EAST PALESTINE — Charges are forthcoming in the case of an East Palestine resident who had 21 animals seized by the Columbiana County Humane Society.

Columbiana County Humane Agent Fabian Pike said that charges for cruelty to companion animals and unsanitary and unhealthful conditions are forthcoming after the humane society’s investigation of a Main Street residence on April 3 resulted in the seizure of 21 animals.

Pike said that 18 cats, two rabbits and one dog were seized from the residence for unsanitary conditions. Pike said that all the confiscated animals were infested with fleas; most of them also had tape worms and ear mites, and at least 12 of the confiscated animals were ill with upper respiratory issues. He also said that the rabbits had injuries which were indicative of fleas, and two of the cats had tested positive by feline leukemia.

Pike said that all the animals had been screened and treated by the humane society upon entering the shelter, and that they were currently still at the facility. He explained that the animals would stay at the humane society until the charges were finalized and prosecuted and that it would be up to the judge to decide if the animals are returned or must be forfeited permanently. He also said that the humane society’s costs for care and medical treatment of the animals were “already over $1,500” on Tuesday.

Pike said that concerns about the conditions within the house were originally reported to him by EMS personnel two days prior to his investigation after a member of the household experienced a medical emergency.

“They said they could not breathe in the house, and I needed to go out there and check it out,” said Pike.

Pike said he was met on site by officers from the East Palestine Police Department who accompanied him to the residence. He said that the property owner initially denied permission to enter and check the residence, but after explaining that he had sufficient evidence for a search warrant, if necessary, they gave permission for him to enter.

Pike said that despite initially being told there were only two cats inside the residence, he immediately found eight cats once he was inside. He also noted that conditions within the residence were severe enough that his eyes began to water upon entry.

An order was also issued recently against an East Palestine resident in Columbiana County Municipal Court ordering the posting of $9,450 for the care of the animals seized from the West Main Street, East Palestine property from the date of the seizure on April 3 to May 3. The paperwork listed 18 cats, one dog and two rabbits impounded by the humane agent.

Pike explained that while they have not been utilized by the humane society consistently in recent years, these types of bonds covering the costs associated with caring for an impounded animal are common in cases of this nature. If that bond is not paid, the animals are automatically forfeited to the Humane Society. However, if the humane society should lose the resulting criminal case, it must return not only the confiscated animals but the cost of that bond as well.

He said that the cost is based on the amount determined by law to care for an animal for a single day and that the term is issued by the month for a price tag of approximately $350 per animal per month.

(Staff Reporter Mary Ann Greier

contributed to this report)