A welfare check at the home of the founder of an animal rescue organization earlier this month uncovered 146 dead dogs, Ohio officials said.
Canine Lifeline president Barbara Wible had collapsed at her Parma home on June 2, sparking an investigation that led to the discovery of the dogs in various states of decomposition at her other home in Mantua. WJW reported that police had removed dozens of dogs from the Mantua residence last summer — and neighbors revealed that around the same time, a delivery driver alerted Portage County police to potential concerns.
Neighbors said they have not seen anyone at the Mantua home since last October.
The grisly discovery was made on June 16, weeks after Wible’s medical emergency. Portage Animal Protective League said they executed a search warrant at the Mantua home because they learned of a pending animal cruelty charge against Wible in another jurisdiction.
“No dogs were found alive. Many of the dogs were found confined within their crates,” the organization said.
Necropsies will be performed to ascertain the dogs’ cause of death. Canine Lifeline said the surviving dogs recovered from Wible’s Parma home are in an animal shelter.
No criminal charges have been filed.
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[Featured image: WKYC video screengrab]
