19 dogs, cats found living alone in home

Bloomington police found nine dogs, seven puppies and three cats living in a one-story house without water or electricity Sunday.

An anonymous call alerted officers to several animals being kept inside a house in the 2600 block of South Kimble Drive, Sgt. Shane Rasche of the Bloomington Police Department said.

When officers arrived at the house they were greeted only by barking dogs. Contact was later made with the renters of the house, who told officers they were not currently living at the address, Rasche said.

Four adults and two children had lived in the residence, but they were unable to afford the utility bills at the time.

The renters told officers they were living somewhere else but would frequently check on the animals until they had the means to get the utilities turned
back on.

The 19 animals were in good health and did not appear to be abused or neglected, Rasche said. The condition of the house, which contained feces and urine, however, led Animal Control to take the animals.

Criminal charges are not currently being sought against the renters, Rasche said, as the cats and dogs did not seem to be abandoned.

“It does not appear to be a criminal issue,” he said. “They may have just got in a little over their heads.”

— Jake New