T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK A woman with a Walnut Street address in Martins Ferry is charged with 16 cases of cruelty to animals after just as many dogs were removed from her house, one of which was later euthanized.

MARTINS FERRY — A woman faces more than a dozen charges of cruelty to animals after as many dogs were removed from her home earlier this month, allegedly in such bad condition that two suffered severe bone injury, which proved fatal for one pup.

Carol Masse of 812 Walnut St., Martins Ferry, will be arraigned Oct. 7 at Belmont County Northern Division Court for 16 counts of cruelty to animals, misdemeanors of the second degree, one for each dog she had.

Howard Goldman, director of operations at the Belmont County Animal Rescue League, said they initially attempted to assist Masse in caring for the animals.

“Our humane agents have been at that property before, trying to get the owner some help,” Goldman said. “Apparently it was originally a money concern, but … progress wasn’t being made and the animals were at a point where they needed to be better taken care of.

“There were a lot of medical conditions which led to the agents deciding to go ahead and have her surrender the majority of the animals.”

Goldman said originally 13 dogs were initially removed, then three more. He said the condition of the dogs appeared to suggest these issues had been going on for some time.

“I’m talking greater than months,” he said. “Because of the significant flea infestation, a lot of them had skin infections, hair loss, there was one dog had a dislocated femur he’d had for long enough for all the muscle to (have) atrophied.”

Goldman said that dog had corrective surgery under BCARL and is now in foster care.

“He’s getting physical therapy and is walking a lot better,” Goldman said, adding some of the dogs are still in BCARL’s care or the court’s and others have been adopted to new homes.

He confirmed that one of the last three dogs seized, a chihuahua mix, had to be euthanized. Western County Court approved the request.

“His bones were severely deformed, and the veterinarian thought (the dog) was suffering for a very long time like that,” Goldman said. “It was very sad.”

“A lot of the animals are on the road to recovery. They’re in much better homes and a lot of them are requiring significant vet care,” he said. “(It’s) very pricey. … Something that (they) need and we’re able to give them.”