Hoarding dogs and cats, dog found dead Linton, IN (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 20, 2006 County: Greene Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Sharon K. Flater Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 9603 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in IN (US) Login to Watch this Case

An animal cruelty case was recently brought to light when neighbors complained of a strong "dead smell" coming from a Linton residence.

During the investigation, substandard living conditions observed at the residence prompted Linton Police Department officers to contact the Greene County Health Department and Adult Protective Services.

On July 20, LPD Det. Sgt. Duane Collenbaugh responded to the complaint about the odor and found a decomposing dog near 1040 A Street Southeast and another - live - dog chained and neglected in the backyard. The dead dog was in a trash bag along the property line, and the resident of the home claimed it was not hers.

"The other dog was malnourished and had other problems," said LPD Chief Troy Jerrell.

He said officers took that dog to a local veterinarian's office, where the staff asked to keep it and find a home where it could be nursed back to health.

Sharon Flater, 62, who lives in the residence, according to Jerrell, would not let officers look inside the home for other animals during that July 20 visit. Several anonymous tipsters claimed that there were other animals in the home that were being neglected, so a search warrant was requested.

�It was primarily based on the original complaint of the bad smell,� Jerrell said. �Upon entering the property (on July 20) and talking to Sharon, they found the first dog in bad shape. The vet stated the dog had been neglected.

�She wouldn't let them in the residence, so (Collenbaugh) went back to the courts for a search warrant.�

LPD officers, led by Collenbaugh, executed the warrant on Aug. 9. Animal Control Officer Chuck Botsford said four animals were located inside the residence on that date. He transported a dog and a cat - which Flater claimed were not hers - to Linton Veterinary Clinic for examination. Botsford said the pets were covered with fleas and appeared very thin.

"Another two dogs are not too bad," he said.

Those animals, which Botsford described as looking like a Chihuahua and a miniature collie, were not seized by the police.

Jerrell said animal cruelty charges were filed on the neglected dog found July 20, and more charges are expected to be filed in the Aug. 9 case.

"We can't prove she owned the dead dog," he said. �We can prove she was in possession of the dog tied up in the backyard.�

They also can prove she was in possession of the animals found in her home on their second trip.

Both the cat and dog - seen by Monica Poehlein at Linton Veterinary Clinic - were in generally poor condition, had literally hundreds of fleas, were underweight, and had tapeworms, she said. They also had some thinning of the hair coat because of the fleas, according to the vet.

�The dog was pleasant to work with, not aggressive,� Poehlein said. �Other good news is the dog is heartworm negative, and the cat is negative for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.�

Poehlein was uncertain what would become of the animals when they left her office.

�Duane has done a real good job on this case, sticking with it and being thorough,� Jerrell said. �We've received several complaints from the neighborhood. Since the first incident, he's been working to prove there were more animals. Once Duane had probable cause, he took it to the courthouse to get a warrant.

�Chuck's done a real good job for us, too.�

While working on the case, the officers discovered there had been no utilities to the house since May. Collenbaugh said the living conditions were unsanitary, and a probable cause affidavit stated that there were dog feces and urine on the floors of every room. That information was forwarded to the appropriate authorities.

�We're communicating with the health department and adult protective services to help her out, as well,� Jerrell said. �The poor conditions are the basis of that communication.�

On Aug. 15, Sam Rotman of the Greene County Health Department condemned the home, giving the residents until Aug. 30 to move their belongings to a more sanitary environment. Collenbaugh said Rotman previously had received anonymous complaints, but couldn't act on them because he needed a signature. The LPD's case provided the evidence he needed to take action.

�He posted paperwork on the door stating they had to be out of the house by the 30th of August due to health reasons,� Collenbaugh said.

�Adult protective services met with them, but I cannot tell you what type of assistance (the department) is giving them.�

Collenbaugh said Adult Protective Services responded quickly to the residence.

�We're not wanting to throw anybody out in the street without a place to go,� he said. �It was Sam's job to show it was unhealthy conditions. Adult Protective Services went there the very next day.�

According to Shirley Blackmore of Adult Protective Services, she discussed several avenues of assistance with the Flaters. She said she could not divulge the details of their conversation or the department's investigation.

Jerrell explained that an elderly woman had owned the residence in which the Flaters lived. When she passed away, it went to a relative, who rented it to Flater. Flater got behind on rent, payments weren't made, and the house was repossessed.

�There's supposedly someone from Florida in the process of buying it,� Jerrell said, �but we can't get a straight answer on who owns it and how to get a hold of them.�

The Flater family had no comment.

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The Daily World - Aug 17, 2006

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