2 dogs left in home, ate through walls to escape Lyons, MI (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 21, 2006 County: Ionia Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Adult

Case ID: 7494 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull), dog (pit-bull) View more cases in MI (US) Login to Watch this Case

Ionia County animal control officials said it appeared two dogs left stranded in a locked home for the past two months without food, water or heat may have eaten several cats in the home to survive and had attempted to chew through walls to escape. The dogs, a medium-sized lab/shepherd mix and a medium-sized boxer-pit bull mix, were badly emaciated, dehydrated and most likely had little or nothing to eat or drink for many weeks.

The home at 9774 Kimball Road where they were left abandoned was destroyed as the dogs chewed and clawed numerous holes in the wall, Ionia County Animal Control Officer Gordon Douglas said. The interior of the home was covered in excrement and Ionia County Health Department officials condemned it. Douglas said he found no animal remains in the home nor any concrete evidence the dogs had eaten cats, but he said there was "plenty of
evidence" that cats had fairly recently lived in the home. The home still had electricity but apparently no heat and even the toilet bowls no longer held water because pipes had become frozen. Animal control officers removed the dogs February 21, 2006 acting on a tip that the dogs were locked inside and had eaten the cats. Investigators returned to the home with a search warrant the nexty day seeking additional evidence.

The dogs were taken to an area vet who determined they will be able to regain health with "time and a few meals," Douglas said. Douglas said the dogs will be lodged at the Ionia County Animal Shelter, which pays for their medical treatment as well. Douglas said the dogs will be placed in local homes once the county receives a forteiture of ownership. Douglas said an arrest warrant will be sought for the female owner of the dogs. It is unknown exactly why she left the dogs, but it is believed there are pending criminal arrest warrants unconnected to animals, and she may have fled. Douglas said the homeowner was arrested last year after she failed to pay citations for refusing to license the dogs. Ionia County Prosecutor Ronald Schafer said he anticipates charges, but the woman's whereabouts are at this time unknown.

Douglas said the dogs are loveable. "They are very good natured," Douglas said. "They were just tickled to get out of there." Anyone interested in helping or supporting these dogs or others at the Ionia County Animal Shelter are asked to call (616) 527-9040.

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References

Sentinel Standard News - February 23, 2006

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