ASHLAND — Ashland County sheriff deputies found three dead beagle dogs and 25 others being held in feces-laden cages in a searing house on Tuesday, a news release stated.
The search was prompted by a call from the Ashland County Humane Society on Monday.
“(The Humane Society) reported that they had received a call that a large number of dogs were being held in a house on County Road 681 in Sullivan Township and were not being cared for properly,” according to the release.
Deputies, volunteers and Dr. Kristine Lafever — a veterinarian at Claremont Veterinary Clinic — responded and found the dead dogs and caged dogs, along with a “large amount” of feces in the cages.
“They reported that the smell of urine and feces was horrible throughout the house. The temperature was above 90 degrees in most of the house,” the release stated.
Sgt. Cindy Benner, who is helping in the sheriff’s office’s investigation, said there was one person living in the house with the animals. She said she believed the dogs are beagles.
Benner said she was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the situation.
“The case is still under investigation,” she said.
The surviving dogs were transported to Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center’s JVS, where they will undergo further examination by Lafever.
The career center has a veterinarian tech program, Benner said.
“The Humane Society works with the vet tech that runs it,” she said. “When we get cases like this, it helps kids understand the process, gives them knowledge on what a vet would do. It gives them hands-on training to use later on.”
She said the school provides dogs with baths and medications if needed.
When asked what condition the beagles were in, Benner couldn’t say.
“Sometimes a dog looks healthy on the outside, but who knows what they have going on inside,” she said, adding that’s why they will be assessed by Dr. Lafever.
Efforts to reach Lafever were unsuccessful.
The sheriff’s office expects criminal charges to be filed after Lafever’s assessment and a review of the case by an attorney.
