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Dennis and Michele Hatcher

Couple's Animals Confiscated From 2nd Home

POSTED: 5:37 pm EDT August 19, 2005

Twenty dogs and three cats -- some in poor condition -- were confiscated Friday from an Indianapolis home connected to a couple who already had been arrested on neglect charges because of conditions at another residence, authorities said.

Authorities said Dennis A. Hatcher, 25, and Michele L. Hatcher, 31, were in the process of moving from a rented residence near Avon to the Indianapolis home, located on the 8600 block of Spring Valley Lane.

The Hatchers were arrested in Hendricks County on Thursday after officers found the carcasses of eight dogs and one cat on their Avon-area rental property and animal feces throughout that home, police said.

The Hatchers face charges in Hendricks County of neglect of a dependent. The couple's 7-year-old daughter has been placed in the custody of child protective services.


Slideshow: Animals Taken From Home

On Thursday night, police learned that animals could be at the Indianapolis home. Authorities obtained a search warrant, and on Friday, animal control officers found 23 animals there, RTV6's Jeremy Brilliant reported.

"These animals are weak. They are malnourished," Indianapolis Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Media Wilson said. "There were eight puppies involved. There was a great deal of animal feces in the area where the puppies were found."

Wilson said the animals would be taken to a shelter and receive veterinary care.

Officials said some of the animals taken from the Indianapolis home were in poor shape. "These animals are weak. They are malnourished," Indianapolis Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Media Wilson said.

"If there is a situation where we can't save an animal, that animal would be euthanized," Wilson said.

The Hatchers will face felony animal neglect charges in Marion County, authorities said.

Police said animal control officers had been watching the Hatchers for years because they had a high number of animals. Authorities believe neglect problems escalated recently.

"This isn't like they didn't know they were supposed to take care of these animals," Hendricks County prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said.


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