Dog owners might have been hoarding, became overwhelmed

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The Janesville Gazette

By Marcia Nelesen
Gazette Staff

"We're still 26 dogs here,'' the Rock County Humane Society executive director reported this morning.

Chris Konetski hopes that some of the dogs will be ready for adoption Monday.

The society on Monday rescued 44 Siberian huskies from a home south of Janesville. They were living in what was termed horrible conditions.

The dogs are skinny and many were caked in feces.

The owners, Michelle and Jerry Talley, were charged on three counts each of failing to provide food, water and proper shelter to confined animals and one count of obstruction an officer.

On Tuesday, one dog rescue operation from Harvard, Ill., took 17 of the dogs.

Another, older dog is close to death and under 24-hour care at the Badger Veterinary Hospital, Konetski said.

Later today, another seven huskies are scheduled to be taken to a rescue in Plymouth.

Meanwhile, Belinda Peck, of 3625 E. Rotamer, contacted The Janesville Gazette to say the Talleys have apparently ruined the home she and her husband, Richard, sold to them on land contract.

"They have destroyed somebody's else's home,'' she said.

The couple was in the process of serving the Talleys with an eviction notice because they defaulted on their payments.

"We have a house sitting out there totally, totally destroyed."

The Talleys did not answer a phone call this morning.

Konetski said this morning that the society has had many calls from people interested in adopting the dogs.

The biggest challenge remains cleaning the animals.

Of the 44 dogs, 16 have to be shaved because it was impossible to clean their fur of the matted filth and feces.

But workers must be very careful not to knick bones and cut skin.

"These guys are all so skinny, there's no meat covering those bones. All the hip bones are sticking out,'' Konetski said.

The motivation of the Talleys remains in question.

Konetski said it appears the couple were running a puppy mill, possibly selling puppies to stores.

But she acknowledges that the Talleys seen to have been hoarding dogs, as well.

Experts estimate there are at least 700 new cases of animal hoarding a year, according to an American Veterinary Medical Association Web site.

Experts suspect underlying psychological problems lead to animal hoarding.

An animal hoarder is defined as someone who does not acknowledge the deteriorating condition of the animals and of his or her home.

The hoarder believes he or she is helping the animals but instead is fulfilling a human need.

Sgt. Michael Mugnani of the Rock County Sheriff's Department was on the site of the huskie rescue and has also been involved in other local animal cases.

"I think these people are truly convinced they're helping,'' Mugnani said. "But most don't see the reality of the situation at the time. However much you might love those animals, that's not an existence.''

Mugnani said the Talleys told him that they planned to build kennels and runs for the dogs. In reality, "It's a dream that ends up turning in a nightmare.''

"Instead of having a few animals and having a nice relationship with these animals, they … can't do what they want to do for the animals. And I think both the humans and animals suffer," Mugnani said.

"I don't think they see what's spiraling out of control until it's too late. Suddenly, three dogs turn into 15 turns into 50.''

He said townships could pass ordinances restricting the number of dogs. Anything over a certain number would require a permit and inspection process. Rock Township has no such ordinance.

Mugnani had high praise for humane society workers.

Conditions were so bad at the home that rescuers should probably have been wearing contamination suits and masks, he said.

"Those guys just lifted those dogs up into the (cages),'' he said.

"It's a very difficult job. They are so compassionate with dealing with the animals.''