Charges Likely in Rockville Case of 66 Dogs Seized: Official

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County authorities should decide by the middle of the week what charges to file in the case of 66 dogs that were seized on New Year’s Day from a Rockville home.

A search warrant was executed Friday night at a residence on Glen Mill Road; the removal of the animals took much of the night. The investigation began Jan. 31 when animal services officers went to the home about a dog bite report.

Animal Services Division Director Thomas Koenig told Montgomery Community Media Monday that authorities were led to believe there were about 20 to 25 dogs in the home, and instead found 66 animals.

“I was rather surprised,” Koenig said.

Shelter workers and police had prepared to take in two dozen dogs.

Koenig declined to specify what breeds of dogs were removed from the house, but said there were a variety of dog breeds in various sizes and conditions. He said the dogs are the evidence in the case, so he can’t discuss them in detail.

All the dogs are at the county shelter in Derwood, with some receiving medical care. He hopes that by mid-week authorities have the information needed to decide what charges are filed.

And investigators are still searching for the animal likely involved in the bite case.

According to Montgomery Community Media, the homeowner didn’t cooperate with officers when they first went to the house and wouldn’t allow them to inspect the home to find the dog involved in the reported bite case.

Officers said the seized dogs were in various medical and behavioral conditions. County animals officials said some of the dogs required immediate medical care.

Koenig said no photos of the dogs would be released because the investigation is continuing, and the dogs are considered “evidence.”

»Photo of Montgomery County Animal Services Center, courtesy of MyMCMedia