Officials believed the first house, 318 N. Scott St. in New Carlisle, had been abandoned, but the resident arrived while deputies were on scene.
Clark County police Sgt. Kris Shultz said officers were dispatched after a dog wandered to the New Carlisle fire station. Using the tags on the dog's collar, a firefighter located the owner's address and went to the house and found it to have trash and dog feces inside, he said.
The apparent resident and owner of the dogs arrived home to find deputies there Wednesday morning.
The woman told officers that the reason the house was in poor condition was because she had been in the hospital and they have been out of power since Friday's storms. She said they haven't been able to put the dogs out because the storms knocked the fence over.
The owner's friend insisted, "The dogs are treated very well. The only problem is that since the power outage, well, with the wind storm it's knocked down the fence, they can't get out, the house has been a little dirty the last 3 days."
The deputy disputes that claim saying that the conditions were not consistent with that short time frame. It was more extensive. Trash filled the basement and garage and feces were piled up.
At one point, deputies detained the friend when he became angry with the TV cameras and he was charged with disorderly conduct.
Despite the owner's protests, her dogs were removed from the property. Officials say they will hold the animals at the humane society, where they will be held for 72 hours to allow the resident of the home to improve the conditions.
If humane society officials do not believe the conditions have improved, authorities said the dogs could be put up for adoption. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is still investigating.
The second case in Clark County was reported at 212 Slayton Street in Bethel Twp. Sheriff's office deputies were contacted by the landlord of the residence to report the tenants had not been seen in several days. The home did not have power, he said, because of unpaid bills.
Two adult dogs and five puppies were found inside the home. Again, dog feces were found in the home and the animals did not have adequate food or water. In this case, however, Shultz said the conditions were not bad enough for the humane society to confiscate the animals. Instead, food and water were placed in the house and a 24-hour notice was posted on the door ordering the residents inside to contact the humane society.
If the residents do not contact the agency, or if conditions are not improved, authorities said the humane society will obtain a warrant to confiscate the animals.
(WHIO - July 4, 2012)
