Owner surrenders 18 dogs from alleged hoarding situation in Racine: "We had way too many"

RACINE -- Officials with the Wisconsin Humane Society say 18 dogs were surrendered on Monday, March 14th when Humane Society officials and Racine police handled an alleged hoarding situation at a home near Mayfair Drive and Monterey Drive.

Humane Society officials say the dogs' owners were cooperative and surrendered the 18 dogs -- 17 chihuahuas and a beagle.

The dogs were set to be examined by a veterinarian on Monday, and some will be transferred to the Wisconsin Humane Society's Ozaukee campus due to space limitations in Racine.



The owner of the animals has admitted he had too many, and officials said the animals were packed into tiny crates filled with urine and feces.

Owner of 18 dogs rescued from home in Racine

"They sat us down and they said, 'You`ve got too many dogs,'" the owner of the animals, who agreed to speak with FOX6 News if we did not use his name said. "We had way too many dogs. I understand that."

We're told 12 adult chihuahuas were taken from the home, along with five two-week old puppies and the adult beagle.

The owner told FOX6 News he was breeding the chihuahuas to sell them.

"No one can care for that volume of animals. Walking into a situation like that, the smell can be pretty overwhelming of urine and feces," Angela Speed with the Wisconsin Humane Society said.

Home where 18 dogs rescued in Racine

The owner told FOX6 News he was allowed to keep three dogs and a bird. That would mean there was a total of 22 animals inside the home before police arrived.

Many of these animals will likely be available for adoption soon.

"They had good hearts, and couldn`t keep up with the volume of dogs in the house," Speed said.

The owner said he did have a permit to allow up to seven animals in the home.

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