GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – We’re learning more details surrounding a Green Bay apartment fire Sunday morning where dogs were found dead inside the burned out unit and a man was taken into police custody.
Green Bay police were called to the building in the 1000 block of Klaus Street just after 7:30 a.m. for a wellness check. Officers were told a 54-year-old man claimed he killed his dogs and set his apartment on fire.
The man was taken into custody without incident, while firefighters put out the flames.
According to the city’s animal control officer, 8 Rottweiler dogs were found dead inside the apartment and they showed no signs of injury.
“Kind of horrendous,” Green Bay Animal Control Officer Sharon Hensen told FOX 11. “I did enter the scene with the firefighters, I wasn’t able to stay too long because the smoke was still too heavy, but the first body was pretty much by the door, that entrance out. (The) second I came across was easily three feet away.”
Hensen says of the 8 dogs, two were adults, five were aged between 6 and 8-months-old, and one was a younger puppy.
Hensen tells FOX 11 she’s known the man for a while and would frequently see him out walking his dogs. She added the two connected over their fondness for Rottweilers.
“He cared a great deal for his animals,” Hensen said. “In fact – like I tried to explain to people – that was his family-type thing. His animals were always very, very healthy, well fed, and he pretty much kept to himself with them.”
Hensen says they didn’t have a history of problems with the man and his dogs, other than complying with licensing laws. The man recently admitted to her that he had more than 2 dogs, which is a city ordinance violation unless otherwise approved. According to court records, a July 2015 citation for no dog/cat license was dropped.
“He had got two of his dogs licensed,” said Hensen. “He had come outside to meet us, never allowed us in the apartment at that time. We talked, he did admit to me finally that he had more than two – that he had three – so we talked about a permit.”
The Green Bay P.D. reveals that he’s being evaluated by mental health professionals. Charges of arson and animal mistreatment are possible.
The property owner, Green Bay Alderman Guy Zima, told FOX 11 he’s in the process of selling the property. Zima said the new owner told the man he, “had to get rid of all of the dogs.”
Anyone in need of help caring for their animals, through free spay and neuter programs, food assistance and other resources should call Green Bay Animal Control at (920) 448-3266.
