More than 150 dogs are dead in the house of an individual who was the co-founder the non-profit animal rescue group Canine Lifeline.
The tragic incident was discovered when the Portage Animal Protective League’s Humane Investigations Department executed a search warrant at Barbara Wible’s house at Mantua, Ohio on the 16th of June on a Friday.
According to the press release in press release, Protective League received a tip about a cruelty case that was being considered against Ms. Wible in a different town.
“Inside the home, the Humane Agent discovered 146 deceased dogs in varying stages of decay. No dogs were found alive,” the official report said. “Many of the dogs were found confined within their crates.”
Necropsies, also known as autopsies for animals will be conducted to identify the dog’s reason for dying The Protective League said, without divulging any additional details regarding the investigation currently underway.
Canine Lifeline volunteers Canine Lifeline said they were “shocked, horrified and confused to learn of the devastating revelations” concerning Ms. Wible and the animals which were under her care, in an announcement published on Facebook.
“We share your grief and despair,” they wrote.
In their press release the statement, an investigation was initiated to investigate Ms Wible following the discovery by first responders of her in a state of collapse at her home at Parma, Ohio on 2 June.
The probe revealed “an overwhelming evidence of ongoing fatal animal neglect” in Ms. Wible’s Parma residence as well as her old house in Mantua and was searched by the Protective League on Friday.
It was also noted that staff of Canine Lifeline didn’t know that Ms. Wible had an illness as well as her fostering of so numerous dogs.
They were also unaware of the condition of her house because the volunteers were not granted access to any of her Ohio residences. They thought Wible was the “very private person who appeared, to us, to be devoted to these rescue animals”.
“We are sickened and blind-sighted to learn this was a facade,” the declaration said.
The dogs who survived being taken in rescue at Parma were subsequently taken to local shelters for animals as well as Canine Lifeline volunteers continue to help the organization find foster homes for them.