More than 150 dogs found on Mercer Co. property

MERCER COUNTY, Ohio (WANE) - On Wednesday September 12, the Mercer County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at the 900 block of State Route 49 to investigate the conditions of multiple dogs on the property.

Deputies searched the several buildings on the property including the main building, out buildings, and campers. Deputies estimate they found between 150 and 200 dogs throughout the property.

Photos: Up to 250 dogs on one property

The owners cooperated and allowed dogs that were deemed to be in immediate need of medical attention to be removed.

19 dogs, including seven, six-week-old puppies and their mother, were removed. Unfortunately, eight of the other dogs were terminally ill and were euthanized.

Judy Briner lives inside the dog-infested home just south of Fort Recovery, Ohio.  She said there are not as many dogs as police reported, explaining they had about 100 dogs when police arrived on Wednesday.  Briner said she and her husband are spending about $400 dollars a week to feed the dogs and most of them are healthy.

But because the dogs were breeding, Briner said the number of animals spiraled out of control and she didn't have the heart to get rid of them.

"We had too many dogs and we knew it and there were lots of nights both of us were up all night worrying about what we were going to do with them," Briner said.  "I would just like someone to come take them and give them a good home and take care of them."

Deputies are expected to file charges in an attempt to obtain more court orders that will allow them to control the number of dogs at the property to prevent future issues.

According to the Mercer County Press release, deputies were assisted at the scene by Mercer County Dog Warden Tom Powell, Randolph County SPCA, and the Fort Recovery Veterinarian Clinic.

The investigation is continuing.