BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) – A dead dog in a trash bag. That’s the allegation that recently led Clermont County deputies to a Batavia home.
Inside the home, they found dozens of animals living in filth and five children living among them. Grace Johnson is now charged with five counts of child endangering and eight counts of animal cruelty. Additionally, her children have been removed from the home.
Local 12 has learned that Johnson is a local animal breeder.
The day before Halloween, deputies showed up to Johnson’s front door after someone allegedly showed them a video of what appeared to be a dead dog in a trash bag. They said that a subsequent search revealed six dogs and 28 cats—mostly caged—covered in urine and feces.
In court documents, deputies described an overwhelming smell with all of the dogs having matted hair and fleas. Johnson denied any dogs dying recently.
The sheriff’s office said that Johnson told one of their detectives that she was breeding cats; however, the sheriff’s office said that there was no indication she was also breeding dogs. However, her Facebook page and online advertisements showed otherwise.
A pet advertising site called Hoobly showed puppies and cats being sold through Graceful Pups within the last few weeks. The priciest feline was listed for $2,000.
The Clermont County Animal Shelter took in the animals found in Johnson’s home.
“It sounds like she wasn’t able to keep them in humane circumstances, which is heartbreaking,” said Devon Smith, executive director of the League for Animal Welfare.
While they’re not involved in this case, the League for Animal Welfare said that this adds to local shelters’ population crisis.
“To have someone breeding more [animals] when we can’t place the ones that are already alive is really hard to hear,” said Smith.
The League for Animal Welfare is currently housing 50 dogs and 300 cats.
“[The cats are] cute, fluffy, adorable, and adoptable,” said Smith. “It always blows my mind when someone is breeding cats.”
The League for Animal Welfare encourages people to try local shelters first before choosing to go to a breeder. To see animals up for adoption, click here.
Johnson is being held on $15,000 bond.