Woman charged with 29 counts of animal neglect

DUBLIN, Ind. — A Wayne County woman was charged when officers discovered dozens of animals in her home that was covered in feces and reeking of urine.

Lisa Mann, 52, was charged with 29 counts of Animal Neglect, a Class A Misdemeanor.

According to court documents, a complainant went to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department on a report that Mann had multiple animals in her home and a floor covered in poop. The witness claimed that the animals had never been to a veterinarian for shots, to be sprayed, or neutered.

Detectives went to the home at the 300 block of S State St. in Dublin on Wednesday, March 13. The officer found 12 dogs in the yard and peeping through the windows of the home, but was unable to make contact with anyone inside. On Tuesday, March 19, a search warrant was executed at 12:15 p.m. in coordination with the Indiana Board of Animal Health, which was also at the residence to evaluate the animals as they were removed.

The officer arrived at the home in a hazmat suit, gloves, and a mask. The animals defecated all over the floor, the doors, and the furniture. Many of the dogs were also squished into crates. According to police, three dogs shared a crate with no room to stand, lay, or sit without being directly on top of one another. The animals had no access to fresh air or water.

All of the dogs and cats were considered to be in jeopardy and removed from the home. Overall, four animals were found in the front yard, 20 in the house, and four in a trailer in the backyard. A single animal was found in an SUV in the driveway

The 29 animals faced the following problems, according to the groomer and Indiana Board of Animal Health officials:

• Severe Dental Disease
• Mild-Severe Dehydration
• Urine Stained and Matted Hair
• Evidence of Fleas and Flea Dirt
• Significant Gingivitis
• Loose Teeth
• Wounds
• Raw Sores
• Matured Cataract
• Dried Diarrhea
• Extremely Long Toenails
• Lethargy
• Urine Burns

• Scabs
• Eye and Nose Discharge
• Crusty Eyes
• Thinning Hair
• Skin Irritation
• Bloat
• Sores
• Hair Loss
• Missing teeth
• Wet Rear End
• Dirty Ears
• Lethargy
• Pale Gums

While the animals were removed, Mann arrived at the home and claimed she had not been there for more than a month. However, the car she was driving was in the driveway a few days earlier. Additionally, the dogs that were outside were different from the week prior.

An official from the Wayne County Health Department left a sign on the door that said, “Unfit for Human Habitation.” The same Health Department worker took an ammonia test and found that ammonia levels were 15 times higher than in a average household.

Information will be updated as it becomes available.

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