Monetary donations are being requested for the Humane Society of Whitley County Inc. after 12 chihuahuas living in squalid conditions were removed from an area home recently.
On Jan. 10, the South Whitley Police Department was working a death investigation with the Whitley County Coroner’s Office and discovered several dogs living in squalid conditions, according to a news release Friday from the Humane Society of Whitley County. Officers contacted the Humane Society for assistance, and staff and volunteers worked to remove the chihuahuas, including one pregnant female, from a residence. All of the animals were put in quarantine due to suspected parvovirus contamination.
Shelter Director Abbi Carroll said, as of Tuesday, overall the dogs are doing well. Four or five of them have pretty serious skin conditions because they went untreated for so long, and are on medications. She said they don’t look great right now but are doing OK.
The confiscated dogs were infected with mites, and secondary bacterial and yeast infections, according to the news release. The pregnant female is extremely ill and is receiving around-the-clock care and medical treatment. She gave birth and two of the puppies did not survive. The veterinary team at Line Street Veterinary Hospital is working to save the life of the mother and the two surviving puppies, the release states.
“Our community has always rallied around us in our time of need,” Carroll is quoted as saying in the release. “When the chips are down, members of our community always lift us up and we need help right now.”
All the chihuahuas are being housed at the shelter and can’t go anywhere until the court releases them. The owner is facing 10 counts of animal cruelty, Carroll said. The chihuahuas were free to roam the owner’s home and Carroll said she doesn’t think the owner was intentionally breeding them.
Marcella Kay Guise, 51, of 6280 U.S. 30E, lot 98, Pierceton, is charged with 10 counts of cruelty to an animal, all Class A misdemeanors, according to public documents. She was booked into the Whitley County Jail on Jan. 18.
The Humane Society has a fund to help with the costs of medical treatment. The “Buddy Fund” was established a few years ago to assist with large medical bills.
“The dogs will need extensive medical care and the shelter is asking for financial donations to cover the cost of medicine and treatments,” she said in the release. “At this point, we don’t need food or supplies, our biggest issue is paying for the mounting medical bills and the medications we need for the 12 dogs and two puppies. They have a long road to recovery and will be at our shelter for months.”
Carroll said none of the dogs are up for adoption at this time. If and when the shelter is able to place the dogs up for adoption, she said that will be posted on the shelter’s website and social media.
To make a donation to the nonprofit animal shelter, visit the website at www.hswc.org, and list “Buddy Fund” in the note section. Contributions may also be mailed to the shelter at 951 S. Line St., Columbia City, IN 46725 or dropped off at the shelter during normal business hours.