118 sickly Russian wolfhounds rescued from kennel
North Greenbush, NY (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Sep 9, 1989
County: Rensselaer
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Janet Vandenburgh
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Janet Vandenburgh, 50, a state sanitary inspector was charged Saturday for keeping 118 purebred dogs in filthy kennels. A Health Department spokesman said on Tuesday, Vandenburgh has been suspended from her job without pay. The dogs were removed from VanZar kennels.
The action was brought against Janet Vandenburgh. "As of the close of day Monday, Vandenburgh was suspended without pay pending a hearing."
There are confidentiality rules which prohibit the release of the specific charges against Vandenburgh or the background of the case. William Fagel, spokesman for the agency said the agency started "reviewing her job record" when administrators learned about the animal cruelty case. "It is an ironic and embarrassing type of thing."
Along with the Russian wolfhounds there were several chihuahua and poodle crosses. Males and females ran together resulting in puppies of various ages and females being bred indiscriminately.
State troopers, local police and animal control officers removed the registered borzoi dogs from Vandenburgh's home on Saturday and Sunday. There were about 30 workers and volunteers who helped to rescue the wolfhounds. Vandenburgh has been charged with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty. The Russian wolfhounds were found drinking stagnant water from a pond, lying in excrement and suffering from flea sores and diarrhea.
The Rensselaer County Health Department has charges against Vandenburgh. There will be a hearing on health hazards found at her home on Route 43. She has been cited for living in a home that doesn't have running water and having offensive material on her property including dead animals, manure and fecal matter.
The date of Sept 26 has been set for the hearing in North Greenbush Town Court for the animal cruelty charges. Vandenburgh is free on her own recognizance.
Vandenburgh could not be reached for comment. Her father, Gilbert Vandenburgh, said she has no comment.
The welfare workers issued an urgent plea for donations of dog food and money to help cover the medical and feeding expenses which are housing the wolfhounds.
About 150 to 200 pounds of dog food are needed each day for the 50 dogs housed in the Capital District.
The court needs to decide what will happen to the dogs before they can be placed for adoption. None of the dogs were destroyed. Some of them remain in poor health and are suffering from malnutrition, parasites and pneumonia. Since some of the dogs have been living like "wild animals" they will probably not be suitable for adoption.
Vandenburgh's job was inspecting sanitary aspects of long-term health-related facilities and nursing homes. Suspensions of an individuals job are allowed if the employee's presence represents a danger to persons or property or could interfere with government operations.
She has 14 days to challenge the state disciplinary action.
Records found in the house show the original breeding stock could have been show quality pure-breds. There were only remnants of quality because of the over breeding and neglect. After being checked out by veterinarians it was found the dogs suffered with external/internal parasites, fleas and worms. Most of the dogs were dehydrated, malnourished, had rotten and missing teeth due to gum disease. Some of the dogs were described as emaciated.
When dogs are not socialized to people while young, they are frightened by strangers. The wolfhounds had to be caught one by one. Then they were documented, examined, photographed, videotaped, numbered, identified, crated and transported to another location.
Samantha Mullen of the New York State Humane Associated said, "This was much more than anyone had even imagined."
A few of the neighbors said they had complained about the place, but that nothing had been done. No one wanted to give their names or be identified. Some of the neighbors said they had called the Rensselaer County animal control officer, Bill Hogan, a number of times over the years but that no action was ever taken.
Hogan confirmed he did receive complaints about Vandenbergh's kennel "but nothing other than the normal (complaints)." He said he drove by the property several times but never saw a reason to inspect the site. "I saw bags of food and figured the dogs were being fed."
When asked if he ever noticed the condition of the dogs, he said he never got too close because the dogs looked spooky. Hogan said, "You're trying to find blame and it's the owner's fault. I'm in the doghouse for doing my job and I'm in the doghouse for not."
The animal protection agency workers on the scene said Hogan called them "a bunch of vigilantes." Hogan said the police were responsible for cases of animal abuse or neglect.
The North Greenbush Police Department said it is Hogan's job to follow through on complaints of animal neglect. Hogan refused to participate in the weekend rescue of the dogs. "He should have done something long before this. His job is to enforce leash laws and he has the authority to issue citations. If he doesn't care, he shouldn't have the job."
Mullen said if Vandenburgh's dogs had been healthy and better able to carry pregnancies to term, there would have been thousands of dogs.
A pre-trial maneuver by Vandenburg was to give up ownership of the 118 dogs. They were relinquished in negotiations with prosecutors. Vandenberg will appear in Town Court on Oct 24. She remains free on her own recognizance.
Rensselaer County Assistant District Attorney Rich McNally said he was pleased Vandenburgh gave up ownership of the animals.
One person spoke up, this person had answered a classified ad for dogs for sale (for $75 and $100), was so appalled at the condition of the dogs and premises they filed a written complaint with the state police. The state police enlisted Mullen's aid in coordinating the raid and rescue effort.
One of the troopers on the scene helped workers provide food and water to the dogs. "You should have seen them eat and drink. And the way they just looked up at you with those eyes."
It was said some of the dogs had been fed chicken feed mixed with rancid cooking grease. Some sawdust had been found in the feed. Some of the animals will require special care and may not be appropriate for adoption by the average owner.
Case UpdatesJanet Vandenburgh, 50, of Route 43 relinquished the ownership of the 118 dogs she had been accused of mistreating.
Town Justice Henry Tutunjian ruled the suspended Health Department worker was competent to stand trial. She was ordered to undergo psychiatric examination two weeks.
Vandenburgh is scheduled to appear in Town Court on Oct 24. She remains free on her own recognizance. | Source: The Times Union - Oct 11, 1989
Update posted on Feb 26, 2006 - 1:17PM |
References- Albany Times-Union - Sept 13, 1989
- The Courier - Sept 14, 1989
- The Times Union - Sept 11, 1989
- The Times Union - Oct 11, 1989
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