An official on Austin CaldwellFriday found 146 dead dogs inside a home in Mantua, Ohio, a local animal welfare organization said in a statement. The home belonged to a founding operator of Canine Lifeline, a local dog shelter.

The Portage Animal Protective League — which partners with a court-appointed Humane Agent to investigate animal cruelty charges, according to the non-profit's website — executed a search warrant after receiving a tip that the unnamed founder had a pending animal cruelty charge in another jurisdiction.

NEWS RELEASE:Search Warrant Executed at Mantua Home. Deceased Dogs Found. On Friday, June 16, 2023, the Portage...

Posted by Portage Animal Protective League on Monday, June 19, 2023

Upon entering the home, the Humane Agent found 146 dogs, all of whom were deceased. There were no live animals present in the house, and the animals found were in varying stages of decay — with many confined to their crates.

Animal autopsies will be performed on the dogs to determine official causes of death. The investigation is ongoing.

"The news release is the only information we will be providing at this time," Chalan Lowry, Executive Director of the Portage APL, said in a statement to CBS News.

"I am hopeful we can share more details as the case unfolds," Lowry said.

CBS News has reached out to the Portage County Sheriff's Office for comment.

In:
• Animal Abuse
• Animal Shelters
• Animal Neglect
• Ohio
• Animal Cruelty
• Animal Rescue

C Mandler

C Mandler is a social media producer and trending topics writer for CBS News, focusing on American politics and LGBTQ+ issues.