40 Animal Cruelty Charges Filed Against Unlicensed Kennel

GLEN BURNIE, MD — Two Glen Burnie residents face 40 counts of animal cruelty after emaciated dogs were found in filthy conditions at the property, Anne Arundel County Police said. Olympian Kennels owners Rebecca M. Wolfe, 35, and Cameron J. Whitaker-Nelson, 26, face five charges for each of the eight dogs removed from the unlicensed kennel at their house, 7 Brown Shade Drive in Glen Burnie.

Investigators say the dogs were not given proper food or veterinary care and described the conditions of two dogs as several emaciated. One of those dogs was having trouble breathing and was rushed to a local emergency animal hospital, where it was euthanized to alleviate suffering, police said.

Several dog owners from across the country had delivered their dogs to Olympian Kennels for training, and contacted animal control on March 20 with concerns about the welfare of their dogs when they could not reach the kennel’s owners by telephone. Investigators say Wolfe had posted a message on social media that Animal Control had taken all the animals in her care, which the department had not, which alarmed the dog owners.

Officers with the Animal Control Section and detectives went to the home, where they found six dogs in a basement area that smelled of ammonia and fecal matter. Two of the eight dogs at the kennels were removed by the owner's representative on March 19. Five of the dogs were turned over to the owner's representative to be returned to their owners or for follow-up veterinary check-ups. One dog was taken into protective custody by Animal Control and it has since been picked up by its owner.

The District Court Commissioner has issued criminal summonses, charging both Wolfe and Whitaker-Nelson with five criminal counts for each of the eight dogs in their care.

The charges are:

• Failure to provide nutritious food in sufficient quantity
• Failure to provide proper air
• Failure to provide proper space
• Failure to provide necessary veterinary care
• Failure to provide necessary sustenance

Police say neither Rebecca Wolfe nor Cameron Whitaker-Nelson has an Anne Arundel County license to operate as a dog fancier, commercial kennel or pet care business. Anne Arundel County Animal Control is working with other county agencies regarding any zoning or business permit violations.

The investigation into their training and care of dogs is continuing and additional charges could result. Anyone with information is asked to contact Animal Control Officer Wolfe at 410-222-3929 (no relation to Rebecca Wolfe).

Anne Arundel County Animal Control received two previous complaints to check on the welfare of animals at the accused's home on Brownshade Drive. In May of 2017 dogs at the residence were found to be healthy and in good condition. In January of 2018 several dogs were returned to their owners when Animal Control found unsatisfactory and dirty conditions where the dogs were kept in the home.

Police say an unannounced follow-up inspection related to the January 2018 complaint was conducted by Animal Control in February 2018. At that time, there were four dogs all owned by Whitaker-Nelson at the home and all were healthy, and the dirty conditions had been cleaned up.

Image via Anne Arundel County Police