MANTUA, Ohio — A search warrant executed by the Portage Animal Protective League’s Humane Investigations Department last week resulted in 146 deceased dogs being found at a house in Mantua.
"The state of that house and everything that was in it was just, there's not even words to describe it. It was just horrendous," neighbor Jon Collier told 3News.
Per the Protective League, 146 dead dogs found were in various stages of decay, with many of them confined in their crates. No dogs were found alive at the residence.
The search warrant was executed after the Protective League received a tip regarding a pending animal cruelty charge against the homeowner in another jurisdiction. According to a release, the homeowner is a founding operator of Canine Lifeline, Inc., a nonprofit animal rescue.
According to an IRS 990 form from 2021, Barbara Wible is the president of Canine Lifeline, Inc. County records indicate she is the owner of the decrepit home.
Collier says he hasn't heard much from his neighbor in the last six to eight months.
"She just left. Not a care in the world. I don't know who could do that or why she would do that, but just to leave them and not even have food or water," he added.
Necropsies (animal autopsies) will be performed in order to determine the dogs’ causes of death and an investigation remains ongoing. Anybody with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Humane Agent, Holly Ebner at humaneofficer@portageapl.org.
Late Monday afternoon, Canine Lifeline, Inc. wrote a long post on Facebook expressing shock at the revelations discovered at Wible's house. The nonprofit added that Wible was hospitalized on June 2 after having been found collapsed in her home. A subsequent investigation revealed "overwhelming evidence of ongoing fatal animal neglect in both her current Parma residence as well as her former home in Mantua."
The surviving dogs found at Wible's Parma residence were taken to Parma Animal Shelter, who have been providing care until good homes can be found for the canines.
The Portage County Sheriff's Office is assisting the Portage Animal Protective League in the investigation. The Portage County Prosecutor's Office is also investigating possible charges in the case.
In the meantime, search warrant papers hang on the front door of the home while all of the kennels sit outside.
More local coverage from WKYC:
- 6-year-old girl, 75-year-old grandma die in East Cleveland house fire: What we know
- Parma Heights woman crushed to death by ambulance after police said she was OK in a welfare check, and more: 3News Daily with Stephanie Haney
- 75-year-old grandmother and 1-year-old child reported missing in Cleveland
- Mother arrested after 3-year-old Cleveland boy's death ruled homicide
- Great Lakes Science Center offering free youth admission on July 1: Full details
- Brain tumor vaccine study giving hope to those with deadly glioblastoma
- Cleveland celebrates Juneteenth, other celebrations taking place across Northeast Ohio
- Lorain Police Department: 1 dead, another injured in Saturday car crash
- Woman dies after being hit by ambulance pulling away in Parma Heights
- 33-year-old woman shot dead in Lakewood backyard; police investigating
- 64-year-old man killed in Stark County motorcycle crash
- Mission Possible: Vision to transform Veterans Memorial Bridge
- Father's Day recipe from Chef Eric Wells
- 15-year-old boy shot in Akron, taken to hospital