Shelter Reopens to Intakes After Transfer Delayed

dahl dogs 1 — One of the 70+ dogs seized from the Dahl breeding operation. A number of the dogs were expected to be returned to Columbus county today as evidence in a pending trial. The county temporarily closed the shelter anticipating a lack of room. (CCSO photo)

Columbus Animal Protective services has reopened the shelter to intakes.

Sheriff Bill Rogers said the shelter was closed to new arrivals due to the anticipated arrival of 34 dogs in a pending animal cruelty case. Deborah Dahl, 70, of Hallsboro was charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals after nearly 100 dogs were seized from inhumane conditions this summer.

Almost all the cases were dropped when the assistant district attorney did not comply with a judge’s instructions to be prepared for trial. A civil case that would have required Dahl to reimburse the county for the animals’ care was also dropped. Most of the charges were refiled shortly thereafter. The new criminal case is pending trial. Dahl received some of the animals back from the county.

The remaining dogs were transferred by APS to the ASPCA because Columbus County did not have the facilities to house all the animals and provide veterinary care, Rogers said. Of those remaining in custody, 34 were scheduled to return to Columbus County today (Tuesday). Only 40 spaces were available for dogs, and bringing in the Hallsboro dogs would have meant the county would be hard pressed to handle even emergency cases.

Multiple dogs were kept in cages stacked on top of one another with no food or clean water when the home was raided by deputies and APS (file photo).

“We shut down the shelter expecting those dogs to arrive at 2 p.m. today,” he said, “but the court said they could stay there in Ohio until the court date. They’re housed safely there, and receiving proper vet care.

“It wasn’t fair to the people of Columbus County to shut down the shelter and house all those animals when there is a need for space here every day.”