UPDATE: Police Rescue Pets from Vacant Apartment
UPDATE: Police Rescue Pets from Vacant Apartment Save Email Print
Posted: 3:35 PM Oct 7, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:52 AM Oct 10, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va (WSAZ)-- The woman who owns the building where 5 dogs were found in a vacant apartment earlier this week was in court Thursday.

Barbara Stevens was in Huntington Municipal Court to respond to citations issued by the Cabell-Huntington Health Department.

Tuesday, police responded to a call about a foul odor coming from a 2nd floor apartment in the 600-block of 11th Ave.. Inside the apartment they found 5 Shetland sheep dogs and a cat. They also found several dead animals. Police say the apartment was covered with animal feces.

Stevens was cited for health code violations, and was ordered to return to court on Oct 28 to update he clean-up.

A published report indicates the city is also looking into possible animal cruelty charges against Stevens.

All 5 dogs now have new homes after being taken to local animal shelter following their rescue.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington Police rescued 5 dogs and a cat from a vacant apartment in Huntington.

The animals were in a 2nd floor apartment in the 600 block of 11th Ave.

Police went to the duplex after getting complaints from neighbors about foul odors coming from the building in recent days.

Police say the person living in the first floor apartment, also believed to be the animal’s owner, had apparently moved out in the past couple of weeks.

Officers tell us they monitored the duplex until they were satisfied no one was caring for the animals. Tuesday morning, they knocked on the door and heard the animals inside, so they moved in to rescue them.

Travis Morrison with the animal shelter says the dogs, 5 Shetland sheep dogs, were dirty, matted and needed their nails clipped, but are in otherwise decent shape.

Police say the 2nd floor apartment where the animals were found was filled with feces. They also say they found several dead cats in the apartment.

It’s not clear whether the woman in the first floor apartment was a tenant or owned the building.

