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Case ID: 18191

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)

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Hoarding - 22 dogs, 1 cat seized from mobile home
Toledo, OH (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 5, 2011
County: Lucas

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Sheila Ortman

The Toledo Area Humane Society calls it one of the largest animal cruelty cases in recent years.

Investigators seized 22 dogs, including one dead dog, and one cat from a mobile home in the Twinwall Village Mobile Home Park off of Tremainsville Road in West Toledo.

John Dinon, executive director of the Toledo Area Humane Society, said they had been investigating the home for several days after neighbors complained of the noise and smell.

Dinon visited the property Monday, but the owner was not home and Dinon was unable to see inside, so he had to wait for a search warrant. He said neighbors took the matter into their own hands early Tuesday morning. A group broke down the door to let the dogs out.

"When we responded, the dogs were in plain view, which was great for us, we didn't need to get a warrant. We could see the dogs were not properly being cared for," said Dinon.

Dinon said the owner was not letting the dogs out and the home was covered in feces, four inches deep. Several of the dogs were in poor condition.

"They're all filthy, they're all covered in fleas, a lot of them are very badly matted. I think once we shave them down, we'll probably find some skin damage," said Dinon.

Dinon said most of the dogs are small breeds. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of death for one dog that had passed. The Humane Society is treating all of the animals and leaders hope to be able to adopt them out.

The Humane Society will file animal cruelty charges against the owner of the mobile home Wednesday. Leaders said they have been in contact with her in the past.

"The last time we talked to her, we didn't feel like the conditions were bad enough to warrant charges. We did work with her to try to improve the conditions," said Dinon.

WTOL 11 contacted the owner of the mobile home, Sheila Ortman, by a listed business number for a pet grooming business. She declined WTOL 11's request for an interview.

Sheila Ortman has been charged by the Humane Society and the Lucas County Dog Warden previously for animal abuse.

If you see signs of animal cruelty, please contact the Toledo Area Humane Society animal cruelty hotline at 419-891-9777.

References

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