Humane Society seizes 57 dogs in animal neglect case

LANCASTER - An anonymous tip of animal neglect at a Rushville home led to the seizure of 57 dogs, four horses and one donkey Friday.

Corey Schoonover, executive director of the Fairfield County Area Humane Society, said it's been three days since they removed the animals from a home that appeared to be a breeding business. They are working to process all of the animals, which includes about a dozen puppies and a male and female of different breeds. A veterinarian was checking their skin, eyes and teeth Monday, along with a groomer shaving and bathing the ones in dire need.

Out of the first 10 dogs examined, Schoonover said eight of them had dental issues or some level of dental disease.

A groomer was called in to help Sunday, grooming the worst cases of neglect. The hair on some of them was terribly matted and dirty.

"We had some poodles that looked like sheep," he said.

Other arrangements were made for the horses and donkey found at the home. It appeared the property owner had a kennel license since at least 2012 and ran the business out of her home in the 7000 block of Thornville Road. At some point, Schoonover said the owner became ill with cancer asked for a neighbor to help care for her dogs.

"No one was really starved; this was more of a neglect issue," Schoonover said, adding that grooming and health care are the dogs' main issues. The dog breeds range from Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus to Dachshunds and Boxers. Multiple puppies also were seized, including seven Rottweilers less than 2 weeks old.

"If you want to spend $600 on a particular breed, she had all of them," he said.

As a result of the seizure, Schoonover said the owner had to return a couple of deposits on the puppies she was in the process of selling.

Senior Prosecutor Stephanie Hall, of the City Prosecutor's Office, said cruelty of animal charges, first-degree misdemeanors, are expected in this case. However, none will be filed until all of the animals are processed.

Schoonover said there is a level of understanding because the owner is ill, but the Humane Society should have been called in a long time ago.

"She didn't even know how many she had," he said.

The Fairfield County Dog Shelter was called in to help transport and house some of the dogs. Humane Society employees were at the facility until about midnight that night sorting the animals. The majority of the dogs are small breeds and are being kept with five to six dogs per kennel. If they had been larger breeds, Shoonover said there would not have been enough room.

While, the animals were neglected, he said the dogs are "all very nice and social."

It won't be until next week that some of the dogs are taken to the vet for further check ups, so Schoonover asked the public to hold off with questions until an update is posted on the Humane Society's website or Facebook page. The neglect case has grabbed locals' attention, but he said they aren't ready for adoption just yet. For updates, go to www.fairhumane.org.

sremoquill@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4342

Twitter: @SpencerRemo