Animal cases pinch finances as Wood Co. confronts multiple seizures

PEMBERVILLE, Ohio - Three guinea fowl, two roosters, a parrot, and a tropical fish.

While it sounds like the cast of a children's movie, the situation was much more dire for these animals, just seven of 46 that the Wood County Humane Society rescued from unsuitable living conditions this week.

The organization acquired the collection of animals, which included dogs, cats, horses, and pigs, in three incidents across the county. In two situations, the owners surrendered their animals. But the third case, which included 34 animals, will be challenged in court. Their owner, Bowling Green resident James Southwick, 51, was charged with cruelty and neglect.

The humane society had received seven complaints since April regarding Mr. Southwick's 18004 Haskins Rd. home; callers cited horses that were covered in excrement and confined to just one, small stall.

But when the organization's employees, accompanied by law enforcement, approached the home on Sunday, they came away with more than they had anticipated: Along with four horses, Mr. Southwick kept nine dogs, eight cats, three guinea fowl, two roosters, two pigs, and one each of a mule, hen, raccoon, turtle, and tropical fish.

The animals are being housed at the humane society facilities at 801 Van Camp Rd. and at foster homes. Mr. Southwick's pretrial hearing was Monday, and his next court appearance is scheduled Aug. 11.

The society responded to two more complaints Tuesday, rescuing seven dogs, a cat, and a parrot from a mobile home in Friendly

Village east of Perrysburg, as well as three horses from a home in Walbridge. The owners' names in those cases are not public record.

In the Perrysburg case, humane society cruelty investigator Erin McKibben said the environment wasn't suitable for humans.

The humane society, in conjunction with the health department, is working with the owners to make their home safe for humans and animals.

There is a chance that the animals, which were suffering from fleas, tooth decay, and skin conditions, could be returned to their original owners if conditions improve.

"A lot needs to be removed," she said. "They have a lot of cleaning to do."

Ms. McKibben said that while people may have a choice to live in an unsanitary, unsafe environment, animals do not.

"I'm not certain what goes through the mind of the owner," she said, adding that, while the Friendly Village residents did not voluntarily give up their animals, she believes they were aware the conditions were unappealing.

Of the three horses rescued in Walbridge, Ms. McKibben said one was in good condition.

The other two, a mare and a colt named Vandy and Shey, respectively, had been living in dirty and wet conditions, were underweight, and suffered from health issues, including hoof decay and dental problems that prevented them from eating properly.

Ms. McKibben stood with the three horses, which are being housed at Faith View Farm in Pemberville, yesterday afternoon.

Vandy has a medicated pad wrapped around one of her hooves to help with the pain of an abscess in the bone.

Shey is a beautiful cream-colored horse, but his ribs and spine were visible throughout his torso.

"You shouldn't be able to see any ribs," Ms. McKibben said. "The spine should not be this prominent."

But the horses seemed calm, and Jan Wilcox, who owns the farm, said they have been doing well.

"They seem to be in pretty good spirits," said Ms. Wilcox, 59.

She added that the three horses are eating well. Ms. Wilcox has three horses of her own on the farm, and cares for seven other horses whose owners don't have barns of their own. She said it can cost up to $150 per week to properly care for a horse, a bill the Wood County Humane Society is, in some part, footing.

But Ms. Wilcox said she does not mind the extra expense.

"I care about the animals," she said.

Ms. McKibben said she gets up to five calls reporting animal cruelty every day. She said this has been the busiest week she has experienced in her year as an investigator for the county's humane society.

But 46 animals is certainly not the most that this society has seized in such a short time period.

In February, 2008, the society confiscated 126 animals - 107 dogs, 17 cats, and two birds - from two owners who, while well-meaning, had become unable to properly care for the many strays that had accumulated at their Perrysburg Township home.

Kay Chapman, executive vice president of the board, said 179 ponies were seized from an area ranch "sometime in the 1990s."

Nevertheless, the expense of caring for the newest additions is sizeable, and Ms. McKibben said people can help the agency by donating money, which will help pay for feed, medical expenses, and other miscellaneous costs.

She added that, even though the economy is not necessarily ripe for adopting animals, she hopes people will want to help these animals in need.

"It takes a kind heart," she said. "But I think there's plenty of that around here."

Contact Greta Stetson at:

gstetson@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.

41.40945 -83.46128

Erin McKibben, cruelty investigator for the Wood County Humane Society, right, shows three of the malnourished horses that were ceased and taken to a foster home in Pemberville. Janice Wilcox, left, is taking care of the animals at her home. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Three guinea fowl, two roosters, a parrot, and a tropical fish. While it sounds like the cast of a children's movie, the situation was much more dire for these animals, just seven of 46 that the Wood County Humane Society rescued from unsuitable living conditions this week.