Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding - 17 dogs, 13 cats, 2 rabbits

Hoarding - 17 dogs, 13 cats, 2 rabbits
Torrington, CT (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Jul 25, 2005
County: Litchfield
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Lee Wheeler - Convicted
» Renee Wheeler

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 5190

Classification: Hoarding

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), rabbit (pet)

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Suspect was in animal welfare field

Lee and Renee Wheeler were housing 17 dogs, 13 cats and two rabbits at their two-story home at 47 White Pine Road, officials said. Some were housed in a tarp-covered kennel behind the house, while others were found in the house itself.

Torrington Zoning Officer Kim Barbieri, along with Deputy Director of Health for the Torrington Area Health District Rob Rubbo and Department of Agriculture Animal Control Officer Rich Gregan, went to the Wheeler�s home with an administrative search warrant from Bantam Superior Court. Torrington Police Officer Michael Parks accompanied them.

Barbieri, who had surveyed the property before, sought the warrant because she suspected the couple was violating zoning regulations, she said. More than five dogs housed outdoors qualifies as a kennel, according to city zoning regulations, which is not permitted in a residential zone, she said.

"I was never able to get a good, clear view of how many dogs they had because of the compound they put up for their dogs," Barbieri said.

Neighbors of the Wheelers had complained to the Planning and Zoning Department, Barbieri said. A warrant could only be obtained after a friend of one of the Wheeler�s neighbors, Zoning Department Hearing Officer Joel Perlotto, visited the neighborhood, noticed the kennel and filed a formal complaint. Bantam judge Dan Shaban signed off on an administrative search warrant on July 25.

Officials found most of the home�s floor caked with animal feces, urine and vomit after the Wheelers let them in the house, Barbieri said. More than a dozen cats, some gravely ill, and dogs, most of which lived outdoors in cages, walked on a floor of dog food and fecal matter, Barbieri said. Two dogs -- both with skin diseases and no fur -- were kept in cages in the basement in darkness, she said.

Following the search, the Torrington and Harwinton animal control departments removed all animals. The Torrington department took half of the dogs and Harwinton took the rest of the animals due to facility constraints, Barbieri said.

"We really appreciate (Harwinton) being willing to help us out with this," Barbieri said.

Since the animals are no longer on the Wheeler premises, there is no longer a zoning violation, Barbieri said.

The Health District and State Department of Agriculture will cite the couple for their actions, Rubbo said.

"We�re involved more for the odors being emitted from the large quantities of dog feces," Rubbo said. "We�re in the process of issuing an order to have that cleaned up."

If the Wheelers fail to comply, they could be prosecuted in a criminal court, he said.

Case Updates

Renee Wheeler, of 47 White Pine Road, pleaded no contest to cruelty to animals in a plea agreement. Judge Heidi Winslow suspended nine months of jail time in favor of two years of probation. During the two years of probation, Wheeler and her husband, Lee, must pay $4,000 restitution to the city of Torrington to reimburse for the costs incurred for the care of the animals which were confiscated from the Wheelers� property in July 2005.

Animal control officers seized 13 dogs, nine cats and two rabbits after neighbors complained the neighborhood reeked of animal feces. Authorities found the animals living in eight makeshift kennels with piles of fecal matter described by officers as high as a foot, according to a warrant prepared by Rich Gregan, animal control officer for the state Department of Agriculture. Inside the Wheelers� home, the floors, rugs and walls were saturated with cat urine, according to the warrant. Health Director Jim Rokos cited the couple for violating three public health codes and ordered them to clean up their property. The Wheelers cleaned the property according to the department�s requirements, Robert Rubbo, deputy director of health, said in September 2005.

The Wheelers agreed to allow their home to be periodically inspected by the health department and animal control officials according to the plea agreement, Palermo said. Lee Wheeler, also charged with animal cruelty, was granted accelerated rehabilitation in the case, which allows any record of the charges to be erased from public record within two years. "It�s my understanding that most of the animals were adopted," Palermo said.
The animals were brought to Torrington and Harwinton animal pounds. Three of the cats were euthanized, Diane Dodge, Harwinton animal control officer, said.

Source: Register Citizen - January 6, 2006
Update posted on Jan 7, 2006 - 6:50PM

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Area health officials said a city home is habitable again after the residents cleaned piles of feces from the house and removed an illegal kennel from their yard that once housed 13 filthy dogs.

Animal control officers seized the dogs, nine cats and two rabbits July 25 from home of Lee and Renee Wheeler after neighbors complained of the stench emanating from the house on 47 White Pine Road. The dogs lived in piles of fecal matter as tall as a foot high inside eight crowded kennels. Rat holes were also spotted near the kennels, according to a report by the Torrington Area Health District. The ranch-style home was littered with feces and the rugs, floors and walls were saturated with cat urine, according to a warrant prepared by Rich Gregan, animal control officer for the state Department of Agriculture.

They are scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court in the case today. The charge of cruelty to animals carries a penalty of up to a year in jail to a fine of $1,000.

A day after their arrest Jim Rokos, the health director cited the couple for violating three public health codes and ordered them to clean up their property.

"They have complied with all sections of the order," Robert Rubbo, deputy director of health, said Thursday.

The 40-foot-by-40-foot fenced pen that contained the kennels was dismantled, Rubbo said. The couple also removed the carpeting, plywood flooring, insulation, furniture and molding from within the house.

"The interior of the home has been completely cleaned and they agreed to keep no more animals on the premises," Rubbo said.

The animals were brought to Torrington and Harwinton animal shelters. Three of the cats were euthanized, Diane Dodge, Harwinton animal control officer said.

