Calhoun Co. deputies investigate disturbing animal cruelty case

MICHIGAN -- The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating a disturbing animal cruelty out of Burlington.

The details are difficult to read or hear, if you're an animal lover.

Deputies removed 11 dogs from a home Friday, who they say were so malnourished and hungry that they had started to eat each other.

Deputies now want to get the word out about the case.

Erick Vandenburg's cat was eaten by the dogs

 

The dogs are at the Calhoun County Animal Shelter now, following the seizure.

The Sheriff's office says it looks like they hadn't been fed in a long time, and were desperate for food wherever they could get it.

"She said, 'Hun, it looks like Tilly's laying out there and she's not moving. I think she's dead,'" said neighbor Erick Vandenburg.

The neighbors house where all the dogs lived

 

When Vandenburg and his wife looked out in their yard this morning they saw something was wrong with their cat.

"So dad had to go out and check it out and sure enough there was Tilly, like I said, gutted," he said.

He says a dog from their neighbors property had gotten loose and had attacked, mauled, killed AND eaten most of the cat.

"I'm very happy my boys didn't see it," Vandenburg said.

When Calhoun County deputies went to the neighbors' house on Ten-and-a-Half Mile Road, in Burlington, they say there were dogs all over the yard, and they were hungry.

"Just numerous dogs, all the dogs were outside dogs and in poor states of health," said Calhoun County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Reniger. "They're pretty skinny."

The Sheriff's Office tells us that the dogs were so hungry they had even eaten a puppy that was also in the yard.

Eleven dogs were taken to the animal shelter, although we saw one still at the house tonight.

He wasn't home at the time, but deputies have been able to get in touch with the owner and say he is cooperating.

 

Vandenburg says he's just glad the dogs are safe.

"Seeing them tied up to the dog houses year round, all the time, outdoors. I don't know how they stay warm, things like that," he said.

Charges of animal cruelty are going to be forwarded to the prosecutor's office.

We're told that when more than 10 dogs are involved, it is a felony, punishable by up to four years in prison.

(WWMT - Nov 21 2015)