Donna Montoya, Indiana Dog Owner, Could Face Animal Cruelty Charges

CHESTERTON, Ind. — Police who removed 82 dogs from a rural northwest Indiana home say the owner could face animal cruelty charges.

The Times of Munster reports ( ) that animal control officers and Porter County deputies used four trucks to take 55 canines from the Chesterton-area home on Wednesday then returned Thursday to rescue 27 more. The dogs are being evaluated by veterinarians. http://bit.ly/ystIWT

Sheriff's department spokesman Sgt. Larry LaFlower says neighbors alerted authorities to the issue because they feared dog waste around the home could seep into their drinking water.

LaFlower says homeowner Donna Montoya could face animal cruelty charges once animal control officers complete their report.

Montoya says she takes care of her dogs and feeds them every day.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com

Comments

[JE JE]

08:21 PM on 02/03/2012

Most people with pets are not very resposible, I see it every day, Simple answer to a very big problem, GET THESE ANIMALS FIXED.!!!!!!!!!!!

[karen lyons kalmenson]

06:57 AM on 01/14/2012

82 dogs? even if abuse and neglect are not intentional, hoarding results in abuse and neglect, just the same.

[misty107]

01:43 AM on 01/14/2012

The article at nwtimes.com says some dogs tested positive for parvovirus and fleas. Parvovirus is a serious and deadly disease. This alone tells me the owner wasn't able to provide proper veterinary care for the animals since parvo can be vaccinated against and fleas can be treated, as well. If a person cannot afford to provide proper vet care then they should not own any animals.

[bcmom]

05:32 PM on 01/13/2012

Here is a video of the seizure. Apparently the dogs were attacking and killing each other. You cannot have 82 dogs and take care of them alone. You would have to be superman. Think about it, each morning and evening, 82 bowls of food and water and then cleaning up after them and then vetting them. I am not on the HS side, but quit blaming them for people who continue to breed and hoard animals. Everyone wants to complain, but I see very few people who want to do anything in their own community about controlling the pet overpopulation. It is complain, complain, and complain.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/westchester-township/more-dogs-total-taken-from-chesterton-area-home/article_5d61908f-ac5d-5b2b-a06b-30b4d1281689.html?mode=video

[Chow gal]

01:11 PM on 01/13/2012

What's the whole story? How many people were there to care for the 82 dogs? Were they all adults? or are there litters of puppies here? the dogs pictured are I believe yellow Labs.
They look reasonably clean and appear to be in good weigh. Is this a hunting dog kennel? Are all of the dogs owned by the same person? How large a peice of property were the dogs on? (mobile home lot or 20 acers?) Just having 82 dogs does NOT make someone guilt of animal abuse!!

[sparkybrown7877]

12:37 PM on 01/13/2012

I know that 82 dogs is a bit much, but, if the dogs in the picture are hers, they look pretty well taking cared of, not sure about the ones that are not showed, she says she feeds them everyday but, what about the 82 dogs vet bills? Not sure she can afford all that... A simple allergie to my dog cost me 3 visits to the vet, and $300.00dls. vet bill, times 82, mamma mia ! :)

[Debbie338]

12:27 PM on 01/13/2012

Oh, yay. She feeds them EVERY DAY! Of course, that means she takes great care of them.

[clarkkentdlyplnt]

11:26 AM on 01/13/2012

This woman has some serious psychological issues. 82 dogs? But the fact is if she cared for them and they are in good health, whose business is it? Ground water contamination? If this is a rural area and she was raising 400 hogs the couldn't say a thing. I'm sure the Humane Society will come up with some trumped up charges though. Nothing life threatening, but something they say is critical for the happiness of the animal.

[yeti7]

11:55 AM on 01/13/2012

If the dogs are the light colored dogs, those look OK.

[misty107]

01:46 AM on 01/14/2012

Unfortunatley, looks aren't everything. It's the exam and blood work that will tell the stories of the treatment they recieved. So far, it's not looking good according to what they have already reported.

[rocco12]

07:33 PM on 01/13/2012

the humane society will most likely take them keep them for there time limit and put them down,yet we take ciminals who are real tresh to our society and house them ,give them all the medical care needed,the woman probably kept the animals so they would not be subject to the way the shelters dispose of them,i am not saying she should have the right to have that many ,but i would rather see mans best friend treated the way our criminals are treated and the criminals lead the life the unfortunate animals had ,i donate only to humane ''NON KILL SHELTERS'' i fearl for what the animals future will be like.they had nothing to do with the position they are now in,i agree the dogs shown in the pictures look fine ,cant coment on what is not shown,hope real rescue organazations come foward and help the poor dogs an cats out .