 Hoarding - 43 dogs on property
Grand Haven, MI (US)Incident Date: Monday, Oct 31, 2005
County: Ottawa
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Joseph Elliot Schulze
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Judge Terrence Thomas hasn�t filed a specific order yet on a case involving a large number of bull terriers, commonly known as �pit bulls,� owned by a Claybanks Township resident.
But, Township Supervisor Richard Smith said the judge made it clear he didn�t want the matter to come back before the court.
Claybanks Township has been working for several years to try and reduce the number of dogs owned by Joseph E. Schulze. Smith said, when appearing in court last week, they were told there are 42 or 43 dogs remaining at the property.
In November 2005, township officials agreed to sign a consent order with Schulze who agreed to comply with the township ordinance by Dec. 15, 2005. That ordinance would require a limit of six dogs. Smith said when the dogs were not gone in December 2005, he had the township attorney, Doug Hughes, request a hearing before Judge Thomas. At that hearing, said Smith, the judge agreed to give Schulze an additional 30 days to remove the dogs.
H. Wallace Parker, an attorney based in Bloomfield Hills, is representing Schulze in the case. He said he made certain when taking the case that the animals were in good condition and not used in any form in the dog fighting industry. Parker said he visited the property to confirm for himself that the animals were properly cared for and not abused in any fashion. Parker said his client has indicated he has found homes for about half of the animals and requested an additional 30 days to find good homes for the remaining dogs. �The court graciously granted that request,� said Parker. Parker said he advised his client to comply with the court order and with the township ordinance regarding the keeping of the dogs. He also said he has concerns about the township being able to enforce an ordinance years after Schulze had moved the pit bulls onto the property. �If my client wishes to take up the matter of the law itself, that is something we can review later,� said Parker. He said he has offered Claybanks Township an opportunity to review a model ordinance concerning the keeping of bull terriers created after working with experts in the field of veterinary science. �It is a fairer ordinance than what many communities enforce,� said Parker. �It is fair to the species. I offered it to the township and they indicated they are willing to take a look at it.� Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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