RAVENNA, Ohio — A Portage County judge has ordered Canine Lifeline Inc., the nonprofit co-founded by the late Barbara Wible, to shut down after 146 dogs were found dead on her Mantua property last year.
Canine Lifeline pleaded no contest to 25 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty on March 1. Judge Mark Fankhauser ordered the Northfield-based organization to pay back $5,000 to the Portage County Animal Protective League and to cease operations within five years.
Wible, who had been facing numerous animal cruelty charges in both Cuyahoga and Portage counties in connection to the deaths of a total of 160 dogs, died on Jan. 28.
The background
The case involving Canine Lifeline dates back to June 16, 2023, when a search warrant was executed by the Portage Animal Protective League’s Humane Investigations Department at the Mantua house owned by Wible. A total of 146 dead dogs were found in various stages of decay, with many of them confined in their crates. No dogs were found alive at the residence.
A few days later, Canine Lifeline, Inc. wrote a long post on Facebook expressing shock at the revelations discovered at Wible's house. "We share your grief and despair," the organization wrote. "Wible was a very private person who appeared, to us, to be devoted to these rescue animals; it appeared to be her life's passion, and we are sickened and blindsighted (sic) to learn this was a facade."
That post, and the Facebook page itself, were eventually removed. (Below is the screenshot)
On June 27, 2023, Canine Lifeline was charged in Portage County Municipal Court with 25 counts of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor charge. On July 5, the organization sent out what it called its "final public statement."
"Canine Lifeline, Inc. wishes to express its sincere appreciation to all of the amazing people who have facilitated our all-volunteer organization in saving thousands of rescue dogs and placing them in homes with wonderful, loving adopters. We have been blessed with great volunteers and foster families, as well as so many supporters, partners, donors, friends and communities who have made our work possible.
"While our rescue work is ending, the pet overpopulation problem continues, so we encourage everyone to please consider adopting homeless dogs (and cats) who so desperately need good homes where they will finally know what it is to be LOVED.
"Thank you"
Wible's Parma case
The search warrant was executed at the Mantua house after the Portage County APL said it had received a tip regarding a pending animal cruelty charge against Wible in another jurisdiction.
On June 2, two weeks before investigators searched the Mantua property, the Parma Police Department was dispatched to a house on West Ridgewood Drive for a welfare check. An Amazon driver told police that several packages were pilling up at the home, some that may have been there for more than a week.
Officers found Wible on the floor, but moving. She told police she wasn't sure how long she was on the floor, but guessed she had fallen down.
In addition to finding Wible, police found several dogs both alive and dead at the house and contacted the Parma Animal Control Officer. A total of 36 dogs were found at the house, 12 were dead and an additional two had to be euthanized.
“All 36 dogs found were without food or water, some dogs had not been fed since March,” said the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office in a release.
Following Wible's death in January, 3News Investigator Lynna Lai reported that Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said Wible's criminal cases will be closed. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office added the state will also be filing a motion to dismiss as abated by death.
Previous Reporting:
- Barbara Wible case: Woman facing charges connected to the deaths of 160 dogs in Cuyahoga and Portage counties dies
- Barbara Wible faces Cuyahoga County judge in Parma animal cruelty case involving multiple dog deaths
- 3News Investigates: Portage County woman arraigned on animal cruelty charges after 146 dogs found dead at her Mantua home; trial set for Oct. 24
- Police: Woman who owns Mantua house where 146 dogs found dead had another 36 dogs at Parma home
- 'It was just horrendous': 146 dogs found dead inside Mantua home