Man living with 71 dogs appears in court - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

The man police say had 71 dogs in one home appeared before a Chatham County Judge Monday afternoon.

Daniel Golden, 43, faces 123 city ordinance violations after a neighbor called police on Sunday, Jan. 22 complaining of excessive barking at a house on East 33^rd Street. That's when Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police and Animal Control found 71 dogs inside the home investigators say was filthy, including a two to three foot pile of dog feces.

Golden admitted to Judge Tammy Stokes he's been living in the home with the animals, but didn't realize how many dogs were inside the home. He said he loved the animals and didn't want to give them to anyone who may have abused them.

Animal Control said all of the dogs appeared to have been well fed, however they had not been vaccinated.

Golden is being cited for nuisance, sanitation, 71 counts of animal neglect, and 50 counts for vaccinations required. Only the dogs older than four months were required to be vaccinated.

Judge Stokes ruled Golden gets his personal belongings out of the home, as it's been condemned. She also ordered Golden to return to court on Feb. 13 when she's expected to sign an order for Golden to get a mental evaluation.

For a few minutes, standing alongside of Golden was James Butler. Butler is the grandson of the woman who owns the home Golden was renting. The homeowner's been cited for the house not being up to the city's code. Judge Stokes ruled on a cease and desist request, forcing the owner to correct the issues with the house. Until then, Judge Stokes said no one is to live in the home. Butler is scheduled to be back in court on April 2 to update the court on the progress of the house.

There are about a dozen of the rescued dogs in need of a good home. Anyone wishing make a monetary donation, volunteer or adopt a dog from one of the volunteer organizations is asked to contact Diane Abolt of Friends of Animal Control Team Savannah (F.A.C.T.S.) at 912.484.4438. Marantha Farms from Ridgeland, SC, Brooks Bed and Biscuit from Bluffton, SC, Companion Animal Aid from Pooler, and Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) from Savannah and Effingham County also have some of the dogs.

http://www.maranathafarm.org/

http://www.brookesbedandbiscuit.com/

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/GA86.html

http://animalcontrol.chathamcounty.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Companion-Animal-Aid/165011776888797

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