State police find scores of dogs in ‘abysmal conditions’ at Hopewell site
Courtesy of Washington Area Humane Society
One of the German shorthaired pointers seized from a property off Brush Run Road in Hopewell Township
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in "abysmal conditions" during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in "abysmal conditions" during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in "abysmal conditions" during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
Photo courtesy of KDKA
Photo courtesy of KDKA State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in “abysmal conditions” during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in “abysmal conditions” during a raid Wednesday.
State police said in a news release that they executed several search warrants at 41 Hamilton Acres Lane around midday to find out the health of the dogs at the site and discovered 80 to 120 German shorthaired pointers. Investigators reportedly detained two unidentified women they said were from Maryland.
No charges had been filed as of Thursday. State police said their investigation, in conjunction with Washington County prosecutors, is ongoing.
Photo courtesy of KDKA
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in “abysmal conditions” during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
Photo courtesy of KDKA
State police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a Hopewell Township property where authorities said they found scores of dogs living in “abysmal conditions” during a raid Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of KDKA)
District Attorney Gene Vittone said some of the animals were taken to shelters, but most went to the Washington County Fairgrounds in Chartiers Township for medical evaluation.
“The important thing was getting the animals taken care of,” Vittone said.
Numerous humane organizations worked late into the night to help look after the animals, Vittone said.
Some of the dogs will be brought to Washington Area Humane Society in North Strabane Township. Kelly Proudfit, executive director of the humane society, said veterinary staff will thoroughly check the dogs, which should be available for adoption in a week or two.
Late Thursday morning, volunteers – some wearing shirts from the Washington County Animal Response Team – circulated in and out of the fairgrounds’ rabbit barn, which had been turned into a makeshift kennel for the animals.
Sacks of dog food, boxes of rubber gloves and packages of paper towels were arrayed on a bench near the entrance to the barn. A cacophony of barks and yelps could be heard through the walls of the building.
Several volunteers referred questions to Cathy Cunningham, an unpaid humane police officer in charge of the rescue effort.
Cunningham wouldn’t answer questions about the animals, including how many were being kept in the barn.
“I’m not going to give you an interview,” she told a reporter. “I’m sorry.”
Anyone with information can call state police in Washington at 724-223-5200.