Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding - 42 dogs seized

Hoarding - 42 dogs seized
Richmond, IN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005
County: Wayne
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Abuser/Suspect: Marjorie L Funk

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 5715

Classification: Hoarding

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

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A Richmond woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police discovered 42 dogs living unattended in her home. A complaint from a neighbor led police to the home of Marjorie Funk, 100 Kinsey St. Police described the home as smelling of animal feces and a rotting animal � apparently a rabbit � that had been dead for months.

Police and animal control officials entered the house wearing oxygen masks.

Funk apparently had been staying at a friend's house while the animals were inside.

All 42 animals are up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 1825 Chester Blvd. in Richmond.

Case Updates

Marjorie L. Funk, 54, was sentenced to two years� probation and ordered to do 200 hours of community service for neglecting more than 40 dogs at her Kinsey Street home. Funk also was ordered to pay $4,233.43 in restitution for services rendered by the Richmond Fire Department and three area animal shelters. She was ordered not to own a pet while on probation.

Funk offered an explanation in court for the condition of the home, saying she lost control of what was otherwise good intentions. She originally wanted to offer stray dogs a home. Instead, the conditions got out of control, she said. Funk�s sentencing came after attorneys reached a plea agreement in February 2006. The case was originally scheduled to go to trial.

Source: Palladium News - March 15, 2006
Update posted on Mar 15, 2006 - 3:45PM

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A Richmond woman accused of neglecting pets on her property last year will stand trial in March 2006 to face 12 counts of animal cruelty. Authorities had to break down the door of Marjorie Funk's Kinsey Street home in October 2005 after neighbors feared she was dead inside. Instead, the smell of animal feces and a rotting rabbit forced police to wear gas masks to investigate the property. Forty-two animals were found inside.

The 53-year-old's trial is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 17, 2006 in Wayne County Superior Court III. "Initially, the officer placed her under arrest, and our office charged her with one count until all the information was received," said Wayne County Prosecutor Mike Shipman. "Once we received the complete investigation, we amended the charge to include an additional 11 counts." Each count represents one animal she is accused of neglecting, he said.

In court documents, police described the scene as a hazard where wooden floors in the home buckled under pressure from animal urine seeping through floor boards. Dog feces also had piled up all over the house, documents said. "I didn't see any evidence that she was feeding or giving (the dogs) water," Gerard Longnecker, a Richmond police officer, said in October 2005. He called it one of the worst animal cruelty calls he could remember. Police said Funk offered little explanation for the situation. Some of the animals belonged to her daughter, according to reports. Many of the dogs were rescued by pet lovers such as Nancy Fields, Barbara Pence and Mary Freeland. The Palladium-Item interviewed them after they adopted some of Funk's pets from the Animal Welfare League in Richmond.

Source: Palladium Item News - February 13, 2006
Update posted on Feb 21, 2006 - 2:15AM

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Palladium-Item - Oct 12, 2005

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Hoarding - 42 dogs seizedRichmond, IN (US)

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Hoarding - 42 dogs seized
Richmond, IN (US)