"These cats were very sick and had multiple diseases," she said.

The animals were twice bathed for fleas and treated by Dr. Peter Humphrey. Dodge is waiting for the go-ahead to put the animals up for adoption and said that a number of area residents have expressed an interest in taking care of the pets.

Source: The Register Citizen - Sept 2, 2005
Update posted on Sep 2, 2005 - 8:50PM

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The Wheelers have six dog licenses, according to the memo. Barbieri visited the Wheeler home on June 27, and while the Wheelers were not at home, she reported hearing dogs barking and smelling the strong stench of urine and fecal matter emanating from the house. A neighbor allowed Barbieri to stand on the property adjacent to the Wheeler�s backyard, where Barbieri saw a 40-foot-by-40-foot fenced enclosure with a blue tarp covering it, according to the memo.

Three days after Bantam Superior Court Judge Dan Shaban signed an administrative search-and-seizure warrant, Rich Gregan, an animal control officer for the state Department of Agriculture, seized 13 dogs from eight filthy kennels in the backyard and four more dogs from inside the home July 25. The kennels contained piles of fecal matter over a foot high. Rat holes were seen near the kennels, according to a report by the Torrington Area Health District.

Thirteen cats were seized from inside the ranch-style home, and the rugs, floors and walls were saturated with cat urine, officials said.

The Wheelers were cited for violating three public health codes, according to a citation filed on Monday by Jim Rokos, Torrington Area Health District Director.

The Wheelers could face further prosecution if they don�t comply with the clean-up as specified by the health department. Rokos ordered the Wheelers to clean up the kennel and dog feces within the backyard structure and spread lime to neutralize the odor. The pens must be washed and disinfected, and Rokos also ordered the interior of the house to be cleaned and disinfected to cleanse the cat urine from furniture, carpeting.

Shaban granted the Wheelers a continuance so that they can obtain a lawyer. The case is scheduled to be heard again on Aug. 23. Two other cases pending against the Wheelers are also on the court docket on that date, charging them with violating probation, disorderly conduct, and breach of peace.

Source: Register Citizen - Aug 3, 2005
Update posted on Aug 7, 2005 - 5:25AM

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A city couple who officials say housed 37 animals in filthy conditions will face criminal charges of animal cruelty Monday in Bantam Superior Court. Lee and Renee Wheeler, of White Pine Road, also should receive a citation today from the Torrington Area Health District for the stench of urine and feces coming from the property.

Officials seized 17 dogs, 13 cats and two rabbits Tuesday from the Wheelers' property. Some of the animals were in extremely poor health, including a cat that could barely open its eyes because of conjunctivitis and barely breathe because of respiratory problems, Zoning Enforcement Officer Kimberly Barbieri said.

Barbieri said feces and urine were everywhere inspectors walked within the two-story house, and cats crawled in and out of a large bag of food to eat.

The Wheelers have been accumulating animals for some time in an attempt to rescue them, Barbieri said.

Although the rabbits also were in squalor, they were in better shape than the other animals, she said.
The Wheelers could not be reached for comment. No one answered their door Wednesday.

The animals were taken to Torrington and Harwinton animal shelters, where they were being evaluated and treated for any health conditions.

"They were scared, but they're coming around," Harwinton Animal Control Officer Diane L. Dodge said.

Fleas were a big problem, she said. The dogs were sprayed Tuesday, but more treatment is planned for today. Just the spray has provided some relief for the dogs, she said.

Dr. Bruce Sherman, director of the Bureau of Regulation and Inspection for the state Department of Agriculture, said the Wheelers will be charged with one count of animal cruelty per animal because the animals were living in filthy conditions, were infested with fleas, and were not provided with wholesome food and water.

The Wheelers will also be cited for maintaining a nuisance, Environmental Health Director Gil Roberts said. The buildup of dog feces in the backyard creates odors and a health hazard in which rats can breed, he said. Both the house and the yard need to be cleaned by Aug. 12, or the Wheelers could face fines, he said.

He believes the couple will clean it up as ordered and the fine will not be necessary. If it does get to that point, the fine is $100 per violation. That could be increased to a daily fine if the violation persists, Roberts said.

In addition to being offensive, the smell also could affect the Wheelers' health, Barbieri said. Longtime exposure to such filthy conditions can cause progressive health problems of allergies, asthma, pulmonary disease and eventually brain damage, she said. It's in their best interest to clean up their home, Barbieri said.

Neighbors have been complaining about the odor, but were unable to provide the details needed to take action. Barbieri had asked the Wheelers in the past to show her their dogs, but was refused entry. She said she could not see how many dogs were in the yard because it was covered with a tarp.

Barbieri caught a break recently when Joel Perlotto, a zoning department hearing officer, saw the Wheelers moving dogs from the backyard to the basement when he was attending a graduation party nearby. Barbieri said Perlotto counted the dogs and knew it was more than four, the limit placed by city ordinance.

With his sworn statement, Barbieri was able to take the case to Superior Court Judge Dan Shaban for an administrative search warrant. It was the first time Barbieri has applied for a warrant on her own.

As the city's zoning enforcement officer, she plans to seek legal recourse more in the future to resolve zoning violations.

Because the animals have been removed, the city will not cite the Wheelers for any zoning violations, she said.

Source: Republican-American - July 28, 2005
Update posted on Jul 28, 2005 - 6:39PM

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Hoarding - 17 dogs, 13 cats, 2 rabbitsTorrington, CT (US)

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Hoarding - 17 dogs, 13 cats, 2 rabbits
Torrington, CT (US)