MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WKRC) – Two people in Middletown are facing animal cruelty charges after police raided a home there.
Inside, they discovered dozens of animals living in deplorable conditions.
“We were finally feeling like we were ahead of the game. We had some empty kennels then we started filling up and then it hit again,” said Megan Poffenbarger with Animal Friends Humane Society.
Megan Poffenbarger’s heart dropped when she got the call, another hoarding case in Butler County.
“The house was disgusting to say the least, it was in deplorable condition. There was so much clutter around,” said Poffenbarger.
The staff at Animal Friends Humane Society quickly made their way to a home on Hill Avenue in Middletown. Police were there and found a run down house with a homeless camp in the backyard. They discovered 31 dogs, two ducks, and a cat.
“A lot of them had feces up on their legs and didn’t look like they’ve been bathed. Almost every single one of them had fleas on them. Some of them had flea irritation so they were starting to lose some of their hair,” said Poffenbarger.
Two people found at the now-condemned home are facing cruelty to animal and drug charges. The conditions here are just like a case animal friends dealt with last summer. In that case, 86 dogs were found in horrible conditions at Helping Hands for Furry Paws Rescue.
With the number of dogs that are constantly making their way into the shelter, the staff said they’re having to look at new ways to house the dogs inside.
“We can house 120 animals somewhat comfortably and we were already maneuvering dogs through the facility and putting them in pop-up kennels,” said Poffenbarger.
Shelter staff are having to move kennels into play areas to accommodate the growing population. The shelter is also continuing to provide resources like a pet food pantry for people in need. Poffenbarger said they’re always here to help.
“We want you to keep your pets, but we want you to keep them healthy and happy. We don’t want it to be a strain on your family,” said Poffenbarger.
If you would like to donate to The Animal Friends Humane Society, click here.