Animal welfare workers had their hands full recently when they removed 31 pets from a feces-filled home in Ashland.
Judith Weihl, 62, of Ashland, surrendered three overweight cats and 28 mixed breed dogs, authorities said.
Acting on a complaint, a state dog warden went to to the home to investigate dog law violations and found numerous animals.
“There were just dogs everywhere,” said Sherrie Schafer, Hillside SPCA director.
On Feb. 20, Weihl was charged with three summary violations: not having a dog license, failure to have rabies vaccination and unlawful operation of a dog kennel without a license, according to Rich Hine, dog warden for Schuylkill County.
Hine was unavailable for comment Monday.
Weihl was allowed to keep five of the dogs, Schafer said, because, while serious, the matter was a dog law issue, not a cruelty case.
Ashland’s borough ordinance permits residents to own up to six animals.
However, feces and urine were visible in the home on Feb. 18 and the odor was so intense that workers had to step outside to get fresh air.
“It was deplorable,” Becky Worth, shelter manager for Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, said about the conditions.
Hillside SPCA took in 10 of the dogs; Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA accepted 12 dogs and three cats; and Logan’s Heroes Animal Rescue, East Greenville, Lehigh County, took six of the dogs removed from the Ashland home, Schafer said Monday.
People in the home helped them capture the under-socialized dogs to place them in crates for transport.
The dogs, some puppies as young as 8 weeks old and others 1 or 2 years old, appear underweight as evidenced by their ribs showing, Worth and Schafer said.
She said the dogs are not leash trained, are very timid and in need of socialization with people.
“They need to learn how to ‘dog,’ ” said Haley Weist, dog manager at Hillside, of the socialization the pups need, which she gets started by just sitting with them.
Once all of the dogs are spayed and neutered, they may be available for adoption, shelter managers said.
Donations are accepted for the dogs’ care. To donate, contact Hillside SPCA at 570-622-7769 or visit the shelter’s Facebook page the website: hillsidespca.com. Contributions for Ruth Steinert SPCA can be made through the shelter’s website at rsmspca.org Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, or by calling 570-345-3540.
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