MOUNT TABOR, Vt. (WCAX) – A Rutland County man faced a judge Monday on ten counts of abusing animals. It comes as nearby residents say they have had to deal for months with the nightmare neighbor.
The Ross Family left a busy life in New York last spring to move to Mount Tabor, population 211.
However, mother and daughter Haley and Susan Ross say their dreams of a new life quickly changed when they confronted someone they claim was a nightmare neighbor. They say they were aware of the trash across the street, but not the health issues that came with it, or the dozens of dogs. “A lot of them look so malnourished, and it was just heartbreaking to see,” Haley said.
Susan also says that dogs were not the only problem. “We have found rats that have entered our property,” she said.
It all came to a head in August when Jason Hoffman’s house collapsed. Upwards of 35 dogs were loose and in danger. That’s when Town Health Officer Noel Weeks says local and state officials stepped in.
Reporter Ike Bendavid: What was it like when you walked on the property
Noel Weeks: It was horrible… I’ve sent multiple violations, I’ve been down there multiple times, and what I get in return is death threats.
Weeks says she was also there on the day of the collapse. The dogs were rescued and brought to shelters to receive care. “The smell was horrific, Weeks said. “Most of the dogs had scarring on their faces — their ears. You can tell that they fought to survive down there.”
Five months later, Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan was in court Monday and outlined the charges against Hoffman. “The living and medical conditions that the dogs were in were the basis of the charges we filed,” he said.
Hoffman pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of animal cruelty. Court paperwork says the dogs were living in the house, which was covered in their own feces and urine. All 35 had fleas and bite marks and many suffered from a variety of other health issues.
Sullivan says the charges against Hoffman took months due to the nature of the investigation. “Those processes took a while and that’s why we are here today — rather than right back in August — to ensure that their investigation could be comprehensive,” he said.
Hoffman’s home has been deemed unhabitable and he now lives with his wife in an RV next door. He says they are living with no running water and use a generator.
Hoffman says he just got a few dogs back from the shelter and that they love the animals and want more of them back. “It’s not too hard to take care of animals,” he said. Hoffman denies any wrongdoing and says the rats are not from his property.
But the town and neighbors disagree. “You can love your dogs but still not treat them properly,” Weeks said.
“It’s a real show of neglect and abuse,” Susan said.
Hoffman left court on conditions that he not have any animals on the property. It’s expected the ones he currently has will be sent to the humane society.
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