125 dogs seized near Troy highlights troubling puppy mill problem in Ohio, expert says

TROY — More than 100 dogs seized from a Miami County home Monday have all been adopted.

RELATED: All dogs  have been adopted after 125 seized from condemned Miami County home

Experts say that case on Peebles Road is a classic example, and why it’s so important for neighbors to speak up.

There have been numerous cases across the Miami Valley where it turns out a house has all sorts of animals.

Just a few weeks ago, French bulldogs were found in poor condition at a Sidney home following a fire call.

It’s not just dogs. A couple years ago dozens of cats were removed from a house in Miami Twp. in Montgomery County.

The 125 dogs were seized Monday from a home near Troy that was condemned. Investigators are calling it a puppy mill.

PHOTOS: Dogs removed from Miami County home

The question for experts: Why do people end up with so many animals in their houses?

“Unless you have an exhaustive staff, around the clock staff, I can’t imagine a scenario where those animals would be given proper care,” said Corey Roscoe of the Columbus chapter of the Humane Society of the United States.

Cases like the one in Miami County are part of a troubling trend of puppy mills in Ohio, Roscoe said.

She said preventing puppy mills is up to us, first to not buy from sellers supplied by puppy mills. Second is for neighbors to be alert.

“If you think you see something, it is important to tell authorities. If you smell something, if something doesn’t seem right,” Roscoe said.

RELATED: 18 dogs found in basement of Sidney house that caught fire

It was only after a March house fire in Sidney that firefighters found 18 French bulldogs that had been living in dangerous and dirty conditions. Investigators said there was evidence of breeding. One of the dogs died in the fire.

In a very different situation, animal control in July 2017 removed dozens of cats from Jean Diamond’s home in Miami Twp. “I don’t want all these animals, I never did,” Diamond said.

RELATED: Miami Twp. woman convicted of cruelty after 20 cats removed from home

Animal hoarding is different, Roscoe said.

“In those cases we should really characterize that more as a mental health issue than an animal cruelty issue,” she said.

Whenever someone has too many animals, experts said it’s not just the animals at risk.

Especially if there are children around, as was the case Monday at the home in Miami County. Those two teens were placed in another home.

“When animals are in danger, people can be at risk. And when people are at risk, animals are in danger,” Roscoe said.

Four of the dogs seized in Miami County are pregnant, and their litters should be available for adoption in several weeks.

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