MONROE - A veterinarian present during the May 25 seizure of 46 Great Danes in Green County testified Tuesday that the smell of feces and urine inside the house was so strong, she had trouble breathing.
"My chest was tight and it was difficult to breathe for a few days afterwards," Emily Dahlgran testified, during a civil hearing on custody of the animals in Green County Circuit Court. "The adult dogs may have been able to handle it but the small dogs wouldn't have."
Other witnesses also described conditions inside the residence on County F near Brodhead, which ultimately resulted in the issuance of a search warrant and seizure of the dogs, which now number 60 - after several gave birth after being taken.
Testimony in the civil case is scheduled to resume Thursday before Circuit Judge James Beer.
The defendants, Allyson Williams, 24; Kathy Williams, 54; and Donovan Williams, 45, all from Brodhead, appeared in court without an attorney. Co-defendant, Melissa Harrel, 57, also of Brodhead, appeared with her attorney, Sheila Kessler.
Green County's assistant corporation council, Jane Landretti, is prosecuting the civil case.
Tuesday's testimony came from three prosecution witness - a pair of Green County deputies and Dahlgran.
Green County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Ellefson told the court that Allyson Williams was outside the house when deputies arrived to serve the warrant.
Ellefson testified that he started an investigation into the case in April 2010, acting on reports of animal abuse and neglect of horses and dogs at the residence. Ellefson further testified that he toured the home with the owners and discussed various issues, including dog registration and licenses, which none of the owners had.
During the May seizure, prosecution witnesses also told the court that dirt, urine, and fecal matter were found throughout the property and inside the single-story, ranch-style house.
Ellefson also said there was poor ventilation in the home, with fresh air coming in only from a window that was slightly open in a bedroom, a fan in another bedroom and a partially open garage door. The kennels inside and outside were "dirty" and filled with new and decaying fecal matter, Ellefson said.
"Some of the animals had food and water available to them," Ellefson said.
Officials testified that seven Green Dane puppies were found in the kitchen.
"They were all in one enclosed area and they were in one crate in that enclosed area," Deputy Joseph Youngblood said.
Five more Great Dane puppies were found in the living room.
Cats were at the house as well, but were not seized because there were no complaints related to them.
Dahlgran, a veterinarian at Brodhead Veterinary Clinic, testified that the dogs were generally in good health, though some had pre-existing conditions or genetic disorders that were unrelated to the conditions in the home.
"My chest was tight and it was difficult to breathe for a few days afterwards," Emily Dahlgran testified, during a civil hearing on custody of the animals in Green County Circuit Court. "The adult dogs may have been able to handle it but the small dogs wouldn't have."
Other witnesses also described conditions inside the residence on County F near Brodhead, which ultimately resulted in the issuance of a search warrant and seizure of the dogs, which now number 60 - after several gave birth after being taken.
Testimony in the civil case is scheduled to resume Thursday before Circuit Judge James Beer.
The defendants, Allyson Williams, 24; Kathy Williams, 54; and Donovan Williams, 45, all from Brodhead, appeared in court without an attorney. Co-defendant, Melissa Harrel, 57, also of Brodhead, appeared with her attorney, Sheila Kessler.
Green County's assistant corporation council, Jane Landretti, is prosecuting the civil case.
Tuesday's testimony came from three prosecution witness - a pair of Green County deputies and Dahlgran.
Green County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Ellefson told the court that Allyson Williams was outside the house when deputies arrived to serve the warrant.
Ellefson testified that he started an investigation into the case in April 2010, acting on reports of animal abuse and neglect of horses and dogs at the residence. Ellefson further testified that he toured the home with the owners and discussed various issues, including dog registration and licenses, which none of the owners had.
During the May seizure, prosecution witnesses also told the court that dirt, urine, and fecal matter were found throughout the property and inside the single-story, ranch-style house.
Ellefson also said there was poor ventilation in the home, with fresh air coming in only from a window that was slightly open in a bedroom, a fan in another bedroom and a partially open garage door. The kennels inside and outside were "dirty" and filled with new and decaying fecal matter, Ellefson said.
"Some of the animals had food and water available to them," Ellefson said.
Officials testified that seven Green Dane puppies were found in the kitchen.
"They were all in one enclosed area and they were in one crate in that enclosed area," Deputy Joseph Youngblood said.
Five more Great Dane puppies were found in the living room.
Cats were at the house as well, but were not seized because there were no complaints related to them.
Dahlgran, a veterinarian at Brodhead Veterinary Clinic, testified that the dogs were generally in good health, though some had pre-existing conditions or genetic disorders that were unrelated to the conditions in the home.