MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — More than 30 animals were rescued from a Middletown home after police executed a search warrant for narcotics and arrested multiple people, according to police.
Middletown police said they were at a home on Hill Avenue after receiving complaints of drug use and drug trafficking. In the backyard of the home, police said there was a homeless encampment numerous people would frequent.
In addition to complaints about drugs, police said they also received complaints about people defecating in the alleys nearby.
Police found the home to be in "deplorable" condition and "unfit for habitation." The City of Middletown agreed and the residence was condemned, police said.
Despite this, inside the home and in the home's backyard, police found 30 dogs and cats and two ducks, all in various states of poor health. The Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton was called to help collect and care for those animals.
"We were at capacity when all of this occurred," said AFHS Intake Coordinator Megan Poffenbarger.
Poffenbarger said they have 110 kennels and were housing 120 dogs before Middletown police called them for help.
"Another day, another hoarder's home," reads a post on the animal shelter's social media page, asking for donations. "Ducks are going to rescue and all other animals are being sorted for us to decide who would do best in adoption, foster homes or rescues. NONE of these dogs are available for adoption right now. They deserve time to decompress and learn to exist outside of filth."
The shelter went on to say that, with the newest additions to their halls, the facility is now housing over 150 dogs and needs people to help with fosters, adoptions and donations.
Poffenbarger said they need vinyl gloves, puppy pads, Science Diet dry dog food, wet food and soft dog treats, pop-up kennels, monetary donations, and adoptions or fosters to free up space at the facility.
She said around 80 dogs were already available for adoption before the mass intake.
"We need people to come in and take those guys so we can take care of everybody else," Poffenbarger said.
In all, Middletown police arrested five people from the property on Hill Avenue. Three of those arrests were for drug-related charges alone, though Kenneth Currey and Rachel Marshall were charged with cruelty to animals. In addition, one other person was transported from police custody to in-patient treatment, Middletown police said.
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