44 Dogs Allegedly Trapped in Filthy Kennels Without Water: Demand Justice

Target: Alison M. Healey, State’s Attorney for Harford County, Maryland

Goal: Secure the maximum felony animal-cruelty penalties, including meaningful prison time and a lifetime ban on animal ownership, for the individual(s) who reportedly kept 44 dogs in squalid, water-deprived kennels.

Local deputies and animal-control officers reportedly entered a residence and found 44 bully-type dogs crammed into kennels reeking of waste. Investigators say the animals had no access to drinkable water, endured severely soiled bedding, and struggled to breathe in stagnant, ammonia-choked air. Some kennels allegedly lacked any ventilation or temperature control, creating an oven-like environment that could have led to deadly heat stress.

Further inspection purportedly revealed that the dogs had insufficient space even to stand or turn comfortably. Officers documented filthy conditions—feces-caked floors, urine-soaked enclosures, and inadequate shelter from the elements. These reported violations of Maryland criminal law and county code suggest prolonged neglect and disregard for even the most basic standards of care.

The sheer number of animals and the severity of the alleged neglect underscore the urgent need for a strong prosecutorial response. Sign below to demand a tough sentence to affirm that Harford County values the welfare of every companion animal and will not tolerate large-scale cruelty. Anything less risks sending the message that such gross mistreatment is a minor offense.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear State’s Attorney Healey,

Dozens of bully-breed dogs were reportedly discovered inside a Whiteford residence where investigators noted “extremely soiled bedding,” “poor air quality,” and a total lack of drinkable water. Officers allege that 44 animals were confined in cramped kennels with no ventilation or temperature control—conditions that can cause heatstroke, respiratory distress, and psychological trauma.

Maryland law recognizes that depriving animals of adequate shelter, water, and sanitary living space is a serious criminal act. Given the scale of this case and the apparent duration of the neglect, anything short of the maximum felony penalties would fail to reflect the suffering these dogs purportedly endured.

We therefore urge your office to pursue every available charge, request a substantial term of incarceration, require extensive restitution for veterinary care, and seek a lifetime prohibition on owning or keeping animals. A decisive outcome will deter future large-scale cruelty and honor the resilience of the 44 dogs rescued from this reported nightmare.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Fabrizio Velez

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38 Signatures

  • sue nightingale
  • Verónica Gómez
  • David du Plessis
  • Kathleen Archibald
  • oana barna
  • Leigh Coto
  • Leigh Coto
  • Wanza Lutz
  • Wanza Lutz
  • Wanza Lutz
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