Peacocks, parrots among 71 animals rescued from Michigan home

AUGUSTA, Mich. (WJBK) - Two peacocks and a parrot wee among 71 animals rescued from a southeastern Michigan home.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley says Thursday that the peacocks, 37 cats, nine dogs, 13 chickens and 10 exotic birds were found May 25 in Augusta Township, southwest of Detroit. 

A search warrant was conducted on May 25 and the Humane Society was called. They found excessive feces, urine, and debris littering the yard and inside the home. They also said many of the dogs and cats were locked in "filthy" plastic kennels and were forced to step and lie in their own waste.

Most of the house did not have electricity or ventilation, and there was little food on the premises, according to HSHV. They also said the exotic birds, including five cockatoos, two macaws, two conures, and an amazon parrot, were closed up in a room without light or ventilation.  

“The animals were living in extremely unsanitary and cramped conditions.  Many were sick and in need of immediate medical care.  In fact there wasn’t an animal on the property who didn’t need help,” says Melinda Szabelski, Animal Cruelty and Rescue Supervisor for HSHV. 

Under Michigan law, failing to provide care involving 10 or more animals is a felony punishable by up to 4 years and a $5,000 fine plus possible restitution.

“This case seems to fit into an ugly but all too common problem; people who claim to be rescuing animals, but are actually doing more harm than good because they don’t have the resources to ensure even basic standards of care. Commonly they can’t even recognize the suffering in front of them.  No homeless animal in Washtenaw County ever needs to be kept in these conditions. A reminder again to the pet loving public, please make sure to see the quality of care being provided before getting or giving any individual or group an animal, no matter who they are and how well intentioned they seem,” said HSHV’s CEO, Tanya Hilgendorf.