29 dogs and 7 cats were removed from a Pontiac home Friday as the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department followed up on an animal neglect investigation.
In a statement, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said the removal was done to follow up on “animal neglect charges” against the homeowner, Karmen Schooly, 47 of Pontiac, after obtaining a court order to execute the removal.
Schooly currently has an open case in Oakland County Circuit Court regarding her animal rescue operation, Tri-County Dog Rescue. She faces three charges: health practice-unauthorized practice, abandoning/cruelty to animals and unregistered animal shelters/pounds.
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Schooly’s home address — where the removal took place — is also registered online with Tri-County Dog Rescue. The shelter’s Facebook page was active on Wednesday, advertising a litter of puppies for adoption.
In an emailed statement, Oakland County officials said all animals had been removed from the premises and the City of Pontiac “condemned the home based on several violations.”
During a phone call, Schooly told the Free Press that the removal was “totally unexpected,” adding that she recorded it all and will be getting an attorney involved.
Schooly has previously been embroiled in animal-related legal troubles. In January, six sibling dogs brought to Michigan by Tri-County Dog Rescue were caught in legal limbo after they were turned over to Macomb County Animal Control by a separate foster home. The dogs were sick with parvo, a highly contagious canine disease, and Tri-County Dog Rescue refused to take them back.
A judge eventually ruled that the dogs would remain with Macomb County Animal Control, and all six have since been adopted.
Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com
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