24 March 28 • 2019 jn jews d in the STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER Dozens of dogs found at a Jewish cemetery. Animal Rescue M acomb and Oakland County animal control officers are investigating the discovery of dozens of dogs found in a garage at the Aaron Moishe Cemetery, also known as Beth Ahm Park, in Roseville. They found 33 dogs there and nine more dogs at the West Bloomfield rental residence of a 51-year old woman who had put the dogs in the ceme- tery garage. Later, authorities rescued 10 more dogs from the home next to the garage, which belonged to the woman. Rabbi Boruch Levin, execu- tive director of the Hebrew Benevolent Society, which cares for the cemetery, said it was a good deed of the cemetery fore- man that led to the dogs being on the property. The fore- man told Levin he was doing a favor for the woman who had taken in the dogs. Apparently, the roof of the shel- ter where she had been keeping the dogs had collapsed and the 33 dogs had nowhere else to go. Levin said the foreman did not notify him that he was taking the dogs into the garage, which the rabbi said was spacious, clean and warm, because the incident occurred over the Sabbath. The foreman’ s friend had brought space heaters and food and blankets to the garage for the dogs, who spent about 36 hours there. Authorities determined the dogs were being held in unhealthy and unsani- tary conditions and needed immedi- ate medical attention. The dogs were taken to local shelters. Levin said the Roseville police did not issue any citations against the cemetery or the foreman. Levin added that the foreman had a kind heart and there will be no consequences for him taking in the dogs. Roseville Deputy Police Chief Donald Glandon said in a statement that the woman, whose name has not yet been released to media, will be issued a citation under a Roseville city ordinance concerning unlicensed kennels. The charge is a misdemean- or, Glandon said. “It’ s too early in the investigation to determine whether any laws were broken, but we are working with Macomb County to get a clearer picture about the conditions under which the dogs were kept,” said Bob Gatt, manag- er of the Oakland County Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center, where some of the pets were taken. Local news reports from WXYZ-TV and WWJ radio say a passerby alerted Macomb County authorities to the situation at the cemetery. Additional tips led Oakland County authorities to the woman’ s rental residence at a home on the corner of Walnut and Orchard Lake roads. The woman, who said she is running an animal rescue operation, is cooperating with investigators. Although state law does not require a license to operate an animal rescue, according to Oakland County author- ities, local ordinances determine how many and what kind of animals may be kept on a property. Criminal charges are possible if authorities believe the dogs were abused or neglected, but none had been filed by press time. Patty Trevino of the River Rouge Animal Shelter told WWJ that local rescue groups are scrambling to help the seized dogs. She believes greater oversight is needed for well-meaning people who start their own animal rescues and become overwhelmed. “It’ s just becoming too frequent, and it’ s going to be damaging; not only to the dogs or cats that are in that situation, but the bigger issue of what it does to reputable rescues. It casts doubt on them,” Trevino said. ■ Drew, one of the dogs confiscated from the West Bloomfield home, at the Oakland County Animal Shelter And Adoption Center OAKLAND COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AND ADOPTION CENTER Questions? Email Sy Manello at smanello@renmedia.us or call him at 248-351-5147. Free Listing Submission Deadline is May 10, 2019. The Jewish News will honor all Jewish students who are graduating this spring from Michigan high schools in our Cap & Gown Yearbook 2019, which will be published in the May 25 issue. Free listings include a photo and up to 40 words listing your accomplishments. All listings must be submitted online. Go to thejewishnews.com/cap-and-gown to submit your free listing today!