Police remove 82 dogs from home in rural Indiana

[January 13, 2012]  CHESTERTON, Ind. (AP) -- Police who removed 82 dogs from a rural northwest Indiana home say the owner could face animal cruelty charges.

The Times of Munster reports (http://bit.ly/ystIWT) that animal control officers and Porter County deputies used four trucks to take 55 canines from the Chesterton-area home on Wednesday then returned Thursday to rescue 27 more. The dogs are being evaluated by veterinarians.

Sheriff's department spokesman Sgt. Larry LaFlower says neighbors alerted authorities to the issue because they feared dog waste around the home could seep into their drinking water.

LaFlower says homeowner Donna Montoya could face animal cruelty charges once animal control officers complete their report.

Montoya says she takes care of her dogs and feeds them every day.

___

Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com/

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.