LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) – Two dogs found in a Lexington home starving, without air conditioning, are in good hands at Pawmetto Lifeline.
Pawmetto Lifeline, an animal protection organization that partners with Lexington County Animal Services, took two dogs ― Rosie and Donald ― under their wing after they were rescued in Lexington.
Animal Services arrested Robert John Jachim, 40, on July 16, after the dogs were found inside his home on Corley Street, a news release from Lexington County said.
Three of the dogs found in the home were dead, according to the news release.
Pawmetto Lifeline board member and advocate Alicia McAngus was in the neighborhood.
“I could hear the dogs inside. We were just unsure if someone was living there. After speaking with some neighbors, I was pretty sure there was no one there, and they were alone with no food, no water and no air conditioning,” she said.
“You could hear the dogs crying from the street,” she said. “You didn’t have to walk up to the house.”
She started calling everyone she could think of who could help — including the Lexington County Animal Services.
Brittany Jones, director of Lexington County Animal Services, said their department has received “several complaints on this home, the pets and the owner.”
“We have a call history that extends to June,” Jones said.
However, McAngus said she didn’t feel as if the county’s response to the allegations of neglect were quick enough.
“I reached out to Lexington Animal Services. Over the weekend I didn’t think that anyone had been there to check on them,” she said. “On Monday, I more aggressively reached out to law enforcement.”
Animal services said their investigation did not begin until that Monday, July 15.
“I feel that it was an emergency situation, and the dogs were in danger,” McAngus said. “I would have liked for someone to check on their welfare a lot sooner.”
Jones said while they were made aware of allegations the homeowner was away from “private sources,” they had “no inclination that the owner was no longer on the property.”
Jones added they had previous communication with the homeowner before.
“We can not go off hearsay,” Jones said in an email to WIS News 10.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment for this story.
Rosie and Donald were severely emaciated by the time they were taken to Pawmetto Lifeline. They are having to be fed small meals several times a day, and one of them is being treated for heartworms.
McAngus expects that they will make a full recovery thanks to the nonprofits’ strong network of dedicated fosters.
“We couldn’t do what we do here without the community’s help,” McAngus said. “It takes people to step up and open their hearts and their homes.”
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