Target: Gwen Howe-Gebers, Prosecuting Attorney, Henry County, Ohio
Goal: Secure maximum penalties and a lifetime animal-ownership ban for the individual who allegedly confined 80 dogs in feces-soaked wire crates, leaving at least one puppy near death.
A four-month-old Doberman puppy now nicknamed Snowcone is fighting for her life after being seized—along with roughly 79 other dogs—from an allegedly squalid house of horrors. Investigators reportedly found stacked wire cages covering every room, floors saturated with urine-and-feces-soaked wood chips, and an overpowering stench of ammonia. Snowcone, one of 16 pups crammed into these conditions, reportedly emerged dangerously thin and suffering from a serious heart defect. According to veterinarians, without an expensive procedure she will not live past her first birthday.
Authorities say the homeowner’s entire residence functioned as a makeshift kennel, yet basic care—fresh air, clean bedding, medical attention—was apparently nonexistent. Prolonged neglect can cause painful respiratory disease, organ failure, and lifelong trauma. Rescuers at the Toledo Humane Society have already spent thousands on emergency care for Snowcone and her littermates, costs that will climb as more hidden ailments surface.
When animals endure prolonged confinement in filth, justice demands more than a slap on the wrist. Meaningful prosecution can deter future hoarders, recover restitution for skyrocketing shelter costs, and, most importantly, safeguard any other living beings who might cross this defendant’s path. Sign below to demand the alleged perpetrator face the harshest penalties allowed under Ohio law, alongside a permanent prohibition on keeping animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prosecutor Howe-Gebers,
Dozens of dogs—many just weeks old—were reportedly discovered in a Henry County home stacked floor-to-ceiling with wire cages, every surface reeking of ammonia and layered with excrement-soaked wood chips. One victim, a four-month-old Doberman called Snowcone, reportedly emerged so debilitated that she now requires a $7,000 heart surgery simply to reach her first birthday.
These facts, as reported by law enforcement and veterinary professionals, indicate prolonged, systematic neglect. The physical and emotional torment allegedly inflicted upon approximately 80 dogs warrants far more than minimal fines or probation. Each animal seemingly suffered every minute it was forced to breathe toxic fumes, stand in its own waste, and cry for relief that never came.
We respectfully urge your office to pursue the maximum sentence for all applicable counts, request full restitution for rescue and medical expenses, and seek a lifetime ban on animal ownership. A decisive response will send an unmistakable message that Henry County will not tolerate the cruel warehousing of living, feeling beings.
Thank you for acting on behalf of Snowcone and every other dog whose apparent suffering demands justice.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: bullcitydogs
