MORGAN TOWNSHIP | The owner of a rural Porter County kennel may face animal neglect charges after 23 Labrador retrievers were seized from the farm on Saturday.
Porter County Animal Control visited the Morgan Township farm Friday to investigate a separate complaint of potential neglect of horses when the officer noticed issues with the dog kennels.
Fourteen adult Labrador retrievers and nine puppies were removed, according to Porter County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Larry LaFlower.
The officer gave the owner a day to correct issues with the kennels and seized the dogs on Saturday, nothing most of the concerns weren't addressed.
The officer reported feces was present inside the dog kennels, posing a serious health risks to the animals, according to LaFlower. The officer also noted dogs were being fed directly on the floor without food bowls, and the food was placed in direct contact with animal waste.
The water provided to the dogs also contained what appeared to be bug larvae, algae and black mold.
He told the owner to put food and water in clean bowls and clean out the kennels. But when he returned to the farm, the officer said the owner had only put fresh water in a couple of bowls in the indoor kennels.
The adult dogs were also obese, which can place unnecessary stress on joints and hips in a breed that's genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia.
LaFlower said the officer found minor issues with hoof care in the horses, which will not lead to charges.
Porter County Animal Control plans to present 14 misdemeanor counts of animal neglect and 14 citations of harboring non-immunized dogs to the prosecutor this week, LaFlower said.
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