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By Steve Pardo for The Detroit News
etroit — The Dearborn man found with hundreds of live and dead Chihuahuas in his home last summer will avoid jail and instead serve five years’ probation while being supervised by Wayne County mental health personnel.
Kenneth Lang, 56, pleaded guilty today to an animal cruelty charge this morning in front of Wayne County Circuit Judge James Chylinski. Lang’s attorney, James Schmier, had been working with prosecutors for weeks on an agreement that would keep Lang from being incarcerated. He faced up to four years in prison on animal cruelty charges.
Lang is not allowed to own animals and must make a $3,000 restitution to the Animal Legal Defense Fund. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the city of Dearborn, although that amount hasn’t been set.
Schmier said Lang lives on Social Security disability and Medicaid. His IQ, Schmier said, has been measured at 70 — borderline mentally disabled.
In September, Judge William Hultgren of Dearborn’s 19th District Court ordered a hearing where Lang was evaluated for mental competency and for criminal responsibility. Lang was found competent to stand trial.
Authorities acted on a complaint in July and discovered Lang was hoarding the dogs. More than 150 dead dogs were found in refrigerators and freezers inside the home, which was covered in filth and animal feces. Authorities removed 105 live dogs from the home.
The dogs were put under the care of the Dearborn Animal Shelter. Officials said about 92 of the dogs have been adopted. The other 13 still have emotional issues and are living in the homes of animal volunteers.
