Allegan County sheriff’s Deputy Tim Halstead told The Holland Sentinel Friday that health officials had been called to investigate a double wide mobile home and were appalled at what they found. The occupants of the home were a 68-year-old woman, her 22-year-old daughter, 39 adult dogs, 14 puppies, and 13 cats. The names of the women have not been released.
Halstead told reporters that the older woman said she started out with only four dogs, but then they began having puppies. "The problem just got away from them," he said. Officials said that the two women are animal loves, but they quickly became overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing size of their menagerie.
Everything inside the home, including the furniture and every inch of floor space, was covered with animal waste, up to three inches in places. Animal rescue volunteers called to the home said that the 66 animals were caked with feces, and everything in the home was soaked in urine.
Authorities in Cheshire Township, about 35 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, removed 16 animals from the home on Monday and the remaining animals were removed Wednesday. The animals were cleaned up and examined by two area veterinarians, who said that although the animals were filthy, most of them appeared to be in good health.
According to Ben Williams, an environmental health worker for Allegan County, the county health department has condemned the mobile home because the well is broken and it has no running water. There is also no working furnace in the home. Lt. Scott Matice of the Allegan County sheriff’s office told The Grand Rapids Press that the trailer will probably have to be destroyed. All of the animals have been quarantined at a veterinary hospital and the county animal shelter.
The two women, who are now staying with relatives, had become accustomed to having most of their clothing covered in feces, particularly the lower parts of their pants. The mother and daughter also shared a bed that was drenched in animal waste. Deputies said that they wore thick jackets and heavy pants at night to protect themselves from the filth they slept in.
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 1/29/2007
Halstead told reporters that the older woman said she started out with only four dogs, but then they began having puppies. "The problem just got away from them," he said. Officials said that the two women are animal loves, but they quickly became overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing size of their menagerie.
Everything inside the home, including the furniture and every inch of floor space, was covered with animal waste, up to three inches in places. Animal rescue volunteers called to the home said that the 66 animals were caked with feces, and everything in the home was soaked in urine.
Authorities in Cheshire Township, about 35 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, removed 16 animals from the home on Monday and the remaining animals were removed Wednesday. The animals were cleaned up and examined by two area veterinarians, who said that although the animals were filthy, most of them appeared to be in good health.
According to Ben Williams, an environmental health worker for Allegan County, the county health department has condemned the mobile home because the well is broken and it has no running water. There is also no working furnace in the home. Lt. Scott Matice of the Allegan County sheriff’s office told The Grand Rapids Press that the trailer will probably have to be destroyed. All of the animals have been quarantined at a veterinary hospital and the county animal shelter.
The two women, who are now staying with relatives, had become accustomed to having most of their clothing covered in feces, particularly the lower parts of their pants. The mother and daughter also shared a bed that was drenched in animal waste. Deputies said that they wore thick jackets and heavy pants at night to protect themselves from the filth they slept in.
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 1/29/2007
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