no contest to a cruelty to animal charge.
Kathy Witzman entered the plea Thursday morning in Eastern District Court in Brookfield. She was fined, and sentenced to five years probation. The judge also ordered that she pay the Animal Welfare League $2,500 and not own any animals during her probation period.
Last month, the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office along with Animal Welfare League officials raided Witzman's home and took the dogs, several cats and two horses.
Witzman said she was running a humane sanctuary for 14 years. | Source: WYTV - Mar 11, 2010
Update posted on Mar 19, 2010 - 12:45PM |
Kathy Witzman said she is still puzzled as to why Trumbull County sheriff's officials and officials from the Animal Welfare League raided her no-kill humane sanctuary earlier this month and took all of the animals.
"I had a lot of vets techs on the property that know neglect," Witzman said. "They were all here, and nobody found a problem."
After an investigation and two weeks of planning, a rescue operation took place Feb. 12 at her property, where she housed more than 160 dogs, along with cats, chickens and two horses. Now, all of the animals are being housed in a temporary shelter provided by the Animal Welfare League, and Witzman is facing one count of animal cruelty and one count of open dumping.
After the raid, volunteers and police said living conditions were deplorable and some of the worst they've seen.
Witzman said she is furious about rumors she didn't feed the animals.
"Sweet feed, hay, 400 and 600 pounds of straw a week here," she said.
Witzman, who operated the sanctuary for more than 14 years, said she would purchase or get food donated for the dogs.
"There was no trying," said Witzman. "Every night we fed and watered and bedded."
She explained that there were two underground waterlines near the pens where the dogs were kept to help get the animals drinking water.
She said she now worries that since she is shut down, stray animals will have nowhere to go.
The Animal Welfare League is in the process of trying to find homes for the animals. Anyone interested in adopting should call the league at 330-394-4122 or stop by their facility. | Source: WKBN -Feb 22, 2010
Update posted on Feb 22, 2010 - 11:19PM |
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