Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding - 23 dogs, 3 cats seized

Hoarding - 23 dogs, 3 cats seized
Avon, IN (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 18, 2005
County: Hendricks
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Dennis A. Hatcher
» Michele L. Hatcher - Convicted

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 5386

Classification: Hoarding

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

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Child or elder neglect

Twenty dogs and three cats -- some in poor condition -- were confiscated Aug 19 from an Indianapolis home connected to a couple who already had been arrested on neglect charges because of conditions at another residence, authorities said.

Authorities said Dennis A. Hatcher, 25, and Michele L. Hatcher, 31, were in the process of moving from a rented residence near Avon to the Indianapolis home, located on the 8600 block of Spring Valley Lane.

The Hatchers were arrested in Hendricks County on Aug 18 after officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on their Avon-area rental property and animal feces throughout that home, police said.

The Hatchers face charges in Hendricks County of neglect of a dependent. The couple's 7-year-old daughter has been placed in the custody of child protective services.

On the night of Aug 18, police learned that animals could be at the Indianapolis home. Authorities obtained a search warrant, and on Aug 19, animal control officers found 23 animals there.

"These animals are weak. They are malnourished," Indianapolis Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Media Wilson said. "There were eight puppies involved. There was a great deal of animal feces in the area where the puppies were found."

Wilson said the animals would be taken to a shelter and receive veterinary care.

"If there is a situation where we can't save an animal, that animal would be euthanized," Wilson said.

The Hatchers will face felony animal neglect charges in Marion County, authorities said.

Police said animal control officers had been watching the Hatchers for years because they had a high number of animals. Authorities believe neglect problems escalated recently.

"This isn't like they didn't know they were supposed to take care of these animals," Hendricks County prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said.

Case Updates

An Indianapolis woman who was arrested in August after authorities found eight dead dogs in her rented Avon home received a year of probation Monday.
Michele Hatcher, 32, pleaded guilty to one count each of neglect of a dependent and animal cruelty. Both are misdemeanors.

Judge Karen Love of Hendricks Superior Court 3 also ordered Hatcher to have no animals in her home during the probation and to take parenting classes.
Hatcher and her husband, Dennis Hatcher, 25, have been held in Hendricks County Jail since their arrest Aug. 18.

Hendricks County Animal Control officers had gone to the Hatchers' home in the 1100 block of North County Road 900 East to investigate reports of neglected animals. Inside the house, officers found trash bags containing dead, malnourished dogs. They also found a rotting dog carcass lying in the back yard.

Authorities filed the neglect charge because of the conditions in which the couple's daughter lived. The girl has been in foster care since her parents' arrest.

Hatcher's attorney, Jim Fierek, said his client is relieved to have the case settled.

"All she wanted to do is get out of jail and get her daughter back," he said.

Hatcher originally had faced nine counts of animal cruelty. Hendricks County Prosecutor Pat Baldwin pointed out that Hatcher had no prior convictions and spent 68 days in jail.

"We need to get their family back on track," she said.

Dennis Hatcher is charged with one count of neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanor counts of animal neglect. His trial is set for Nov. 15.

The Hatchers also face charges in Marion County. A day after their arrest in Hendricks County, Indianapolis officials found 20 emaciated live dogs at the couple's home in the 8600 block of Spring Valley Lane.

Each faces one felony and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty in Marion County. Officials there are waiting to set a trial date pending outcome of the Hendricks County charges.

Source: IndyStar - Oct 25, 2005
Update posted on Oct 27, 2005 - 10:52PM

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The Indianapolis woman arrested on numerous charges after authorities found dead dogs in her rented Avon home has filed notice that she will seek a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Michele Hatcher, 32, on Monday filed a motion for a plea hearing instead of going to trial, which is scheduled for Nov. 15.

Hatcher's court-appointed attorney, Jim Fierek, said the filing was part of a plea-bargaining negotiation with Hendricks County Prosecutor Pat Baldwin, and is tentative pending Superior Court Judge Karen M. Love's approval.

Under the deal, Hatcher would plead guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. She originally faced nine misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

Michele and her husband, Dennis Hatcher, 25, were arrested Aug. 18 after authorities found eight dead dogs at their rented home in the 1100 block of North County Road 900 East

Hendricks County Animal Control officers went to the home to investigate reports of neglected animals on the property. Inside, officers found trash bags containing dead, malnourished dogs. They also found a rotting dog carcass lying in the back yard.

Authorities filed the neglect charge because of the conditions in which the couple's daughter was living. Child protective services took the girl into custody and she is now in foster care, said Hendricks County Prosecutor Pat Baldwin.

Dennis Hatcher is charged with one count of neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanor counts of animal neglect.

The couple have been in Hendricks County Jail since their arrest in August. A day after the dead dogs were discovered in Avon, Indianapolis officials found 20 emaciated live dogs at the couple's home at the 8600 block of Springvalley Lane.

The couple face three felony counts of animal cruelty in Marion County. A spokesman for the Marion County prosecutor's office said no trial date has been set.

Source: IndyStar - Oct 19, 2005
Update posted on Oct 19, 2005 - 6:55PM

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Hendricks County animal control requested another search warrant Friday for another house on Spring Valley Lane in Marion County. There they found 20 dogs and two cats in a garage. One dog had to be carried from the house on a stretcher.

Animal Control officers inspected the Avon property a number of times, but it appeared the dogs, as many as 20 at some point, were okay. But the complaints continued and recently neighbors worried something was wrong.

Mary Anne Lewis, Director of Hendricks County Animal Control, says they went to investigate. "We recently received a phone call of an odor coming from the house."

Marion County prosecutors were working on charges after Friday's discovery at the second house.

Source: WTHR - Aug 19, 2005
Update posted on Aug 20, 2005 - 3:03PM

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References

	WRTV - Aug 19, 2005
	WRTV - Aug 19, 2005
	WRTV - Aug 19, 2005
	FOX 19 - Aug 19, 2005
	IndyStar - Aug 19, 2005

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Hoarding - 23 dogs, 3 cats seizedAvon, IN (US)

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Hoarding - 23 dogs, 3 cats seized
Avon, IN (US)