He also claimed there were misrepresentations in documents filed related to the removal, Chief Deputy Dave Duchak said Monday. The investigation should be complete in about two weeks, he said.
Animal rights rescue groups said Aug. 6 they were asked to rescue as many as 60 exotic birds from the property. They said the building’s conditions were filthy and there were as many as 30 dead birds inside.
Ten birds that a veterinarian said needed medical care were taken to Dayton South Veterinary Clinic in Kettering, where they remain.
Duchak said Ratcliff told detectives he had 54 birds at one time. Five dead birds were found and there were fewer than 20 at the property late last week, he said.
Sharon Karns, Miami County Humane Society humane officer, said Ratcliff, who has been cleaning the birds’ quarters, and his family will now feed and water the birds and clean the housing.
Karns said she will continue to monitor the situation, visiting at least weekly, and that a local veterinarian is checking the birds regularly.
On Aug. 1, Karns gave Ratcliff two weeks to clean up the vacant house where the birds had been living.
A group planned a peaceful demonstration Monday evening outside the Miami County Animal Shelter just north of Troy. The group said it wanted the remaining birds removed from Ratcliff’s property.
Karns said she does not know when her investigation will be complete or how long the birds will be monitored. “I will be checking until I know for sure he’s not going to relapse into old habits,” she said.
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