40 dogs siezed after found living in filth

MARENGO TOWNSHIP (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Deputy Investigators from the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department found a residence in shambles and dozens of dogs living in filth.

Deputies arrived to the home on 23 Mile Road near J Drive on Friday, July 11, after they were alerted by neighbors.

Over 40 dogs were seized from within the residence. One Deputy and one Battle Creek City Police Animal Control Officer were bitten with minor injuries. One aggressive animal was shot and killed by Deputies.

Investigators tell NEWSCHANNEL 3 that the homeowner would cover her back yard in newspapers, then shovel them into piles once the dog feces was a half foot deep. There was also a swimming pool in the back yard, but now it is filled to the brim with garbage.

The dogs living in the home ranged in age and size; there were small puppies all the way up to larger dogs weighing over fifty pounds. All of the dogs were malnourished and mistreated.

It took three Animal Control vehicles to take the forty-plus dogs to the Humane Society. They say the animals are in such bad shape, some might not survive.

Investigators are not officially identifying the owner at this point, but family members tell us the homeowner is 66-year-old Helen Sheldon.

We spoke with Sheldon's niece and she said, "[Helen] doesn't realize how bad it is. All this stuff you see around here, this has been this way for a long time." Sheldon's niece added that her aunt suffers from a mental illness.

Officials have not been able to locate Sheldon; when she is found she will face felony animal cruelty charges.