RESCUED! Dogs Left Alone At Home For 7 Months

Update: Here’s an update that’s hot off the press! Good news!!!

Four dogs taken to “no-kill” shelter
By Joe LePage

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – Four abandoned dogs who were living in filth with no food or fresh water for seven months are now free, with the help of News Channel 18 and Tricia’s Dog House.

The rescue comes in the nick of time, since their owner planned to have them euthanized today if no one could be found to take them in.

“I was in shock, I’ll be honest with you,” said Tricia Davis, owner of Tricia’s Dog House, a no-kill shelter which agreed to take the dogs in. “I’ve seen a lot of dog rescues. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

To call the area overgrown would be an understatement. The dogs were audible from the approach to the backyard, but not visible.

“Bear” is the name of one of the dogs that have been living in a cage for the past seven months. The owner of this house left him behind when the home was foreclosed on in January.

Neighbors say there were as many as 10 dogs living there, but only four remain.

The only food they have eaten has been gifts from concerned neighbors. The only water they have had to drink is whatever falls in an old swimming pool and filthy water bowls.

“It’s just very frustrating. It’s very upsetting, you know,” said Davis. “Nobody cares about the animals. It’s craziness, you know. They need to be cared for and loved. These are sweet, sweet animals.”

Tricia Davis got permission to save these dogs. She says she only got the go-ahead after concerned residents called after seeing a story on News Channel 18.

“It’s not like this has just happened, it’s been going on for months,” said Davis. “And until you (TV 18) took initiative and you put it on the air, we couldn’t get permission to do it.”

For all Davis’s earlier troubles, getting permission was the easy part. Rescuing the dogs and making sure that they recover from their experience will be difficult.

Tricia and the rest of her dog rescue team had to brave an overgrown back yard just to get to the cage that had the dogs in it.

A set of bolt cutters were brought in to complete the ‘jailbreak.’ As soon as the lock was cut, the dogs stepped over each other trying to get out, with a speckled terrier named Scooter being the first out the door.

Davis eventually managed to get all four animals into the back of her car. They were taken to her “no-kill” shelter and began the first steps down their road to recovery.

Tuesday the dogs were cleaned up and checked for fleas. Wednesday they will be given a medical check-up and vaccinations courtesy of the Wildcat Valley Animal Clinic. The four will now stay at Tricia’s Dog House for two weeks before they can be adopted.

If you are interested in adopting these animals, you can contact Tricia’s Dog House at (765) 742-6605.



Original Story:


Financial issues surround situation

By Kristin Crowley

MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) – Four dogs have been kept in a fenced kennel outside a foreclosed house in Monticello, Indiana for over seven months with no one to care for them.

Neighbors are furious about four dogs left behind at this house, and some said these dogs have been neglected and are starving.

“These dogs are lucky if they get fed once a week, and that’s with the neighbors being generous enough to be able to throw scraps and stuff over to them,” said neighbor Becky Harrison.

The former owner, Patricia Willoughby, said financial issues contributed to the current situation. Willoughby, who now lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said she and her family were forced into a homeless shelter and were unable to take the dogs with them.

Willoughby said she thought they would be able to return for the animals, and that she had arranged with a neighbor to bring them food and water.

But Willoughby departed in January, over nine months ago, and Willoughby’s dogs have been the subject of much discussion. 17-year-old neighbor Brittany Henson said some of the dogs have died from neglect.

“There used to be 10 … in there, and there’s like three or four now. There were puppies that me and my boyfriend tried to rescue, but they ended up dying,” said Henson.

Another neighbor said that there were multiple plastic bags on the property with dead dogs in them, but Willoughby said she hadn’t heard about anything like that. She said she had asked a neighbor to check on the dogs just an hour ago, and had been told that there were no dead dogs currently on the property, and that the dogs were fine had food and water.

Willoughby did admit some animals have died, however.

“I do know that one of the dogs had puppies, and they died, and the kids had buried them in their backyard, is what I was told,” said Willoughby. “They were sick.”

Although distraught neighbors have contacted the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department to remove the dogs, another financial issue has kept the dogs in place. Sheriff Tony Burns said that in 2007 animal control was cut from the county’s budget.

That’s not the only issue.

“The other thing that we have going against us is that there are no shelters in Carroll County. So the issue becomes, even if we could pick the dogs up, where would we take them and who would pay for it?” asked Sheriff Burns.

The Sheriff’s Department told Willoughby she has until Sept. 1 to remove the dogs.

If that doesn’t happen, sheriffs said a report will be filed with the county prosecutor to press charges of neglect against Willoughby.

Willoughby said if no one can take the dogs today, she will have them euthanized.

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karennorton
karennorton
14 years ago

People like this should NEVER have animals and should face charges for abandoning these dogs for months without shelter, food or water. This makes me sick. I don't understand how this went on so long – there is always a solution; and the solution is NOT walking away leaving these poor dogs to die a slow death of starvation. This Willoughby person is a disgrace to the human race and should be brought up on charges.

Carol McNally
Carol McNally
14 years ago

I agree with you Karen. Well said!

janinemccoy
janinemccoy
14 years ago

This sickens me…people should receive the same treatment that they put upon these poor animals. Why do people get a dog or cat or any other animal, if they don't want to care for it?

deadhead1
deadhead1
14 years ago

Having so MANY dogs is a violation also! Not to spay or neuter them was even more irresponsible. I am amazed any of them survived. The police dept. should have been dealing with this case long ago being no animal shelter available in their town. they could have contacted another county to help out instead of just saying it was not their responsibility. thank God for the news!! Best way to solve the problem is to get the word out there. THEN someone will do something. Wish it had been done sooner! Cheryl, Tucson AZ

saynojunkmail
saynojunkmail
14 years ago

Some places don't have a limit on how many animals you have…i live in one of those places. I have 7 dogs but mine are spoiled rotten…they would eat before I ate if it came down to that…we would live in a tent TOGETHER before I EVER abandoned them. I'm sorry but there is always a SOLUTION…you just need to get off your butt and find it. That soo friggin ticks me off…she could have at least made an effort to also make sure they had food/water/shelter…she a very irresponsible owner and should never have any fur-babies again!!

ilovebo
ilovebo
14 years ago

Why the H*LL did it take 10 MONTHS???? I'd have been in there after the 1st couple of days…..wow

Dog G
14 years ago

I cannot believe it took so long and I cannot believe the owners haven't been prosecuted.
Well done to Tricia Davis for saving these dogs lives.

Name
Name
14 years ago

that woman had a roof over her head and food~what about the dogs?THATS NOT FAIR AND THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE FILED CHARGES FOR NEGLECT ANYWAY SHE LEFT THEM FOR 7 MONTHS~HOW COULD SHE PUT HER HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT AND SLEEP WITH NO WORRIES? SHE HAS NO COMPASSION OR A HEART!!!

Name
Name
14 years ago

that woman had a roof over her head and food~what about the dogs?THATS NOT FAIR AND THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE FILED CHARGES FOR NEGLECT ANYWAY SHE LEFT THEM FOR 7 MONTHS~HOW COULD SHE PUT HER HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT AND SLEEP WITH NO WORRIES? SHE HAS NO COMPASSION OR A HEART!!!

mmttw
mmttw
12 years ago

You have a year from defaulting on your mortgage before they kick you out.  These things should be handled WAY in advance of the actual move.  They would have had no house payment for quite some time.  I think there was enough warning to find a shelter in another county if no other plan was working out.

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