22 dogs seized from unsanitary shelter Walterboro, SC (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003 County: Colleton Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Dorothy L Ashenbrenner

Case ID: 6748 Classification: Hoarding Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in SC (US) Suspect was in animal welfare field Login to Watch this Case

The John Ancrum SPCA answered a call from rescue groups to assist in reducing the number of dogs from Have A Heart Sanctuary in Walterboro because of overcrowded conditions. The rescue Staff from the JASPCA visited the sanctuary and removed 22 dogs to bring back to our shelter for adoption purposes.

There were almost 300 animals on the property, mostly cats and dogs. The sanctuary director, Dorothy Ashenbrenner acknowledged that she had too many animals to care for properly. During our visit we found poor housing, many sick animals, and sanitation problems. The following day, the JASPCA and Charleston County Animal Control were asked by Colleton County Animal Care and Control to assist them in a cruelty investigation of Have a Heart Sanctuary. JASPCA staff assisted a local veterinarian in evaluating the health of the dogs and cats at the property.

A small number of animals were euthanized who were assessed to have severe health problems and were suffering. Other rescue groups helped by removing the remaining animals. The groups helping included Pet Helpers, Low Country Animal Rescue, Cat Nip Cottage, and Doc Williams SPCA.

Ms Dorothy Ashenbrenner of the �Have a Heart Sanctuary� was charged with two counts of animal neglect by Colleton County Animal Control. She appeared before Judge K.A. Campbell in Colleton County Magistrates court on April 1st. Ms. Aschenbrenner pleaded no contest and received 60 days in jail suspended on the condition she surrender her 501(c)(3) non-profit status for the Have A Heart Sanctuary, not have more than two personal animals in her care, and pay a fine of $450.

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References

JASPCA - January 2004

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