Humane Society of Missouri rescues 101 Dogs & Cats from Horrific Hoarding Situation in Bates County

Animals in dilapidated, waste-filled house and filthy, overcrowded outdoor crates; more than 50 dogs and cats rescued in 2011 by the Humane Society of Missouri from same owner Late last night, the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) rescued 84 dogs and 17 cats from filthy, unsafe living conditions on a property in Bates County in western Missouri.

“These animals were forced to live in truly squalid conditions, the worst I have encountered in more than 40 years of rescuing animals from abuse and neglect,” said Debbie Hill, vice president of operations, Humane Society of Missouri.

The majority of the dogs and cats were living inside a waste-filled, trash-strewn, dilapidated small house. Many were in crates with so many layers of feces- and urine-saturated newspaper, the animals had no room to stand. Crates with animals in them were stacked on top of each other; others were outdoors, filled with animal waste and with little to no protection from the weather. Some single-dog crates contained two or three dogs. There was no running water on the property, and the majority of the animals didn’t have access to water. The dogs are small, medium and large breeds, ranging in age from nursing puppies to mature, adult dogs; the cats are all adults of mixed breeds.

A concerned citizen contacted the Humane Society of Missouri and the Bates County Sheriff’s Office about living conditions for the animals. Both agencies visited the property but were only allowed to view a few of the animals and were not given access to areas in which the animals were living. Recommendations for proper animal care were given to the owner. Conditions did not improve, and thanks to the quick action of the Bates County Sheriff’s Office, a warrant was obtained to inspect the property and remove animals as necessary. The Sheriff’s office requested the Humane Society of Missouri’s assistance in removing, transporting and sheltering the animals. A disposition hearing to determine permanent custody of the animals will be held Jan. 2, 2018, at the Bates County Court House in Butler, Missouri.

The dogs and cats were transported to Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri late Wednesday night. Veterinary triage of the animals will take place at Humane Society of Missouri headquarters on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

In 2011, more than 50 dogs were rescued by the Humane Society of Missouri from the same property under a warrant obtained by the Bates County Sheriff’s Office.

“With frigid weather coming very soon, it’s imperative to bring these suffering animals to warmth and safety immediately,” said Kathy Warnick, president, Humane Society of Missouri. “As is typical in hoarding situations, persons allowed to continue to own animals often continue to collect them. We will provide an extensive report of our findings to the Bates County Prosecutor and recommend prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The only way to protect animals from these horrific, dangerous conditions in the future is to prevent this person from possessing additional animals.”

To aid in their socialization and recovery, the Humane Society of Missouri is requesting donations of dog and cat toys, long-cut shredded paper, newspapers, towels, blankets and sheets. Donations may be dropped off at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Macklind Ave. Adoption Center, 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Monetary donations to provide for the animals’ care may be made at www.hsmo.org or by calling 314-951-1542.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Triage of the rescued dogs and cats: Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. Humane Society of Missouri Headquarters – 1201 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110 Back of Building – Entrance off of Wise Avenue

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Debbie Hill, vice president of operations, Humane Society of Missouri, Dr. Mark Wright, director of shelter medicine, Humane Society of Missouri, Kathy Warnick, president, Humane Society of Missouri

About the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force. The Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) is one of the largest animal rescue/disaster response teams in the United States. For more than 40 years, ACT has worked side by side with state, local and city law enforcement officials to investigate and help prosecute animal abusers.

Annually, Humane Society of Missouri’s 15 field-tested, professional animal cruelty investigators and staff:
Aid more than 28,500 animals  Make nearly 9,000 responses to reports of abuse/neglect  Travel more than 373,000 miles.

Humane Society of Missouri’s animal cruelty investigators understand the nuances of animal abuse law and the criminal justice process for documenting and filing evidence and work directly with sheriff’s offices, police departments and prosecuting attorneys to help ensure animal cases are handled in an expedient and professional manner. Humane Society of Missouri investigators also provide expert testimony in legal cases and before legislative bodies and provide consultation and training workshops for law enforcement, state agencies and local animal care and control workers.

Together, they work to hold people accountable for the abuse and neglect of animals in the St. Louis Metropolitan region and all of Missouri.

Contact Information for the Public
Report Animal Abuse: 314-647-4400
Donations: 314-951-1542
Humane Society of Missouri website: www.hsmo.org
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch website: www.longmeadowrescueranch.org