52-year-old Brenda Studer of Richland County is charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty. In March, Richland County humane officers confiscated more than 80 dogs and cats from Studer's leased Bowman Street barn and shed.
Now the defense is questioning the validity of that search warrant. This, while many of the animals are still caught in limbo. Some of the dogs are blind. One had her front leg amputated. All are waiting.
Thursday, Municipal Judge Jerry Ault heard testimony from witnesses, including Mansfield veterinarian Melanie Hall, who treated one of Studer's puppies who was missing a front leg.
"The puppy was also missing part of its right ear, it had a fractured leg, it was a little underweight, and it was pretty much wrapped in duct tape from its leg halfway down its body," Hall said on the stand.
The puppy died later that night, and it wasn't long after that humane officer Missy Houghton became involved.
"The urine smell [in the shed] was just so overpowering that you could probably only be in there for five minutes before it started burning your eyes, your throat, your nose," Houghton explains.
Now the problem is the strain this case has put on the Humane Society of Richland County.
They've resorted to housing some of the dogs at off-site locations, including the fair grounds.
And they can't adopt any of the animals out until the case is closed.
"On top of the 35 to 40 [dogs] that we typically house, we now have 50 additional dogs that we now have to care for, provide veterinary care for, and food and the staffing to take care of them properly," Houghton says.
It is undoubtedly a strain on her staff, but Houghton says at least the dogs are safe and happy-- her personal goal.
"Hopefully we get to keep them because there's some really great dogs in that group, great dogs, and they deserve to live out their life in a home," she says.
Thursday Studer was also charged with menacing, for allegedly threatening the life of one of the cruelty officers.
The judge has taken the case into advisement.
In the meantime, the humane society is accepting donations for those who may want to assist in the care of these animals.
(WSBT - May 5, 2011)
