Intake Halted; 25 Animals Rescued From Columbiana County Home in ‘Horrible’ Conditions

COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) — The Columbiana County Humane Society says it seized 25 animals from a home on Wednesday after officers and agents discovered conditions so severe that leadership is calling it one of the worst cases the agency has ever handled. The organization has halted all animal intake.

According to the Humane Society, Columbiana Chief of Police Mark Edwards called the CCHS around 11 a.m. on September 9, after receiving a report that dogs were present inside — though the exact number was unknown at the time. Utility crews were also on scene.

A worker for the humane society said the smell hit them before they even reached the front door.

“As I approached the front door, I was hit with a smell that made my eyes water,” the humane society said in the agency’s account of the response. No one answered the knock, but several dogs began barking inside.

The humane society along with Chief Edwards, Officer Ben Esposito and Detective Richard Whitfield first spotted four dogs living outside in a separate housing area. Four animals were found at the rear of the home inside a pen. Investigators later found additional animals inside the home itself, bringing the total number of animals removed from the property to 25.

The homeowner has not been publicly identified and will remain unnamed until charged.

The Columbiana County Humane Society said the case now ranks among the top three in what they call the “Horrible Homes Edition” of humane crime casework — situations where a call about “one or two dogs” turns into dozens of animals living in unsafe conditions.

“This situation can cripple a humane society,” the organization said, noting the seizure forced the agency to put 13 other pending calls for assistance on hold because it no longer had the capacity to house more animals.

The Cost of Rescue

The Humane Society says caring for 25 additional animals brings steep, immediate costs:

• Up to $5,000 for spaying and neutering
• $625 for testing
• $1,250 for required vaccines
• $500 for flea and tick treatment for all animals

Those costs typically come before any owner restitution, which — when courts order it — usually amounts to just $35 to $50 a month.

“If the owner was living in such conditions, what makes you think they can afford to support that many animals?” a humane society worker said, explaining why seizure, not payment, is often the only path forward.

‘This I Will Never Accept’

The Columbiana County Humane Society had a direct message for anyone keeping animals in unsafe conditions: excuses won’t buy time.

“I do not believe you when you say, ‘I was planning to clean up today,’” the organization said. “The answer is NO. This situation did not happen overnight; it has been going on for months.”

The humane society credits board members for working around the clock once seized animals arrive — feeding, bathing, treating, testing, vaccinating and cleaning kennels — often skipping their own lunches to make sure the animals eat first.

“All animals deserve a loving and caring atmosphere to live their best lives,” the organization said.

The Columbiana County Humane Society specifically thanked Chief of Police Mark Edwards, Officer Ben Esposito, Detective Richard Whitfield, and the agency’s own Riley Romigh and Vanessa Leverknight for their work on Wednesday’s response.

How to Help

With 25 new animals in its care, the Humane Society says it urgently needs:

• Foster families and adopters
• Donations of dog food and cat food
• Volunteers to help with kennel cleaning and animal care, giving staff a break

Anyone interested in fostering, adopting, donating supplies or volunteering is encouraged to contact the Columbiana County Humane Society directly.