83 toy-sized dogs removed from wire cages in St. Clair Twp.

Jackie Smith, Port Huron Times HeraldPublished 4:25 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2019 | Updated 6:15 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2019

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Animal control officers seized 83 dogs from a St. Clair Township property this week, and soon, they’ll be up for adoption.

St. Clair County Animal Control Director Erika Stroman said the dogs, as well as five cats and two parakeets, were removed from the property Tuesday after a tip was called in. She said the animals were kept in stacked wire cages in a building other than the owner’s home. 

Most of them — toy-sized poodles, Pomeranians, Yorkies and Malteses— were at the animal control shelter Friday in Port Huron Township.

Stroman said they were working with SNAP to have them spayed and neutered and that, within a couple weeks, interested pet owners will be able to take them home.

“They’re scared to death. That’s something that people have to understand — that the situation these dogs were in, they’re not going to be housebroken,” the shelter director said. “They’re going to need some socialization.

St. Clair County Animal Control Director Erika Stroman holds one of the dogs the organization rescued earlier this week Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the shelter. The department rescued 83 dogs from a property that was allegedly breeding them, as well as five cats and two birds.

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St. Clair County Animal Control Director Erika Stroman holds one of the dogs the organization rescued earlier this week Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the shelter. The department rescued 83 dogs from a property that was allegedly breeding them, as well as five cats and two birds. (Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

“Some are super friendly, but a lot of them have a hard time figuring out to walk on a solid floor because they’re used to standing on wire. Once you pick them up, they’re affectionate, but they’re probably going to hide in the house.”

Many of the dogs had been shaved because they were found with “severe matting” of their fur, she said, adding, “They all have little sweaters right now because they were all pretty much shaved.”

The shelter’s also still working on helping the dogs seek treatment for an assortment of “severe medical conditions,” Stroman said.

As a result, she said they’re encouraging extra donations to Animal Control in addition to the usual $120 adoption fee.

St. Clair Conty Animal Control Director Erika Stroman holds one of the 83 dogs rescued by the department earlier this week. Many of the dogs had to be shaved due to severe matting of their fur, and were dressed in sweaters and costumes. In addition to the dogs, which were rescued from a property that was allegedly breeding them, the department also rescued five cats and two birds.

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St. Clair Conty Animal Control Director Erika Stroman holds one of the 83 dogs rescued by the department earlier this week. Many of the dogs had to be shaved due to severe matting of their fur, and were dressed in sweaters and costumes. In addition to the dogs, which were rescued from a property that was allegedly breeding them, the department also rescued five cats and two birds. (Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

“Mostly all of them have severe dental disease. A couple of them went to rescues and they’re going to have to have probably most of their lower jaw removed because of the teeth rot,” Stroman said. “We’ve had uterine infections called (pyometras). We’ve had heart murmurs. So, we’re treating everything. We’ve had a lot of pregnant ones that Blue Water Area Humane Society has taken and ones with babies.”

Stroman said that they were likely to pursue neglect- and cruelty-related charges. No further information into the situation was available as of Friday.

For more information, call Animal Control at (810) 984-3155.

Contact local government reporter Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.

A Yorkie rescued earlier this week by St. Clair County Animal Control looks out of it's cage Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the shelter. Many of the dogs will need training and socializing after being adopted.

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A Yorkie rescued earlier this week by St. Clair County Animal Control looks out of it’s cage Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the shelter. Many of the dogs will need training and socializing after being adopted. (Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

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