Kahaluu breeder charged
with cruelty to animals

55 counts are leveled against
a man who has received
multiple state health warnings

CORRECTION Saturday, February 5, 2005 » State Department of Health Vector Control inspectors' most recent visit to a Kahaluu home suspected of being a puppy mill was on Jan. 11, 2005. A Page A3 article Thursday incorrectly said the inspection was in 2004. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

A Kahaluu man who faces possible child endangerment charges for raising his three children in a home littered with trash and animal feces has been charged with 55 counts of animal cruelty.

James Montgomery was charged after Hawaiian Humane Society investigators removed 64 dogs from his Mahakea Road home last weekend. Two newborn puppies later died. Montgomery was charged with animal cruelty for each adult dog seized, said Jacque Smith, humane society spokeswoman. A date for his arraignment has not been set, Smith said.

On Tuesday, police seized the Montgomerys' children, ages 9, 12 and 14. The children are in emergency foster care pending the completion of an investigation by state Child Welfare Services.

The state Department of Health's Vector Control Branch has visited the Montgomerys' home at least seven times since December 2002 because of complaints of strong odors coming from the property.

» Dec. 12, 2002: Vector branch inspector Mark Leong finds eight dogs on the property, and garbage, feces, urine and mosquitos breeding in containers. The case is closed after Leong is satisfied with improvements made by the Montgomerys.

» May 30, 2003: The department returns after it receives two more complaints. Leong finds similar conditions but also discovers a large fish head on the driveway, rancid garbage and a bad fly problem. Montgomery's wife, Susan, is given a verbal warning by Leong, who says he will issue a notice of violation if they do not clean up their properties. Leong is satisfied with improvements and closes the case. He returns to the properties in June and July of that year for inspections.

» Oct. 23, 2003: Leong returns after another complaint and issues a notice of violation four days later. The Montgomerys request and are granted a deadline extension to clean up their properties. Leong closes the case in December but warns the Montgomerys that this is their last chance. "If they re-violate, they will face immediate fine and violation."

» Jan. 11, 2004: The department receives another complaint. Inspectors discover the Montgomerys occupied a third property behind the other two, and find at least 100 dogs there, said Greg Olmsted, Vector Control Branch chief.

He said he instructed the inspectors to contact the humane society, which joined in on another trip to Kahaluu.

Humane society officials said they tried working with the Montgomerys to improve living conditions for the dogs.

The animals were seized when their recommendations were not followed, Smith said.