ARC evaluates dogs removed in Dayton

UPDATE @ 9:30 p.m. (Jan. 20): A dog left out in freezing weather and a second locked inside the house both appeared healthy today at the Animal Resource Center.

The dogs were taken Tuesday night from a house in the 700 block of Huffman Avenue after its owner, who had been in jail since December, signed over the dogs.

Now the dogs are being evaluated to see if they can go up for adoption.

UPDATE @ 9: 45 p.m. (Jan. 19): The dog left out in this week's freezing weather has been removed by an Animal Resource Center officer, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch.

There were two Dayton police officers with the Montgomery County ARC officer when the dog — and another left inside the residence at 732 Huffman Ave. — were removed about 7:57 p.m., according to dispatch records.

According to a county spokesperson, the owner signed the two dogs over to ARC, where both are being boarded.

UPDATE @ 5:40 p.m. (Jan. 19):

The fate of the dog is in the air as Animal Resource Center officials said they can’t just remove the dog since it is licensed. Instead, ARC has to work with the prosecutor to find probable cause before they are able to legally remove the animal, officials said.

“I think it’s totally absurd,” neighbor Lodia Furnas said of the dog being left outside. “It’s a shame to be treated that way.”

Furnas and other neighbors, including Jim Chadwell, have been feeding the dog and throwing blankets and tarps into its fenced cage. They badly want someone to put him in a warm place.

The problem is the dog’s owner has been in jail since December and other family members recently moved out, possibly because of a utility shut-off.

Neighbors say they’ve gone to the home every day, checking and posting warning notices about the dog’s abysmal situation. Some don’t want to wait much longer for official action.

“If they don’t I’ll try, I’ve got another coat, thick gloves, hope I don’t get bit,” Chadwell said.

FIRST REPORT

With wind chills at or below zero, concerned neighbors and animal resource officers alike have been out to a home on Huffman Avenue where dogs have been left out in the cold.

NewsCenter 7’s Kate Bartley spoke with neighbors today in the 700 block of Huffman Avenue where they say officers from the Animal Resource Center have been out daily trying to find the owner.

Neighbors say the owner is in jail, and now ARC officers will take the owner to court Tuesday to try and seize the dogs.

There is one dog inside the home, a second outside in a fenced area and a third reportedly jumped the fence. There are notices posted to the front door saying the dog doesn’t have enough food or water and cannot remain in these conditions.

Neighbors say they’re giving the dog the only food it has.

“I throw stuff over there once in a while,” said neighbor Teresa Bourgerie. “I’d rather see them go to a shelter where they’re warm and fed daily.”

Bartley will have more on this story starting at 5 p.m. on WHIO-TV and we will stay on this developing story.