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Wells County Animal Control and the Wells County Sheriff’s Department took custody of 67 dogs and other animals from a rural Ossian residence Wednesday night.
Lori C. Rogers, 44, who lives on Meridian Rd. north of 1000N, was cited into Wells Superior Court for animal neglect.
Rogers reportedly told officers that she had operated a dog kennel at her residence for 10 years, but had not been active for the past six months.
In addition to taking custody of 67 dogs, officers also removed three horses, two rabbits, two chickens and a ferret from the residence. The Wells County Conservation officer also removed two raccoons from the residence.
The sheriff’s department received an anonymous tip around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday that Rogers might be neglecting animals at the residence. Deputies Russell Mounsey, Randy Steele and Wells County Animal Control officer Jesse Marley arrived at the residence and first spoke with Rogers’ 16-year-old daughter and her boyfriend. Rogers reportedly arrived a short time later.
According to the police report, the officers found four dogs inside the residence that appeared to be well cared for. But when officers reportedly tried to see what was in the outbuildings on the property, Rogers was evasive and declined entry.
She reportedly produced four dogs and the raccoons from the garage. The report noted that the hair on two of the dogs was “scraggly” and clumps of feces were stuck in their hair.
She also reportedly showed officers to a pole barn on the property where approximately 100 rabbits were found. The rabbits were all in cages with feces piled deep enough that the rabbits were walking in their own feces. Three dogs were also found in the barn that appeared to be malnourished, according to the report.
It was later determined that the rabbits belonged to another person and that Rogers was housing them for that person. The rabbits’ owner was contacted and she agreed to come more often to clean out the cages.
While searching the premises, Marley reportedly heard several other dogs barking behind a tall privacy fence behind the pole barn. According to the report Marley asked Rogers about the barking dogs and she replied he must have heard the neighbors’ dogs barking. She would not permit officers to check behind the fence.
A search warrant was obtained from Wells Superior Court Judge Everett Goshorn and entry to the area behind the fence was obtained.
It was there that officers found many dogs in block kennels without food and water, many of them standing in their own feces with matted hair and feces stuck in their hair. Several dog carcasses were also found rotting in the kennels.
Because of the volume of animals to be picked up, the Indiana State Police and Bluffton Police Department were called in to assist.
Three allegedly malnourished horses were also found in the process of the investigation. The report noted that all of the rib bones of the horses were visible as well as bones protruding through their winter coats.
A burn pile with animal bones in it was discovered in a corner of the yard, the report noted.
A few healthy dogs that the 16-year-old daughter agreed to take care of and two dogs that officers were unable to catch were left behind, along with the rabbits that belonged to the Fort Wayne resident who was housing them at Rogers’ place. All other animals were impounded.
Wells County Sheriff’s Det. Scott Holliday reportedly spoke with Rogers about the abuse, asking why she had permitted the condition of the animals to become so neglected. She reportedly replied that her financial condition had deteriorated and that she was barely able to make ends meet and afford to buy food for the animals.
glenw@news-banner.com
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