Woman faces animal cruelty charge in Ottawa County

PORT CLINTON — A Port Clinton woman is to appear in Ottawa County Municipal Court next week on animal cruelty charges stemming from an incident in which 13 beagles were seized from her foreclosed residence after she allegedly abandoned them there, authorities said.

Irene Taylor, 52, was charged with cruelty to animals, a second-degree misdemeanor in the incident on Jan. 23, when Port Clinton police responded to a neighbor’s complaint about the odor and noise coming from the house, according to Denny Hammond, of Humane Society of Ottawa County. Mr. Hammond said the beagles lived in unsanitary conditions — with floors covered with fecal matter — and were seized even though the owner had been stopping by to feed the dogs.

The charges against Ms. Taylor were filed Feb. 2; the court hearing was scheduled for Feb. 22, according to court records.

Mr. Hammond said two of the dogs, which range in age from a year to six, were adopted out; the rest need foster homes because the shelter is not large enough to hold them.

Ms. Taylor could not be reached for comment.

Port Clinton is 40 miles east of Toledo.