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Dogs Seized in Richfield, Why No Arrests Have Been Made
As the 46 puppies who were illegally transported to Washington County found new homes on Tuesday, FOX6 News has learned why the man who brought them to Wisconsin in the back of his van has not been arrested.
RICHFIELD, Wis. – As the 46 puppies who were illegally transported to Washington County found new homes on Tuesday, Sept. 6, FOX6 News has learned that the man who brought them to Wisconsin in the back of his van had no been arrested.
A lieutenant with the Washington County Sheriff‘s Office said Tuesday that this investigation is ongoing and complicated.
A new puppy can be a handful. Forty-six puppies is a lot for one person.
“She knew him personally and was concerned he wouldn’t have the capacity to care for that number of animals, so she contacted us,” Lt. Tim Kemps said.
Kemps said that call led them to find all 46 puppies and an adult dog in a man’s home in Richfield.
“When they were found, in some cases there were multiple dogs per kennel,” Kemps said.
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FOX6 News spoke to the person who called the police, who shared screenshots from Friday.
The man posted on Facebook, “If anyone is feeling generous tomorrow and wants to come and help bathe 52 puppies, that would be awesome of you!”
He then posted: “Lots of puppies available from Saturday for adoption!”
He also posted a photo from his trip up north with the dogs with the caption, “I smell you bucky, I smell you.”
FOX6 News has blurred the man’s name as he has not been arrested or charged. FOX6 stopped by the man’s home on Tuesday afternoon, and he didn’t appear to be home. Shortly after we left, we saw several sheriff’s deputies stop by his property.
We asked Kemps why he wasn’t arrested on the spot.
“For a few reasons,” Kemps said. “It’s a fairly complex investigation. There are two angles of view. It’s really a licensing investigation as well as to make sure we don’t have any animal cruelty issues or anything like that. this nature.”
Lt. Kemps said Tuesday he expects the investigation to be completed in about a week. He said it appears the man brought the dogs here with the intention of selling them.
While the man’s Facebook post listed 52 dogs and only 47 had been turned over to the Humane Society, Kemps said he believed the man didn’t know exactly how many dogs he had. Kemps said he didn’t believe there was a shortage of dogs.
The man turned all the dogs over to the Washington County Humane Society, where most found new homes on Tuesday.
