LITTLETON, Maine — State animal welfare agents removed more than 60 animals from a home in Littleton Tuesday morning after executing a search warrant with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
The action is the culmination of a two-year investigation into alleged illegal breeding and selling of dogs at the Framingham Road home, according to Liam Hughes, director of the state’s animal welfare program.
When agents arrived at the home about 11 a.m. Tuesday, Hughes said, they found a collection of about 60 dogs, cats, chickens and goats living in conditions he described as “not appropriate” for the animals.
He would not elaborate on the conditions beyond that.
An exact breakdown was not available, but Hughes said the bulk of the animals taken from the house were dogs, mostly border collie-type mixed breeds with some smaller dogs.
The animals were taken from the scene to shelters and rescue organizations from Presque Isle to Portland, Hughes said, and will undergo veterinary evaluation. He said that it is a process that will take about a week given the number of animals involved.
Hughes would not comment on specific conditions inside the home or on what kind of shape the animals seized were in, but he did say some of the dogs were in need of and received immediate veterinary care.
The BDN is not naming the homeowners because no charges have been filed yet.
Charges are pending, according to Hughes, who said area residents have been complaining for two years about the couple breeding and selling dogs from their home without a license.
“For the most part, we’ve been working this complaint for two years,” Hughes said. “Yesterday, with the conditions [inside the home] and the weather, we had enough for probable cause to go in and take the animals.”
Hughes said his office had worked unsuccessfully with the homeowners to resolve the matter and get them to reduce the number of animals in their care.
“We had exhausted all avenues,” he said. “It was in the best interest of the animals to remove them yesterday.”
Hughes said he and his agents were assisted by staff from Aroostook County shelters, but the sheer number of animals removed overwhelmed the local facilities.
“That many animals at once was too many,” he said.
The animals were taken to Central Aroostook Humane Society, Houlton Humane Society, Sissy’s Livestock Rescue in Oakfield, Bangor Humane Society, Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, Kennebec Valley Humane Society, Animal Refuge of Greater Portland and Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk.
All calls for comment to the animal shelters open on Wednesday were referred to Hughes.
Staff with the Bangor, Androscoggin and Coastal humane societies helped transport animals from the scene.
“The state does not have a shelter to house animals,” Hughes said. “So we partner up with these organizations.”
The situation inside the home over the past two years, while of concern, Hughes said, was likely never as bad as it was over this past weekend.
Charges, if any, are up to the Aroostook County district attorney, Hughes said, adding that it was his understanding the homeowners are no longer residing in the home as of this week. District Attorney Todd Collins said on Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing and he was unsure when charges would be filed.
Once the animals have been fully evaluated by a veterinarian and treated, Hughes said they will be up for adoption to approved homes.
“The entire day was very stressful on the animals, our staff, the shelters’ staff and the homeowners,” Hughes said.
