Cops Seize More Than 200 Animals From Home

By BOB CONNORS

Police have seized more than 220 animals from a home in Colchester.

They went to the home at 300 Lake Hayward Road Tuesday, and found the animals in deplorable conditions, police said.

In all, officers seized two dogs, 13 rabbits, 180 pigeons, three ducks and 30 chickens from the home.

The homeowner, Czeslaw Maselek, 52, was arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with animal cruelty..." More

Kathy Witzman, Humane Sanctuary Inc., - Gustavus, Ohio

Mar 15, 2010: Animal Welfare League Gets Help with Seized Animals

The Animal Welfare League has received a $2,000 grant to help pay for the care of more than 180 animals seized in the Gustavus animal hoarding case.

The American Humane Association announced the award Monday.

In total, 162 dogs, 18 cats, two horses and several ducks and chickens were seized during a Feb. 12 raid at the Gustavus home of Kathy Witzman.

During the raid, humane officials said they found pets chained or stacked in crates in a barn along with 50-gallon drums filled with animal corpses. In the owner's home, the floors were caked in feces and smelled of ammonia, they said.

Witzman pleaded no contest to a charge of animal cruelty, was fined and may not own or possess animals for five years..." More

Feb 16, 2010: Animal rescue saves 200+ animals from an Ohio animal sanctuary

By Stephanie Dearing

It was described as good intentions having gotten out of control. On Friday and Saturday, officials removed 162 dogs, 2 horses, 18 cats and an uncounted number of ducks, geese and chickens from an animal sanctuary in Ohio.

Trumball County, Ohio - 58 year old Kathy Witzman was arrested by police, and now faces up to 200 counts of cruelty to animals and one felony charge. The rescued animals are currently being checked by veterinarians to determine their condition, but authorities said one dog has died since the seizure, and another dog had to be put down. While officials knew they were going into a bad situation, they said they didn't know how bad it was. Police said they found a 55 gallon drum on Witzman's property filled with animal bodies, which resulted in the felony charge for Witzman. Some dogs were kept in small cages while others were tethered on short chains.

The animals are being kept in a warehouse until placements can be found for them. All the dogs will be evaluated for temperment before being adopted out. The Animal Welfare League worked with the Sheriff's Department to rescue the animals. The League has asked for help from groomers, animal handlers, and the public is asked to donate money, blankets and towels to help care for the animals.

The raid and rescue took place on Friday. Witzman operated a no-kill animal shelter that she called Humane Sanctuary Inc. The rescue took place after an investigation and weeks of planning. When officials arrived on Friday morning, they found Witzman's 97 year old mother living in the home, which they said was "deplorable conditions, filth, feces and animals living in there including two dead dogs that the others were feeding off of because they were huntry" said Barbara Busko, who is with the Animal Welfare League. Detective Harold Firster said.

"The dog feces had caked the floor almost like a carpet and the smell of ammonia was so pungent that it was very difficult getting the 97-year-old mother out of the house."...More

• Gustavus Woman Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges
• Animal Cruelty in Youngstown
• Officials Arranging Care, Homes for Animals
• Sanctuary Owner Furious with Rumors of Animal Abuse

Animals seized in area's largest hording case recovering

By Fred Hiers

The animals that were seized in Marion County’s largest animal cruelty case in recent memory are recovering. The animals’ former Citra owners will likely not fare as well.

Marion County spokeswoman Christy Jergens said Animal Services officials will soon recommend to the State Attorney’s Office charges against the couple that allegedly kept the 432 live animals in horrifically filthy conditions until their rescue last month.

“They have not been arrested but we are planning to go ahead with charges,” Jergens said.

“With so many animals, we’ve been trying to get them all settled in, get them vaccinated. The focus has been on that,” she said.

Along with the living animals at the 7680 NE 192 Pl. home of Ileana Verguizas and Andrew Gonzalo Perez, 15 dead animals were also found.

Some of the animals, which included dogs, cats, goats, quail, chickens, geese, ducks, sheep, rabbits, snakes, parrots and turtles, were found by county investigators to be living in filthy cages and pens, and their fur matted with feces and riddled with fleas. Of the living animals, almost half were kept inside the 2,200 square-foot home..." More

Rabbits, ducks, dogs, goats: More than 100 animals seized

The Lycoming County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is seeking responsible people to take in more than 100 animals seized from a Cogan Station man's home.

David Fricke of 1428 Dauber Road pleaded guilty Wednesday to animal cruelty charges when he appeared before District Judge James H. Sortman.

The SPCA went to Fricke's home July 23 and Aug. 27 and has since been caring for the assorted animals. Humane Officer Lawrence D. Woltz said the agency is seeking homes for them.

He said about 15 rabbits confiscated already have been adopted, and about 20 more rabbits still are in need of homes.

Woltz said other animals also are in need of responsible owners, including 45 chickens, 14 ducks, six dogs, six goats, two guinea pigs and a pony.

Larger animals are being temporarily sheltered by Appalachian Horse Help and Rescue in Linden.

Alerted by a Dauber Road resident, Woltz said he responded to the Fricke residence.

When Woltz observed an apparent lack of food, shelter and evidence of animal illness, he contacted veterinarians..." More

West Haverstraw man refuses to pay vet bill for seized animals

BY AKIKO MATSUDA

WEST HAVERSTRAW - A West Haverstraw man who was convicted of animal cruelty is rejecting a request from the prosecutor that he pay $17,000 to the veterinarian who cared for his animals seized from his home.

After a weeklong trial before West Haverstraw village Justice Kevin Russo, Robert Everle, 60, was found guilty of the 13 misdemeanor charges.

Everle faces a maximum of two years in jail, a loss of his animals and financial penalties when sentenced at 2:30 p.m. August 11.

Everle was arrested about a year ago after authorities raided his property at 48 and 50 N. Wayne Avenue, where Everle kept more than 100 animals, including rabbits, puppies, kittens, sheep, rams, pigeons and ducks.

Prosecutor Anthony Dellicarri recently sent a letter to Richard Novick, the attorney representing Everle, stating that at Everle's sentencing, he would be requesting the judge order Everle to pay $17,000 in restitution to The Vet at The Barn, who took care of Everle's animals after they were seized.

Dellicarri suggested in the letter that if Everle started paying the bill, his sentence could be mitigated.

Everle said his animals were illegally seized so that he was not responsible for the bill..." More