On Thursday, Rockingham County ACOs chokepoled dozens of tiny pets from a home in Stoneville, NC:
The local FOX affiliate reports that an elderly couple lived in the home and that the woman apparently threatened to commit suicide while ACOs were dragging her dogs away. She was sent to the hospital and later released. On Friday, the wife was charged with one count of animal cruelty and the district attorney is considering charging her with abuse of her immobile husband as well.
The home environment is being described as a hoarding situation although it’s not at all clear to me whether that characterization is accurate or whether the animals are now better off:
“Twenty-nine dogs, 18 birds, six cats and four horses and one donkey that we brought back to the shelter,” Kevin Baughn, Rockingham County Animal Shelter director said.
[…]
“As they approached the residence, there was a strong odor, smell, stench,” Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said. “Feces all over the house.”
Officials said it does not appear the animals were physically abused but lived in extremely unsanitary conditions.
The animals were covered in layers of filth.
[…]
“I think the people in their heart think they’re doing good for the animals, but a lot of times the animals wind up suffering,” Baughn said.
[…]
The shelter was already operating at full capacity, and now these dogs, cats and birds are crammed into cages and four miniature horses and a donkey are corralled outside, all to await further medical examination.
The “shelter” where these dogs are now crammed into cages is little more than a pet killing facility. In 2012, Rockingham Co killed 72% of the dogs and cats in its care.
The Fox affiliate states the the Guilford Co pound “will assist in efforts to house the animals” although it’s unclear to me if that will happen. If it does, it means the animals will be sent from one pet killing facility to another. The Guilford Co pound killed 51% of its dogs and cats in 2012. The pound has a policy dictating death for all Rottweilers, Pitbulls and Chows, regardless of health or temperament. The non-profit that runs the pound also kills dogs whom rescues are willing to take and then attempts to cover it up by claiming to be exempt from public records requests. The Humane Society of the United States rates the pet killing facility as a top emergency placement partner.
Winners here, anyone?
(Thanks Lisa for sending me this story.)