Kathy Witzman said she is still puzzled as to why Trumbull County sheriff's officials and officials from the Animal Welfare League raided her no-kill humane sanctuary earlier this month and took all of the animals.
"I had a lot of vets techs on the property that know neglect," Witzman said. "They were all here, and nobody found a problem."
After an investigation and two weeks of planning, a rescue operation took place Feb. 12 at her property, where she housed more than 160 dogs, along with cats, chickens and two horses. Now, all of the animals are being housed in a temporary shelter provided by the Animal Welfare League, and Witzman is facing one count of animal cruelty and one count of open dumping.
After the raid, volunteers and police said living conditions were deplorable and some of the worst they've seen.
Witzman said she is furious about rumors she didn't feed the animals.
"Sweet feed, hay, 400 and 600 pounds of straw a week here," she said.
Witzman, who operated the sanctuary for more than 14 years, said she would purchase or get food donated for the dogs.
"There was no trying," said Witzman. "Every night we fed and watered and bedded."
She explained that there were two underground waterlines near the pens where the dogs were kept to help get the animals drinking water.
She said she now worries that since she is shut down, stray animals will have nowhere to go.
The Animal Welfare League is in the process of trying to find homes for the animals. Anyone interested in adopting should call the league at 330-394-4122 or stop by their facility.
