A shelter took in the animals from the Merrillville, Ind. trailer just after opening its doors following a week-long power outage
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/dogs-Humane-Indiana-082426-tout-a5822cec444743aea32299bb4360d13e.jpg "Tree Falls on Trailer During Storm, Revealing Disturbing Animal Hoarding with 48 Dogs")
Credit: Humane Indiana/Facebook (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- A storm in Indiana revealed an alleged hoarding situation when a tree fell on a trailer housing dozens of dogs and cats
- An animal shelter is now caring for more than 70 dogs it took in from the Merrillville residence, marking its largest hoarding rescue effort
- The animals are not yet available for adoption as the investigation into the alleged hoarding case remains ongoing
Dozens of dogs were discovered living in an alleged animal hoarding situation in an Indiana trailer. The disturbing situation came to light after a tree fell on the home during a storm.
A large tree “came crashing down on” the Merrillville, Ind. trailer where the animals were living during the storms that caused power outages across the state, animal shelter Humane Indiana said in a Facebook post detailing the situation on Thursday, Aug. 20. This revealed the alleged hoarding situation to neighbors, who then alerted the shelter, according to a report from WGN News.
Officers with the Merrillville Police Department (MPD) then responded to the trailer after the shelter shared its concerns regarding the “possible animal hoarding situation,” the MPD said in a press release Thursday.
Authorities and shelter employees then began an investigation, through which “a large number of dogs and several cats were removed from the residence and placed into the safe custody of Humane Indiana, where they are receiving appropriate care and evaluation,” police said.
Credit: Humane Indiana/Facebook
The animal shelter, which had just opened its doors following a week-long power outage that caused it to empty its kennels, initially said it took in 48 dogs from the trailer.
WGN News reported that the trailer held more than 70 dogs and about five cats. Most of the dogs are young adults, the outlet said, and weigh between 4 and 12 pounds.
It is believed to be the largest hoarding rescue effort the shelter has ever handled, Lindsay Stirn, a shelter services liaison with Humane Indiana, told WGN News.
None of the animals removed from the trailer had to be euthanized, and they are now healing at the shelter. There, they will receive “veterinary exams, vaccines, medications, testing, grooming, food, and so much more,” the humane society said on Facebook.
Credit: Humane Indiana/Facebook
“They have been through so much, and now they are safe with us,” Humane Indiana said of the canines in a post detailing the situation. The shelter also shared photos that show the dogs, some with their ribcages very prominent, huddled together in kennels.
The dogs “didn’t choose the conditions they were living in,” Humane Indiana said elsewhere in the post. “They didn’t choose the storm. They didn’t choose the tree that came crashing down.”
Credit: Humane Indiana/Facebook
The investigation into the alleged hoarding case is active and ongoing, the MPD said in Thursday’s press release, noting that no additional details will be released “at this time.”
As the investigation continues, police said that the animals will remain in the “legal and physical custody of Humane Indiana,” an official partner agency of the MPD. “At this time, the animals cannot be transferred to rescue organizations, shelters, foster programs, or private individuals while investigative and legal proceedings remain pending,” the MPD added.
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“These dogs deserve the chance to finally experience what it feels like to be loved, spoiled, and safe in a home of their own,” Humane Indiana shared in a Facebook update. “As they become available over the next few weeks, we will be looking for families willing to give them that chance.”
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