Rescue ordered to shut down after 146 dogs found dead

Justin Dennis
·2 min read
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RAVENNA, Ohio (WJW) — An animal rescue group whose co-founder was charged in the deaths of more than 150 dogs last year was ordered to shut down within five years and must repay more than $5,000 to the Portage County Animal Protective League.

A plea of no contest was entered last week in the case of Canine Lifeline Inc., a volunteer-run nonprofit animal rescue based in Northfield, charged with dozens of misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in relation to 146 of those dogs, which were found dead on property owned by its co-founder Barbara Wible.

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Wible, 69, of Parma, died in late January while awaiting trial on nearly 200 counts of animal cruelty.

She was first charged in June after investigators during a welfare check found 146 dead and decomposing dogs at her home in Mantua Township. A follow-up investigation at her home in Parma, Cuyahoga County, uncovered another 12 dead dogs and another 24 dogs that had been severely neglected for months, according to authorities.

The rescue’s volunteers at the time said they were unaware of the neglected dogs and the conditions at Wible’s home. In July, they posted what they called a “final” statement to the rescue’s website:

Canine Lifeline, Inc. wishes to express its sincere appreciation to all of the amazing people who have facilitated our all-volunteer organization in saving thousands of rescue dogs and placing them in homes with wonderful, loving adopters. We have been blessed with great volunteers and foster families, as well as so many supporters, partners, donors, friends and communities who have made our work possible.

While our rescue work is ending, the pet overpopulation problem continues, so we encourage everyone to please consider adopting homeless dogs (and cats) who so desperately need good homes where they will finally know what it is to be LOVED.

Statement from Canine Lifeline

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Court records show the plea was entered in Portage County Municipal Court on March 1, and Judge Mark Fankhauser passed the sentence that day.

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