Right now, the dogs and cat are evidence in the investigation, so they are not up for adoption.
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Posted by: jenna on Oct 9, 2008 at 09:42 PM
i think that animals have just as much feelings as humans. it makes me sick when people abuse and neglect innocent animals. i think they should get more jail time/fines then they do now. i dont understand how people can do that to loving and innocent creatures!! they should be punished severly
Posted by: Rick M. on Oct 9, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Please, please prosecute and convict this person to the full extent of the law. Our laws against animal cruelty are sadly not nearly as strong as they need to be. No sentencing we have will be nearly enough. This should be a felony and this person should not have custody of animals or children again.
Posted by: Nancy on Oct 9, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I don't understand why the courts won't do something to these people who mistreat animals. I have a Sheltie and she will be 10 this month and she is such a pleasure to have. She wouldn't know what to think if anyone ever mistreated her. She is one of the family. Where are these dogs and are they up for adoption yet?
Posted by: Janie on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:02 AM
To:Just Wondering, Yes they can be "barkers" and you should be prepared to deal with it if you happen to adopt one that is. My first Sheltie WAS a barker(all the books I have say they are)and until she decided it was time to stop there was little to do to make her. I had her 10 years. After she died I took in another Sheltie that had been removed from an abusive owener. He is NOT a barker and is more calm in natuer than the female was.Also be prepared to nurture this dog should you adopt one. Mine was two when I got him, he didn't even know how to play with a ball. He wouldn't even lie down without going off away from anyone.I will probably never own any other breed. A more loving, sweet tempered dog you will not find. How anyone can look into the face of one of these dogs (or any animail) and mistreat them is more than I can fathom. I hope the owner is given the deserving punishment for the abuse of these creatures of God.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I agree with the earlier posting in which it is suggested that the person responsible for this atrocity receive a jail sentence in which they do not receive food or water. After all, why should we have to pay for sustaining such a horrific person with no thought of anyone but themselves. Shelties are the most wonderful pets you could hope for. They are extremely intelligent, loyal & just overall great companions. My prayer is that something will be actually done about this situation & that the owner doesn't walk away "scott free". Someone has to announce that this is NOT acceptable. If their are no consequences, there is no hope for change. People will feel free to treat animals any way they chose. Animals experience fear, love, pain the same way we do & no one has the right to cause their suffering.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 8, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Where can you adopt these dogs?
Posted by: Milton Area on Oct 8, 2008 at 05:00 PM
So if you adopted one then the investigation must be over. If I could I would adopt one or more myself but I already have one inside dog that is old and gone blind, and another outside dog that was a stray that I adopted. Both are as healthy as ever and I wouldn't part with or harm either for any reason. They are both very faithful and well mannered dogs.
Posted by: adopter on Oct 8, 2008 at 04:08 PM
FYI, I adopted one of these dogs today and he has a clean bill of health, cleaned up, and just fine. Great dog!
Posted by: jenny. on Oct 8, 2008 at 12:50 PM
i feel so horrible for those animals. Its not right that people do that to their pets. If you are going to get an animal, then you should take care of it. Otherwise, don't even bother.
Posted by: Debbie on Oct 8, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I have a sheltie who apparently came from a puppy mill. He is now almost 8 years old and we've had him since he was six months, he had never even seen grass before. He has made great strides and adjusted well (a little yappy, but so are most shelties) They are some of the smartest dogs I've seen. I sure hope these guys get good homes, and the owner gets some help. They start out with good intentions but is IS an illness.
Posted by: Anon on Oct 8, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Those of you wanting to adopt, PLEASE call the animal shelter and let them know. Keep checking there. Otherwise when the animals are released they will most likely be put down.
Posted by: just wondering on Oct 8, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I think they are a beautiful dog and no animal deserves this. When we first started considering on getting a dog, the Sheltie was one of the dogs that I researched. Then I stumbled across something about them being a barker, can anybody tell me if that's true or not.
Posted by: neighbor on Oct 7, 2008 at 11:23 PM
I've been walking by this dump daily for years and realized the woman has a condition called hoarding. Her car looks like she's moving everything she owns to CA tomorrow. Her house is bulging at the seams with "stuff". These type of people collect everything and this includes animals. This is a form of OCD and requires serious HELP. While I am incredibly angered by her behavior, i realize this is yet another mental health disease , rather then intently committed crime. Read up, you're already online!
Posted by: becky on Oct 7, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I hope the animals will be ok,I would love to adopt one of the dogs.
Posted by: DJ on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:19 PM
This story sickens me I used to own 2 shelties since they have both have passed away, but they are such great dogs. Very loving and compassionate I would own another again,let us know if these dogs go up for adoptions. Hope all turns out well for them.
Posted by: susan on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:35 PM
These heartless people need to be prosecuted the fullest extent of the law. How cruel to leave those animals there to suffer. All they had to do was put an add in the paper, call Little Victories or take them to the pound. All of those were options or they could have just opened the door and let them out which would have been better than starving and living in filth. I just don't understand what is happening to people in society where they have no empathy. Shame on them and I hope they never are allowed to adopt any more pets.
Posted by: Miranda on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:34 PM
I don't understand how someone could do this to an animal. They are so defenseless and their owners should feel down right horrible for this act.
Posted by: DD on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:25 PM
They need to lock the person up that left these animals there or at least a big hefty fine...They could have taken them someplace other than just leaving them there. Sad.
Posted by: llm on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:10 PM
this is a sad story. would love to adopt one of the dogs.
Posted by: cindy on Oct 7, 2008 at 06:34 PM
What happened to the owners? Those dogs are expensive. I wonder if this owner is state assistances and used that money to buy the dogs.. was the apartment subsidized housing.... and it should be easy to find the person(s) responsible... where was the landlord???
Posted by: 11th Ave. Resident on Oct 7, 2008 at 06:12 PM
you know...i noticed the smelly apt. building for several months while running by it, but i thought it was just another slum lord with a smelly building. How sad that someone can let animals be treated like this bound up inside an apartment complex
Posted by: sad on Oct 7, 2008 at 05:04 PM
What in the world is wrong with people who can do this to animals?
Posted by: Pablo on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:24 PM
The owner of these animals should be given a lengthy prison term. And, they should have to pay for their prison term, not the taxpayers. I take care of my dogs, not the taxpayers. The owner should have to pay for all costs of the dogs and cats too.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:13 PM
This person needs to be locked up in a small room and not given any food!Why do people get animals and care for them!! I ahte to hear about the cats that died, but I'm glad these poor animals were rescued!! I wish we could give the death pentalty to rejects like this!!
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