OHIO -- Authorities confiscated seven animals from the home of a man who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and neglect charges earlier this month.
Dayton police and the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center removed four dogs, two cats and one ferret this afternoon from the home in the 0 to 100 block of Sandhurst Drive.
It’s the same home where a 10-year-old girl was found last month living in filthy conditions with 16 dogs, two cats, three hamsters and two parrots.
The animals were removed at that time as was the girl, and the adult resident Rodney Smith, 46, was charged with animal cruelty and neglect charges, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Smith pleaded guilty as part of a deal on Aug. 5. The judge suspended a 270-day jail sentence and ordered Smith to not own any animals for five years, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Dayton police and ARC returned to the home today after neighbors reported hearing dogs barking and seeing people going in and out of the house, according to Mark Kumpf, ARC director.
“Conditions are substantially the same as we found when we did our first investigation on this house back in June,” Kumpf said. “I know what cruelty smells like. This house smells terrible. These animals are forced to live here. While you and I have the ability to vote with our feet, we can leave unfit conditions and go elsewhere, animals don’t have the ability to open the door and make their feelings known by leaving the property. They’re trapped inside.”
A city housing inspector also responded to the address.
No charges have been filed against Smith. Kumpf said investigators will discuss the possibility of felony animal cruelty charges with the prosecutor’s office.
(WHIO - Aug 26 2013)
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