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The Humane Society of Greater Dayton has concluded a large-scale animal neglect case involving the removal of 68 animals from a home in Kettering. The animals, which included 45 cats, 7 guinea pigs, 6 rabbits, 3 dogs, and 1 bird, were rescued from the property on November 7, 2024, after concerns were raised about unsanitary and unsafe living conditions.
The homeowner, Melissa Epperson, was well known in the local Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) community and had been operating an informal cat rescue out of her residence. However, the conditions inside the home deteriorated significantly, resulting in the city condemning the property. Following intervention, Epperson cleaned the home to lift the condemnation, but faced legal action due to the mistreatment of the animals.
After legal proceedings, Epperson entered a plea agreement in the Kettering Municipal Court. She pled guilty to one count of animal neglect and will serve five years of probation under strict conditions. These include regular inspections of the three dogs returned to her care, spay/neuter requirements, and a prohibition on obtaining any additional animals. As part of her sentence, Epperson must also undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with all recommendations. Additionally, she reimbursed the Humane Society of Greater Dayton $8,330 for veterinary fees incurred during the animals' care.
The rescued animals, except for the three dogs returned to Epperson by the court, have been surrendered to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, where they are receiving medical attention, with most available for adoption now.
The Humane Society encourages members of the public to report concerns about animal welfare and reminds the community that animal hoarding often starts with good intentions but can quickly spiral into harmful situations for both people and animals. If you have witness animal abuse or neglect within Montgomery County, please report it today with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton by visiting www.hsdayton.org/report.
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