Dog rescued from filthy home; 25-year-old owner cited

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN

Police and humane agents removed a dog from a wretched East Side home late Thursday morning.

A housing-code officer and humane agents were called to a home at 3631 Neilson Ave. about 11:15 a.m. for a dog that was choking on his chain and had no food or water in blistering heat.

Neighbors said in reports that the dog had been confined to an upstairs room but had jumped out the window and was stuck under the porch.

The humane agents freed the dog and examined him, and he appeared to be fine. He was given to the group Huckstar Dogs and Hogs Rescue after the owner, Kimberly Harp, 25, signed a release. The report did not say how old the dog is or what kind of breed it is.

Harp was staying at her sister’s at a nearby home, reports said. She was cited for several housing-code violations including the accumulation of trash and broken windows and no utilities. Reports said there were roaches and food in every room of the house, and trash was piled up in the front and back yards.

There was also furniture inside belonging to a rental company, but when they came to pick it up they told police they had to throw it away because it was ruined by roaches, reports said.

The home was also red tagged, a designation meaning no one is allowed to live there until necessary repairs are made.