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2 Children, 14 Dogs Rescued From Rainier Home
POSTED: 5:24 pm PDT August 8,
2008
UPDATED: 8:28 am PDT August 11,
2008
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- More than a dozen dogs and two children were rescued from a Thurston County home after investigators found the inside of the home to be filled with animal waste.A police officer spotted a deceased dog through a window of the home in the 13700 block of Vail Cut Off Road Southeast in Rainer Wednesday night. When investigators went inside the home, they found not only an additional 14 dogs including bassets, Scottish terriers, Chihuahuas and a pit bull, but also that a 14-year-old and a 2-year-old girl also lived in the home.Investigators said the inside of the house was filled with feces and urine, including right next to children’s toys."Urine soaked to the extent that you opened a door and just sort of gagged," said Susanne Beauregard of Thurston County Animal Services.Four of the rescued bassett hound puppies had to be euthanized Friday because they had contracted parvovirus. The other surviving dogs are in quarantine."I've heard all the yapping, but I've never realized they had that many dogs," said neighbor Sandy Older.Investigators said their filthy living conditions at the house would make it easier for the virus to spread."When there is parvo you bleach everything. You clean it; you scrub it," Beauregard said.Police said the children will stay with other relatives for now, and Child Protective Services has been alerted."So that kind of thing is just not safe for the kids," said Jim Chamberlain of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. “We had to do something about it."The surviving dogs rescued from the home are being treated with medicine to try to prevent additional parvo deaths. Neighbors said they hope the dog owners face criminal charges."I think they should be punished to the limit and they should never have any more," Older said.The same home was also raided in December when police seized five horses that were malnourished and covered with lice, Beauregard said. The owner was charged with animal cruelty and has failed to show up for court regarding those charges, police said.
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