Brown County dog warden allegedly gassed 37 dogs to death

RIPLEY, Ohio - Ruth Wilder loves dogs.

She routinely picks up strays and bring them to her 5.5 acres outside of Ripley, Ohio.

"They're like my babies, like my family you know."

The Brown County dog warden apparently thought otherwise.

"They told me they were going to kill them all."

According to the Ohio SPCA, Dog Warden Andrew Dunn seized 37 dogs from Wilder's property and had them immediately killed in an illegal gas box at the shelter.

"I'm angry but I'm afraid to say anything," Wilder said.

All that remains of the animals is a pile of empty cages.

The Ohio SPCA says the shelter’s gas box is illegal. They have sent a letter to both Dunn and Brown County commissioners demanding that they stop using it.

Dunn was not available for comment on Friday afternoon, but his assistant stated that they “shut it down.”

The Ohio SPCA has requested that the shelter's records be turned over to them for inspection. They believe Wilder's dogs were taken without a warrant, and marked as strays, which would have granted 72 hours for the pets to be claimed.

The dog warden did allow Wilder to keep 10 of her dogs.

The Ohio SPCA says they are considering taking legal action against the county.