RAVENNA, Ohio — 68-year-old Barbara Wible faced a judge in Ravenna Monday morning on multiple counts of animal cruelty after authorities say 146 dead dogs were found last month at a home in Mantua.
Wible appeared for her arraignment via video from the hospital.
“I had more than three pulmonary blood clots last week, so I was in the ICU for three days. So I have not even really had a chance to review these charges," she told the judge when asked how she wished to plea. "I haven’t had a chance to speak to anybody about them.”
Wible pleaded not guilty and said she was planning to speak with an attorney. The next court date has not yet been set.
We streamed Monday's entire court hearing live, which you can watch in full below:
Details of the case first surfaced last month when the Portage Animal Protective League’s Humane Investigations Department executed a search warrant at the home after receiving a tip that an animal cruelty charge was pending in another jurisdiction against the homeowner.
“Many of the dogs were found confined within their crates,” according to the Portage Animal Protective League.
Wible has also been indicted in Cuyahoga County “for severely neglecting 36 dogs at her Parma residence,” which the prosecutor’s office says resulted in the deaths of 13 dogs.
“This woman operated to the public under the guise of helping dogs in need of a home, and then caused the death of 13 dogs and severely harmed 23 dogs in our county alone,” Prosecutor Michael O’Malley announced last week. “I hope this truly horrific case does not deter people from adopting dogs from reputable rescue organizations. If you have any concerns about animal mistreatment or abuse, you can report them to your local animal control officers and/or police department.”
The prosecutor’s office says Wible is the president and co-founder of a dog rescue known as Canine Lifeline.
It was back on June 2 when the Parma authorities responded to a welfare check at a residence near West 54th Street and West Ridgewood Drive. Upon their arrival, officers reported a strong odor coming from the residence and numerous dog cages and feces found in the garage.
“Officers observed approximately four to five dogs, who appeared deceased, through the window,” according to the prosecutor’s office. “Further investigation revealed a total of 36 dogs, which appeared to be malnourished, were locked in cages inside the residence for an extended period of time. Their cages were too small and contained their own feces.”
It’s also alleged that all 36 dogs at the Parma home were without food or water.
Of the 36 dogs, the prosecutor’s office says 12 were pronounced dead at the scene, three were taken to a local emergency veterinary clinic where one had to be euthanized. The other 21 dogs were taken to a local animal shelter.
She will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.