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Judge Makes Ruling In High-Profile Animal Rescue Case

Posted at 4:14 PM, Aug 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-06 20:02:33-04

An end may be in sight for the animals involved in what has now become the longest rescue made by the Animal Rescue Corps.

English Bulldogs, Great Danes and even a few chinchillas. They are all living evidence in the high-profile animal rescue case.

They've been at the Animal Rescue Corps emergency shelter in Lebanon for nearly five months.

With the help of local law enforcement, nearly 150 animals were taken from what ARC calls deplorable conditions at a home in Carroll County back in April.

150 Animals Rescued From Atwood Property 
Emergency Shelter Spends $350K Taking Care Of Rescued Animals

"Everybody is happy and healthy. It's amazing what food, water and clean air will do for you," said Amy Haverstick with ARC. 

Clean air was an issue. ARC founder Scotland Haisley went in to remove many of animals. He described chemical fumes so potent from the build up of feces and urine that he nearly died from ammonia poisoning -- saved only by a blood transfusion.

Animal Rescuer Nearly Dies From Toxic Conditions

"I've experience ammonia poisoning before. This is a whole new experience for me Nick," said Haisley.

Caring for the animals at the shelter comes at no small cost. ARC estimates a tab of $70,000 a month to care for the animals while the case sits in legal limbo. The animals' owners say they are innocent of any wrongdoing.

"They came on our property on a Sunday before we had fed and watered and I feel it's unfair and our civil rights were violated," said Tera Neutzler, one of the owners.

The case is in court and a judge has now bound more than three hundred animal abuse counts over to the Grand Jury.

The judge also ruled the owners must post a $390,000 bond for the animals or forfeit them to ARC.

If the owners don't post the bond that means ARC will take full custody of the animals and can begin the process of placing them with rescues and ultimately into loving homes.

The owners of the dogs now have ten days to post that $390,000 bond or forfeit ownership of the dogs.