Animals Rescued From Deplorable Home After Owners Fell Ill

WASHINGTON -- Dozens of animals rescued from a house in Washington are finally getting the medical attention they need.

The animals, which include dogs and birds, were rescued Sunday.

Police say the owners were just too sick to care for the animals.

 

 

Ten of those dogs were taken to the Thurston County Animal Services Facility. Many of the dogs are now being treated. Investigators say that it appears that the owners were in poor health and simply couldn`t take care of them anymore.

"It breaks your heart because this could`ve been completely avoided," said Amanda Boylan of Animal Services.

Veterinarians at Animal's Services in Olympia are now carrying for these Pekinese dogs and even a few birds.

All of them removed from a home in Belfair.

 

The animals and their owners found living in a house filled with feces, garbage, and several dead dogs.

Mason County Sheriff's deputies showed up at the home to check on the owners Sunday.

Once inside, they found the couple, who are in their late 60`s.

Both of them were sick and needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Around the home, deputies say there were 30-40 dogs, half-dozen birds, some cats, and even a few snakes.

"I don`t know if it is a criminal situation or a situation to where an elderly couple became ill-health and over the last couple of years it just got away for them," said Detective William Adam Mason, of the County Sheriff's Office.

 

While some of the dogs went to local vets to be checked out, deputies cleaned up a kennel on the property for the others.

For neighbors, it`s a tough situation.

"I hate when I see things like that with dogs, I`m a dog person as you can tell and I hate to see dogs being mistreated," said neighbor Mike Waldron.

Investigators say it appears the owners reached out to another breeder for help caring for the animals.
Vets say it appears the most of the dogs will be okay.

"It doesn`t have to happen, if you have too many pets that you can`t care for them properly then you don`t need all the pets," said Boylan.

For now it appears the animals will remain here at the Animal Services facility. It`s unclear what happens next but they could end up with foster families or eventually be adopted.

(MyFox Philadelphia - Feb 18, 2015)

Earlier:

• Animals, couple rescued from filthy Mason County home