Photo Provided Badly neglected animals are groomed following their removal from a residence in Fairview. The humane organization Belmont County Hoof & Paw said multiple animals were being kept by repeat animal hoarders who are banned from owning animals. Felony-level charges are possible. Possible felony charges for accused repeat animal hoarders.

FAIRVIEW — Two accused repeat animal hoarders were arrested recently on the accusation that their neglect and poor living conditions cost animals their lives.

Julie Larish, humane agent with the organization Belmont County Hoof & Paw, said the animals were removed from the home Saturday.

“We were pretty much there all day,” she said. “We entered a home in the Fairview area and removed 12 dogs and four cats alive. We have multiple dead cats and dogs.”

Larish said the residence was located on Fair Avenue and that three women lived there, a mother and her two adult daughters.

“Worst living conditions for humans or animals that I have ever personally seen,” Larish described the situation. “Just when I think I’ve seen it all, it surprised me.”

Larish said charges have been pressed against two of the women, who were immediately taken into custody. She said one of the daughters has a disability and has not been charged at this time.

She said this is not the first animal hoarding case involving these women, adding that they have been convicted two times in Belmont County and have three convictions in Guernsey County for offenses related to animals.

“This is a repeat offender in two counties and we figured out their little scheme on how to get the animals from one county to another,” Larish said. “The grandmother owns property in two counties, and we were able to shut down their process of removing animals to avoid prosecution.”

Larish said the most recent case involving the women was in 2019 in Belmont County.

“They’ve had charges since 1991,” Larish said. “They are banned from having animals.”

However, she said they apparently are determined to have animals.

“They keep saying they need an emotional support animal, but they pretty much kill every animal,” she said, adding that the living conditions at the site were very poor.

“They have no running water. They have no bathroom facilities. There were buckets and buckets of feces all over the property and in the buildings. There is human feces everywhere,” she said. “It was really, really, really deplorable conditions.”

The women will be appearing at Belmont County Western Division Court for arraignment, but a date has not yet been set.

“At this time we are reviewing this case in order to file a felony charge or charges against one or either of the individuals,” he said. “The harm caused to the animals would be the reason why we’d file a felony charge.”

The Belmont County Jail website on Tuesday indicated that Kristi Metzler, 30, of 100 Fair Ave., Quaker City, is in the jail facing 20 counts of cruelty to animals. According to court records, Paula Metzler is facing multiple counts of cruelty to animals and prohibitions concerning companion animals.

In 2021, Paula Metzler, 55, of 100 Fair Ave., Quaker City, pleaded guilty in Belmont County Western Division Court on a 2019 case of prohibitions concerning companion animals, a misdemeanor of the second degree, and was banned from owning animals with the exception of one service animal for her daughter.

Both Paula and Kristi Metzler were booked into the Belmont County Jail on Saturday.

Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said little information would be released until court proceedings begin.

Meanwhile, Larish said the humane agency is caring for the animals.

“I have two poodles that are near death due to starvation, and we had to get them immediately groomed because they were so painful, every time you would touch them they would cringe because the mat was so thick,” she said. “There were six Chihuahuas and (the women) hid a baby Chihuahua which we later found, a 6-week-old.”

She said four large dogs were found: a Bernese Mountain Dog, a German shepherd and two standard poodles. The Chihuahuas are heavily infested with fleas. She said four standard poodles were found dead.

“There is going to be some huge vet bills,” Larish said. “All the dogs are very thin.”

The need for help for the area’s animals continues.

“We are on overload right now with medical bills. We are on overload with feed bills, but we will continue to do what we can for animals. As we get the calls we have to prioritize,” she said. “We have dogs dying, and we have to prioritize because we have to save them first before we do some of the other calls, but be patient with us.”

The group can be reached at 610-314-5203, through the Hoof & Paw Facebook page, or through BCHP Inc. on Facebook.