About 240 animals seized in raid on home
About 240 animals including a 14-foot snake, dozens of puppies and livestock were seized Tuesday from a Jackson Township home after a months-long investigation, according to Columbus Humane.
The animals were seized after search warrants were executed Tuesday morning at the property at 3145 Demorest Road in the township and at Grove City Reptiles, a pet store at 3578 W. Broad St. on Columbus’ West Side. An unknown number of animals also were seized from the pet store.
Columbus Humane began investigating after receiving multiple reports of mistreatment of animals.
Humane agents executing the search warrants at the residential property found an estimated 240 animals in “devastating conditions,” Columbus Humane CEO Rachel Finney said.
About 100 reptiles, including the 14-foot snake; 90 dogs and puppies of various breeds, including a significant number of Corgis; and 50 livestock, including turkeys, goats, pigs and ducks, were seized from the home, Finney said.
Keeping a 14-foot snake violates Ohio Department of Agriculture regulations, she said.
Franklin County auditor’s records show the 1,637-square-foot home is Humane agents remove dogs and other animals from a house at 3145 Demorest Road in Jackson Township on Tuesday. About 240 animals were seized by Columbus Humane after search warrants were executed. The humane society also seized animals from a store on West Broad Street. on about a half-acre of land. It has five rooms, including two bedrooms and one bath, and was built in 1936. There is also a 24-by-24-foot garage behind the home, auditor’s records show.
In addition, the same property owner has an additional half-acre parcel containing a building with an address on Anglebrook Drive that is reached via a drive from the Demorest property, auditor’s records show.
“Countless” animal remains were also found in the home, Finney said.
“It changes you,” Finney said of the workers who spent hours Tuesday taking animals out of the home.
Humane officials could not provide an exact number of animals seized from the pet store.
Humane agents had been to the home before but the conditions were not as bad, Finney said. Agents had given the owners recommendations to improve the care and condition of the animals.
Workers with Columbus Humane are still evaluating each animal to determine
their veterinary needs. It is unknown when any of the animals may be available for adoption, she said.
An investigation into possible criminal charges is continuing.
The seizure comes exactly one year after more than 600 birds were taken from a North Side home by Columbus Humane, the largest seizure in the agency’s history.