Monkeys, dozens of dogs found on farm
Authorities seize 9 animals, may take more

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

By James L. Smith
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Almont Twp. - Dozens of animals, including four monkeys, were found
living on a farm here, some in what animal control officials
described as deplorable conditions.

A total of 80 dogs were found living on the property, many in barns,
but only nine were seized pending issuance of a search warrant. The
rest of the animals remained on the property.

Authorities discovered the situation after responding to a domestic
dispute involving a husband and wife early Saturday.

Five dogs, four monkeys and a number of caged cockatoos and parrots
were found in the couple's residence on Hall Road.

Lapeer County Animal Control Chief Walt Rodabaugh said the living
area of the house was "not too bad" but that the basement where the
monkeys were living was in very bad shape.

The monkeys appeared to be similar to those used in medical research,
Rodabaugh said. Plans are to relocate them to a zoo.

No charges have been filed in connection with the suspected animal
neglect.

The couple have a kennel license issued by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. The Flint Journal could not reach USDA officials for
comment Monday.

Additional examinations by veterinarians and an investigator from the
federal agency that licenses the kennel are needed before a decision
is made on potential criminal charges, Rodabaugh said.

Police arrested the wife, 44, after she refused to let officers enter
the home and threatened to turn three dogs loose on officers after
the officers tried to enter the house looking for her allegedly
suicidal husband, said Almont Police Chief Eugene Bruns.

The woman, contacted at her house, declined to comment Monday.

Many of the dogs, of various breeds including Rottweilers and golden
retrievers, were kept in cages on cement slabs with no bedding in
various barns on the property, Rodabaugh said.

"There was no heat in the buildings and no evidence of food or water
in the cages," he said.

The nine dogs seized include a Boston terrier with obvious skin
problems and bichon frises that were matted with dried feces.

"We took the (nine) because of unsanitary conditions. They were
outside and covered with feces," Rodabaugh said.

Once a search warrant is issued, Rodabaugh said he would return to
the house accompanied by veterinarians to check on all the animals
and determine whether more should be seized. He said he has a group
of dog groomers lined up to clean the dogs after they are examined by
a veterinarian.

Rodabaugh said his office had investigated complaints about the
residence prior to the couple receiving a federal kennel license.

Almont police Officer Laura Moore, assisted by officers from Imlay
City and Almont, arrived at the residence about 3:50 a.m. Saturday
after a resident at the house called about a family fight, Bruns
said.

When officers arrived, they learned that the property's co-owner, 49,
had fired a .22-caliber rifle in the air in the yard and returned
inside the house, where he slashed his wrists and then disappeared
outside on the property.

Officers eventually located the man hiding under a blanket in one of
the barns on the property, Bruns said. The man was taken to an area
hospital for a mental evaluation.

A third person, a man confined to a wheelchair, was also living in
the house, but he was simply renting a room from the couple.

***
James L. Smith covers Lapeer County. He can be reached at (810) 766-
6365, in Lapeer at (810) 441-0926 or jmsmith@flintjournal.com.

ok dont every one do the happy dance at once Yippppppppppeee

*does a mini happy dance* I'm glad to see that over the years it seems that people and the law care more about these situations and are doing and trying to do things about them.

I still remember one situation that haunts me... where some neglected dogs were being held as evidence and nothing could be done with them... no feeding, no bathing, nothing. :-(

I'm happy these animals will be receiving care.

Woman took good care of animals -- attorney



LAPEER

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

By James L. Smith
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER




Lapeer - An attorney for an Almont Township dog breeder said seizures of nine dogs and a search of his client's house paint a false picture of his client's care and work with animals.


From Our Advertiser




Lawyer Malcolm A. Harris of Metamora said a federal inspection of the kennels Tuesday noted only that one dog cage had a loose wire.

The Flint Journal is withholding the woman's name pending any charges in connection with the animal seizures. Prosecutors said potential charges would wait until all investigative reports were in and reviewed.

On Saturday, Lapeer County Animal Control officers seized nine dogs that appeared to be distressed from neglect.

"It couldn't be that bad - they left 70 animals at the farm," Harris said.

Officers from Almont, assisted by Dryden and Imlay City police, responded to a domestic violence complaint called in from the Hall Road residence.

They found dozens of animals, including four monkeys and tropical birds, on the farm - some living in what animal control officials described as deplorable conditions.

When they arrived at the house, officers learned that the woman's husband, 49, had fired a shotgun in the air, slashed his wrists and disappeared on the property. Later, police found him hiding in a barn under a blanket.

On Monday, Animal Control Chief Walt Rodabaugh said there was concern for many of the animals because there was no evidence they had food, water or bedding for the concrete kennels they were living in.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local veterinarians Tuesday visited the farm and animals held at the animal control office, said Assistant Prosecutor Geoff Stuart.

Harris said his client, 44, is a caring animal lover who had been away on vacation just before the incident at the house and had expected her husband to care for the animals while she was away, but he may have failed to do so.

The woman also takes in animals dropped off that sometimes arrive at the farm with existing conditions of neglect, Harris said.

"There is no animal cruelty here," Harris said. "She runs an absolutely clean operation, and (this seizure) never should have happened."

Harris declined to comment further until after he reviews independent veterinarian reports Friday.

James L. Smith covers Lapeer County. He can be reached at (810) 766-6365, or in Lapeer at (810) 441-0926 or at jmsmith@flintjournal.com