“It is the worst case to my knowledge, the state has ever seen,” he said.
Robert Holliday Murphy, 60, and Susan Marie Murphy, 67, of 5084 Cooper Road were taken into custody Monday morning and each face 84 counts that include failure to provide food and veterinary care to the dogs and for inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering.
The dogs – mostly Pomeranians -- were seized by Wicomico County Animal Control, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office, following a kennel check April 6. Inside the house they found 166 dogs, while 144 more were in three outbuildings on the property. Investigators also found skeletal remains of several puppies, Lewis said.
“It was a very, very disturbing scene,” he said.
The dogs removed from the premises had matted fur and were covered in feces. Some had worms, while another had just delivered a litter of puppies, according to District Court charging documents. Six more were pregnant and gave birth after being moved to an animal shelter.
Cpl. Jeff Melvin who helped conduct the kennel check “was overwhelmed by the pungent smell of the kennels and the soiled dogs kept inside them,” according to court documents.
Investigators also found dry water bowls, evidence of rat infestation and feces caked and piled onto the walls and floors of pens.
“Dogs were observed with tails adhered to their bodies due to the stuck on feces,” according to the charging documents.
Lewis said the investigation of what he termed a puppy mill was “a Herculean task” with the first priority to provide care for the dogs at several shelters on the Eastern Shore.
Next, the Sheriff’s Office worked with Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello on a “thorough and methodical investigation,” he said. Investigators also consulted with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office which has had experience prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
The charges against the Murphys are misdemeanors, not felonies, with a maximum penalty of only 90 days in jail for each charge. However, with 84 counts against them, they could each serve up to 20 years.
“They were charged with everything we can charge them with,” Lewis said.
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| Donations poured in to help the animals |
Officials had received earlier complaints about the Murphys, but Lewis and Animal Control Director Aaron Balsamo said they could not elaborate because of the ongoing investigation. Balsamo said he first learned of the complaints in March when he became the director.
Since news of the seizure at the Murphys’ property, the county has received other complaints which are now also under investigation, he said.
The Eden case has received both statewide and national attention, including members of the Eastern Shore Delegation. Lewis said he has talked to state lawmakers about enacting stiffer penalties for animal abuse and cruelty cases.
“This has opened the eyes of everyone,” he said.
The case also resulted in $10,000 in monetary donations to the Humane Society, plus an equal amount in food and supplies.
Although the dogs started their lives in horrendous conditions, most have moved on to happier situations, Lewis said. Only one of the dogs had to be euthanized and 27 are still receiving veterinary care at the Humane Society, but the rest have all been adopted.
Some of the adoptions were to members of the Sheriff’s Office, including to Lt. Tim Robinson, the lead investigator in the case, who said his pup Roger has become part of the family and likes to curl up with him and watch Star Wars.
“He went from being skittish and shaky to having one heck of a doggy personality,” he said.
(Delmarva News - July 11, 2016)
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