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SALEM -- The Columbiana County Humane Society has temporarily paused intake of animals following the seizure of more than 100 animals Monday.
In a statement posted on the humane society's Facebook page Tuesday, humane agent Fabian Pike announced that the humane society "temporarily closed [its] intake until [it] can find homes for some of [its] new and current residents." The closure comes after "the humane crime unit seized 113 animals from an undisclosed location in Columbiana County" Monday, including dogs, cats, chickens, roosters, pigs, emus, a pheasant, rabbits, and turtles, including an endangered and federally protected box turtle.
According to the statement that seizure "brings the total number of animals rescued in just under two weeks to 195."
The humane society is asking those who can to consider adopting an animal or donating to the humane society. Reduced adoption fees are currently in effect. The statement urges those with the space and ability to care for a dog, cat, chicken, rooster, duck, goose, pig, emu, pheasant, rabbit, or turtle, or anyone looking for chicks or ducklings to contact the humane society.
"My team and I are doing our best to save as many animals as possible, but we have reached our limit. I am currently sending requests to all of my contacts, but many organizations are also at their limit as well," the statement said.
Pike said that all 113 animals were officially surrendered to the humane society Tuesday morning and that following the seizure the humane society was "about 107 to 108 animals over capacity." However, he said that he had been able to facilitate placements for all 113 animals with rescues, noting that the box turtle had been placed with a licensed sanctuary for rehabilitation.
Pike said that the emus, which were underweight and experiencing feather loss, were also being placed with an experienced caretaker for rehabilitation.
Pike said that if all the rescued animals could be transported to their rescue placements, the intake pause would be lifted Thursday. In the meantime, any animals which must be taken in from humane investigations will be placed with a foster.
"Getting placements set are always the key with large seizures like this," Pike said.
Pike said that he could not disclose the location the animals were seized from as charges are pending, but that the initial report had been for 12 animals not receiving appropriate care. When he investigated the complaint, he found 12 kennels on the property of varying size, all of which he said had unsanitary and unhealthy conditions.
"I let the homeowners know the violations and as I kept going around the property the violations just kept going," Pike said.
Pike said that all but one member of the humane crime unit responded to the property to assess and assist in transporting the animals including: humane associates Ryley Romigh and Christian Millhoam, registered veterinary technician Nicole Schultz, forensic veterinarian Dr. Jenniffer Kotouch VMD, and animal care specialists Sarah Underwood and Lynn Finch. He said that once they arrived on site, all 113 animals were secured and removed from the property within four hours.
"I have complete faith in my team. I let them know where the animals are and need to go, and we all got to work transporting," Pike said.