Genoa man's animals are reinspected but not taken

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toledoblade.com

Humane Society says owner trying to comply


GENOA - The Humane Society of Ottawa County yesterday reinspected the livestock of a Genoa man who was the target of a complaint regarding poor care but did not remove any more animals.

Pat Kessler, director of the agency, said investigators ordered the owner, Bill Dufendock, 64, to correct deficiencies they discovered.

"He had someone working on the hooves when we got there," she said. "He was trying to comply" with the agency's directives from last week.

Humane Society investigators visited the property on Holts East Road last week after receiving an anonymous complaint and removed more than a dozen dogs because of their poor condition.

In addition, Mr. Dufendock also was told to clean up the stable and barn and make other changes.

Ms. Kessler said the reinspection found several horses and ponies "were borderline thin, but not enough to take away." Other than that, she said, "The horses were in pretty good shape."

Mr. Dufendock was told to provide larger quarters for the goats and rabbits and to treat his three remaining dogs for flea bites.

In the initial investigation, some dogs were found housed three to a cage and the animals held in pens had feces on them, she said. Water dishes contained mud, and food was scarce.

Mr. Dufendock allowed the Humane Society to remove most of his dogs last week. The animals were taken to the agency's kennels on Sand Road in Port Clinton, where temporary shelter was provided in a fenced area outside.

Ms. Kessler said yesterday news of the dogs sparked a large number of donations of food to the Humane Society.

In an interview earlier this week, Mr. Dufendock called the Humane Society complaints an attempt to raise money by using animals to gain sympathy from the public.