68 Dogs Rescued, The 69th Found Dead In Mi Backyard

Sheriff's deputies were called to a home east of Kalamazoo and south of Battle Creek to rescue 68 dogs from deplorable conditions. Unfortunately, a 69th was found dead in the yard.

If caring for even one or two dogs properly is expensive, how can someone end up with nearly 70 and believe they can provide for them all, unless they’re running a professional kennel or have substantial wealth?

How Does Someone Become a Pet Hoarder?

Most people are familiar with hoarders thanks to the popular reality TV show Hoarders. The show documented the lives of people with compulsive hoarding disorder.

Hoarding disorder is a mental health condition characterized by the persistent difficulty or inability to discard or part with possessions, regardless of their value. This leads to an excessive accumulation of items that clutter and fill living spaces, causing significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.

Pet hoarding often begins with good intentions; someone takes in a few animals out of compassion or a desire to help. Over time, however, the number of animals increases beyond their ability to provide proper care. This situation is usually driven by a mix of factors, including mental health challenges, past trauma, and a skewed sense of responsibility or purpose. As the situation worsens, the living conditions deteriorate: homes become filthy with animal waste, and the animals themselves frequently suffer from neglect, malnutrition, and illness.

Read More: See What Might Be Michigan's Number 1 Hoarder?

It seems like a family member, friend, or neighbor would notice early on and attempt to intervene. Still, a couple of times a year, we hear stories of people with large numbers of cats, or dogs, or both.

68 Dogs Rescued From Home, One Found Dead in Yard

What may have started with a few dogs in a home in Newton Township turned into dangerous and disgusting conditions, where Sheriff deputies were called to a home because of a report of possible animal neglect.

According to WOOD TV, when deputies arrived at the scene, they spoke with the 68-year-old woman who lived at the home and got her permission to search the premises. What they found was unsanitary and hazardous living conditions with animal waste and the smell of urine.

A total of 68 dogs and several cats were found in poor health. Tragically, one dog was discovered dead in the backyard.

Get our free mobile app

The deputies took the 68 dogs to an animal shelter for treatment. The woman who owned the dogs may be charged with felony animal abuse and animal torture.

👇BELOW: Dogs + Fall Outfits = Pure Joy👇