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Case ID: 18146

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Saint Bernard abandoned in rental home
Wyandotte, MI (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 22, 2011
County: Wayne

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Woman

A Saint Bernard was rescued from a rental house Wednesday morning after being left alone for more than a month.

Although someone fed her periodically during that time, authorities believe she is undernourished and was never let outside to relieve herself or for exercise.

Animal Control Officer Charles Gillenwater became aware of the dog about a month ago when 27th District Court Officer Randy Miller contacted him out of concern for the dog.

Miller told Gillenwater he was contacted by the owner of a house in the 3600 block of 19th Street about a tenant who was in the process of moving out and left a dog behind.

Gillenwater didn't have keys so he didn't enter, but from what he could tell, the dog didn't appear to be in distress. With the curtains drawn, he could hear the dog barking, but couldn't see what the house looked like inside.

From the outside, the house appeared to be in good condition. Gillenwater reported to the house's owners that it sounded like the dog was OK; it wasn't whimpering and had a normal bark.

Gillenwater said he also was told that someone was going to the house on a regular basis to check on the dog.

When it came time to evict the tenant, Miller called Gillenwater to take the dog. That's when they got a surprise.

A few years ago, the city had an incident involving a man who hoarded approximately 100 cats in his house. Although this situation involved just one dog, albeit a very large one, Gillenwater and Miller both said the stench was at least as bad as it had been in the house with the cats.

"The dog had gotten hold of trash," Gillenwater said. "It ripped open an empty dog food bag. It was slippery in that house from the urine and feces that was mixed together."

He estimated that the dog weighs between 70 and 75 pounds. Typically, a Saint Bernard weighs from 140 to more than 200 pounds.

Gillenwater said there was no feces in the backyard, leading him to believe the dog relieved herself in the house when she was left alone.

"(The dog's owner) claimed that someone was coming in on a daily basis and feeding her," Gillenwater said. "If they did feed her, they put the food down and got the hell out of there. There was very little attention given to this dog."

The house's windows were shut and electricity had been cut off, so the dog had little or no ventilation.

Miller said he wasn't certain exactly how long the power had been shut off, but it had been at least a couple of days.

Miller was following through on a court order to evict the tenant, who it's believed had been gone from the house for well over a month, but came back periodically to get her mail and check on the dog.

The condition of the house's interior and the stench was one of the worst cases Miller said he has ever encountered.

"I've been doing this 34 years, and this is No. 1 in terms of bad living conditions," he said.

It was Miller's understanding that the dog's owner had moved into an apartment and couldn't take it.

According to Miller, the tenant had taken many of her belongings, but items still in the house were rendered useless by the mess the dog made.

It took about an hour to get the dog out of the house. Gillenwater didn't have a cage large enough, so they used one found in the garage. However, because the cage wouldn't fit in his truck, a Department of Public Services vehicle had to be used to take the dog to the city's animal shelter.

When they entered the house, Gillenwater said the dog didn't appear to be aggressive. He described her as "a little scared, skittish."

Late Wednesday, Gillenwater said he still was attempting to get in touch with the former owner to find out the dog's name and her medical background.

"I need background (information) so I can find this dog a home," he said. "Visually, she appears to be in good health, but thin."

For now, Gillenwater said the dog is being well cared for of at the animal shelter, where the kennel door is open for her to exercise and there's plenty of food and fresh water.

Gillenwater said it was too early to say whether the former owner would face animal cruelty charges.

Miller added that it's also not known how much it will cost to clean up the house, or the extent of the damage.

"The dog owner called me at 8:30 (Wednesday morning) and said she had been meaning to give the dog to the animal shelter," Miller said. "She probably was well-meaning, but it got out of control. At any time, she could have called a rescue organization."

References

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