Hoarding - 19 animals, 10 found dead - Hagerstown, MD

Friday, Jun 28, 2002

County: Washington

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Kenneth M. Green, Jr

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

The Humane Society of Washington County filed animal cruelty charges against a Hagerstown man after finding eight dogs, a cat and a dead Saint Bernard inside his feces-and-trash-filled house Saturday, agency Executive Director Maria Procopio said.

Kenneth Green Jr., 53, also was charged with animal cruelty in connection with an additional nine dogs found in crates in his carport, Procopio said. Those animals were without access to water for at least four hours on Saturday, she alleged.

Green was charged in Washington County District Court with a total of 28 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, including 19 counts of cruelty and nine counts of mutilation.

The mutilation charges were filed because dogs bit other dogs during fights between unneutered males in close proximity, she said.

The penalty for a conviction on a cruelty charge is a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.

The penalty for mutilation is a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment not to exceed three years, or both.

"Green failed to provide water, air, veterinary care and protection from the weather, causing unnecessary suffering," Procopio alleged in charging documents.

Green said Cassey, the Saint Bernard, died June 15, Procopio said. The other dogs chewed on the dog's legs after she died, Procopio said.

The Washington County Health Department has ordered Green to clean his house at 115 Wakefield Road of trash and animal feces within two weeks, Health Officer William Christoffel said Tuesday.

Green will be allowed inside his house to clean but can't stay there while it is in its present condition, Christoffel said. If Green does not clean the home within two weeks, the court will be asked to find him in contempt, Christoffel said.

Green said he runs a Saint Bernard rescue service and transports animals for rescue groups in the Tri-State area, Procopio said. Seven of the dogs in his house, including the dead one, were Saint Bernards.

Humane Society personnel went to Green's house after receiving a complaint Saturday about crates of animals in his driveway, Procopio said.

Green had picked up nine animals in Washington County on Saturday morning from a Morgantown, W.Va., woman who rescues animals from kill shelters, Procopio said.

Green was supposed to deliver the cats and dogs to Second Chance Rescue in Inwood, W.Va., but instead he went to work and left the animals in his carport, she alleged. The Humane Society called the Hagerstown Police Department for assistance and the police called the Health Department.

After smelling a strong odor from the house, Procopio said, she told Green she wanted to check the condition of the house and the animals.

While the animals were being moved outside, one of the dogs bit Green, Procopio said. He later was treated at Washington County Hospital for the injury and released, a hospital spokesperson said.

Procopio alleged in charging documents that "the floors were covered, from wall to wall and in some rooms as deep as the window sills, with feces and trash. The stench was overpowering and forced us to cover our faces."

Eight of the nine live animals taken from inside the house required medical treatment, including for bite wounds, she said. The animals which were to be transported probably will be sent on to Second Chance, Procopio said.

Tania Edwards, co-director of Second Chance, said she was shocked to hear about the situation.

Green had provided transportation services for Second Chance for at least six months and there had been no problems, she said.

Case Updates

On Monday April 2nd, 2007 the Office of Code Compliance of the City of Hagerstown served an administrative search warrant at the residence of Mr. Kenneth Green, 115 Wakefield Drive, Hagerstown, MD. The Humane Society of Washington County was asked by Mr. John Lestitian, Chief of the Office of Code Compliance for the City of Hagerstown to assist in the handling of at least 6 dogs they were informed were inside the house. A total of 9 dogs, 2 live cats and the remains of one dog, 1 cat and 7 birds. were removed from the house. Two of the dogs were taken to a local veterinarian for treatment of fight-related injuries that occurred prior to the execution of the search warrant. All of the animals are being evaluated at this time. In 2002, Mr. Green was charged with a total of 37 counts of cruelty to animals. As part of a plea agreement he entered seven Alford pleas to charges that he did not provide adequate care for animals. The remaining 30 charges were dropped. The Alford plea allows a defendant to not admit guilt but agree that the state has enough evidence to gain a conviction. Green was sentenced to one year of supervised probation and two years unsupervised probation. He was ordered to have a mental evaluation within 30 days of the sentencing and was also ordered to take proper medication. He was to maintain sanitary conditions in his house. His home was to be monitored by the Washington County Health Department. His probation ended in spring 2006. Mr. Green indicated on Tuesday April 2nd that he was housing the dogs for two rescues: Second Chance Rescue in Inwood, WV and Safe Haven Dog Rescue in Martinsburg, WV. In July 2006, Second Chance owner/director Mara Spade had 149 dogs seized and she was charged with animal cruelty by Berkeley County West Virginia Animal Control.

Source: The Humane Society of Washington County - April 3, 2007 Update posted on Apr 3, 2007 - 10:37AM

Green entered Alford pleas to some of the charges, and attorneys said he will seek psychiatric help. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but agrees prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction. In return for the plea, the remaining charges were dropped. Green is to be sentenced after he undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. Assistant Washington County State's Attorney Theresa Adams said in court Tuesday that at sentencing she would ask for probation and not jail time, provided Green seek psychiatric help and supervision. Read more: Herald-Mail Online

Update posted on May 7, 2003 - 4:20PM

References

• The Herald-Mail Company

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