Pontiac woman to face charges after 29 dogs, 7 cats removed from hoarding situation at her home

PONTIAC (WWJ) — A Pontiac woman is expected to face animal neglect charges after authorities removed three dozen dogs and cats from her home on Friday.

Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Argyle Avenue around 11:15 a.m. to assist Oakland County Animal Control with the removal of cats and dogs from what the sheriff's office described as a "hoarding" situation.

In total, animal control officials removed 29 dogs and seven cats from the home. Deputies stood by during the removal. The City of Pontiac Ordinance Department was assisting with the removal and had obtained a court order from the 50th District Court to enter the home and take the animals out.

County animal shelter manager Bob Gatt told WWJ Newsradio 950’s Luke Sloan the pets were living in deplorable conditions.

“This home was so bad that they were living in a fecal-infested home on the floors and everywhere they were at," Gatt said.

Gatt said of the 36 animals, only one -- a cat -- "appears to be so sick that it may have to be euthanized.”

Almost every animal is infested with fleas and he said all the animals are "showing signs of not a whole lot of human interaction."

"They're very, very scared of our staff and they're very scared of the surroundings," Gatt said.

Gatt said animal control officials were asked to assist city ordinance officers on checking the home, which had been charged with violating an ordinance for too many animals in the home about a year ago.

The woman’s home was condemned by the city’s ordinance and building departments.

Animal control officials are expected to provide an update on the case late Friday afternoon. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!

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