A Louisiana lady is behind bars after being charged with thirteen charges of animal cruelty.
When the Haughton Police Department arrived at a residence in the 400 Block of Union Rd. to conduct a routine wellness check, officers noted a ‘horrendous smell’ outside and could see many dogs in cages stacked on top of each other inside the home through the windows.
Officers met with the homeowner, Michele Massara, 61, who refused to allow them inside. As a result, they got a search warrant for the entire property, including the dwelling.
When authorities entered, they discovered over a dozen dogs in what the Haughton Police Department characterizes as ‘appalling conditions’.
Massara was arrested on 13 counts of animal cruelty and is being held on a $460,000 bond at the Bossier Maximum Facility.
The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and their animal control staff assisted in rescuing, housing, and providing life-saving care to all of the dogs.
According to the Haughton Police Department, Sheriff Parker and his team were ‘vital’ in relocating the animals when the Bossier Parish animal shelter ran out of space.
According to police, as of Tuesday, all of the dogs were receiving veterinary care and would be brought to LAMA Animal Rescue, where they will be loved and cared for until they are adopted by loving homes.
Anyone who wants to support the 13 dogs that were rescued can donate the following:
- Purina One Dog Food Cleaning Supplies
- Items needed include bleach, towels, detergent, and any monetary donations.
- Donations can be dropped off at the Haughton Police Department.
According to police, this case is being aggressively investigated.
Reference: 13 Dogs Found Living in Stacked Cages Inside Louisiana Home
