Animal cruelty charges filed against Weathersfield Township woman

NILES — A humane officer for the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County has filed an animal cruelty charge against the woman whose 24 dogs were removed last week because of deplorable home conditions.

Theresa C. McBride, 66, of Ohltown McDonald Road in Weathersfield Township, was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for an evaluation last Wednesday during an investigation of her home.

She is due for arraignment in Niles Municipal Court on the misdemeanor charge April 5.

Weathersfield police were called to her house for a barking dog complaint, but the officer noticed a powerful urine smell while still standing on the porch and went inside to investigate.

He found an extremely bad odor of dog urine and feces and observed dirty dishes and used food containers “covering every square inch of the kitchen and heaping in a mound about 2 feet fall.”

The dogs are being housed at the Animal Welfare League facility in Vienna Township.