MONROE - Three dogs were seized Tuesday from a Belleville man's property that has been the subject of multiple animal welfare complaints since 2014, authorities said.
Bradley D. Zweifel, 40, was arrested June 5 for mistreatment of animals and two counts of obstructing, all misdemeanors, according to a news release issued by the Green County Sheriff's Department. Zweifel has yet to be formally charged with any crimes in the case, GCSD Humane Deputy Scott Ellefson said Tuesday, but Zweifel is due in court for the civil portion of the case July 2 and the criminal portion July 20.
The three pit bulls taken from the property, located in the N7900 block of County CC, were a father, mother and daughter. They were taken because they appeared to be mistreated. All three are of adult stature, said Ellefson, and are currently being held at the Green County Humane Society.
GCSD Sheriff Mark Rohloff said preventing Zweifel from owning animals in the future would require a conviction, plus a court order. Wisconsin law stipulates the maximum period someone can be banned from owning animals is five years, Rohloff said.
Rohloff said the welfare of animals on the property created a firestorm of attention and controversy in part because they're easily visible from the road.
"That's what prompted all the complaints," said Rohloff.
Ellefson said in January 2014, the sheriff's department received a complaint of two ponies who were tied up outside during a period of extremely cold temperatures, the so-called "polar vortex."
Deputies promptly went to the property and observed that the ponies had access to food and water and appeared to be healthy, Ellefson said. From what police could see at the time, the animals weren't being abused, he said, and all indicators suggested their living conditions were adequate.
Afterwards, activists criticized the actions of the department through phone calls, on blogs and in social media posts.
"We got calls from all over the world," Rohloff said. "People were upset because we didn't seize the animals."
Ellefson said that while police didn't order Zweifel to make any changes to how he cared for the ponies, he took it upon himself to build a structure that provided them more shelter.
Earlier this year, Ellefson said, the Belleville Police Department received an anonymous tip that a dog belonging to Zweifel reportedly injured one of the ponies, and Zweifel was aware of it. Ellefson said police responded and found that one of the ponies had already died and been buried after a dog bit it. He said the other pony was severely injured by a dog, and police and Zweifel together agreed to euthanize it.
Police did not take any action with any dogs belonging to Zweifel at the time, said Ellefson.
Ellefson said police found the buried pony Tuesday and that Zweifel also will be cited for improper disposal of a carcass.
The investigation is still ongoing, Ellefson said.
Bradley D. Zweifel, 40, was arrested June 5 for mistreatment of animals and two counts of obstructing, all misdemeanors, according to a news release issued by the Green County Sheriff's Department. Zweifel has yet to be formally charged with any crimes in the case, GCSD Humane Deputy Scott Ellefson said Tuesday, but Zweifel is due in court for the civil portion of the case July 2 and the criminal portion July 20.
The three pit bulls taken from the property, located in the N7900 block of County CC, were a father, mother and daughter. They were taken because they appeared to be mistreated. All three are of adult stature, said Ellefson, and are currently being held at the Green County Humane Society.
GCSD Sheriff Mark Rohloff said preventing Zweifel from owning animals in the future would require a conviction, plus a court order. Wisconsin law stipulates the maximum period someone can be banned from owning animals is five years, Rohloff said.
Rohloff said the welfare of animals on the property created a firestorm of attention and controversy in part because they're easily visible from the road.
"That's what prompted all the complaints," said Rohloff.
Ellefson said in January 2014, the sheriff's department received a complaint of two ponies who were tied up outside during a period of extremely cold temperatures, the so-called "polar vortex."
Deputies promptly went to the property and observed that the ponies had access to food and water and appeared to be healthy, Ellefson said. From what police could see at the time, the animals weren't being abused, he said, and all indicators suggested their living conditions were adequate.
Afterwards, activists criticized the actions of the department through phone calls, on blogs and in social media posts.
"We got calls from all over the world," Rohloff said. "People were upset because we didn't seize the animals."
Ellefson said that while police didn't order Zweifel to make any changes to how he cared for the ponies, he took it upon himself to build a structure that provided them more shelter.
Earlier this year, Ellefson said, the Belleville Police Department received an anonymous tip that a dog belonging to Zweifel reportedly injured one of the ponies, and Zweifel was aware of it. Ellefson said police responded and found that one of the ponies had already died and been buried after a dog bit it. He said the other pony was severely injured by a dog, and police and Zweifel together agreed to euthanize it.
Police did not take any action with any dogs belonging to Zweifel at the time, said Ellefson.
Ellefson said police found the buried pony Tuesday and that Zweifel also will be cited for improper disposal of a carcass.
The investigation is still ongoing, Ellefson said.