KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
A Humane Society animal control officer placed this mother dog into a cage for transport. The gloves were a precaution because she was protective of her puppies.
Dogs found in squalor
Rescuers in masks negotiate
around rubbish and roaches in
the Hawaii Kai townhouse
Angie Reynolds moved into the Villa Marina complex in Hawaii Kai in October and immediately noticed a foul smell coming from her neighbor's townhouse.
Reynolds reported it to her property manager and was told the woman she knows only as Lucy admitted having "a couple of dogs."
Yesterday, firefighters responded to a fire in Unit D-105 at the 6209 Kawaihae Place complex and found 26 dogs and one cat in the two story, three-bedroom townhouse living in what they described as deplorable conditions.
"The inside of the structure was really congested. It was hard to move around. The firefighters had to actually climb through different things to get access to different parts of the house," said Capt. Kenison Tejada, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.
None of the animals appeared to be injured in the small fire.
Tejada said there were roaches running around and rubbish all over. And then there was the smell. Hawaiian Humane Society officials who entered the townhouse after obtaining a search warrant wore face masks to block the stench.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
This dog was one of 26 found yesterday in a Hawaii Kai townhouse, which reeked of feces and garbage.
"It's absolutely unbelievable. It's incredible that these kinds of conditions exist for even one animal," said Bryan Windisch, Hawaiian Humane Society field services manager.
Neighbor Ruth Zeitlin, who had also noticed the stench, was dumbfounded by what she saw yesterday. "Inhumane things bother me. That's so cruel just looking in from here."
Reynolds and Zeitlin said they rarely saw "Lucy" and never spoke to her.
The registered owner of the property is Scott Kagan, who lists a Boca Raton, Fla., address.
A woman returned to the property last night after Humane Society officials left and dashed past reporters into the townhouse.
Damage from the 11 a.m. fire was minimal, estimated at $300. Some debris sitting on an unattended stove caught fire. Fire officials have not determined the cause and said no one was home at the time of the fire.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Donning a mask against the foul odor of feces and garbage, a Hawaiian Humane Society animal control officer picked his way through deep piles of furniture and other items yesterday as hundreds of roaches scurried around the mess.
The firefighters found some of the dogs in cages and others running around freely. They gathered 25 dogs, put them in the six cages they found in the townhouse and took them outside. The 26th dog was recovered nearly three hours later after it was heard barking from inside a bedroom. Humane Society officials captured the cat about a half-hour later.
All of the dogs were of small breeds including Chihuahua, Pomeranian, miniature or toy Poodle, miniature Pinscher, terriers and possible mixes. Three dogs were nursing newborns, another is pregnant and some are older puppies.
Windisch said the dogs appeared to be in good condition considering their living conditions. They were taken to the Humane Society where a veterinarian was to have performed thorough examinations last night.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Another dog found in the Hawaii Kai townhouse.
The dogs' owner faces possible state health code violations and charges of operating a breeding facility without a permit, having unlicensed dogs and having more than 10 dogs on a property.
Humane Society officials are looking into whether the home is linked to an investigation to locate a puppy mill on Oahu. The society started receiving complaints last summer from people who bought dogs that later died or were found to be ill.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Veterinarian Carlene Takushi cared for a little dog yesterday after he vomited twice.
