More than 100 dogs confiscated from home in Troy Township

2/9/2008

The Wood County Humane Society seized more than 100 dogs, cats, and birds Thursday night from a residence at 23650 Stony Ridge Rd. in Troy Township - so many that the animals had to be taken to the Wood County fairgrounds for temporary housing.

Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said several dogs were in poor health. The Disaster Animal Rescue Team was called in to examine the animals, which were taken from the home and barn of Timothy and Barbara Heidtman.

No charges have been filed.

According to a search warrant filed in Perrysburg Municipal Court, the Wood County dog warden had been called to the residence Nov. 20 and Jan. 5 on reports of a dog running loose.

When Deputy Warden Andrew Snyder arrived, he said that both times he heard dogs "barking, growling, and crying inside the residence," and he could smell a strong odor of ammonia and feces.

The sheriff said deputies who assisted in serving the search warrant found 86 dogs inside the house and another 20 in a barn. There also were about 10 cats and two birds in the house.

"Based on the number of animals in such small confinements, lack of ventilation, and the ammonia levels and feces and urine present, it is evident that the animals are not properly cared for," Mr. Snyder wrote in a witness statement filed with the search warrant.

"Such practices of animal hoarding are extremely detrimental to the mental and physical health of the animals involved."

The Wood County Health Department has been asked to look into possible health violations at the residence, the sheriff said.