The Eagle Point Police Department served a search warrant in the 400 block of Crystal Drive following a two-year investigation into allegations of animal neglect and animal abuse at the residence, as well as numerous City Ordinance violations.
On Tuesday, officers attempted to serve the warrant, but the resident was uncooperative. After negotiations, the resident, identified as Jana Tepper, exited the residence and was detained. A second male occupant then refused to leave the residence.
Due to the large number of dogs believed to be inside, officers attempted to remove the occupants without entering the home. When the male occupant continued to refuse to exit, officers entered and safely escorted him outside.
Officers from the Eagle Point Police Department, along with Jackson County Animal Control, Mercy Flights, Jackson County Mental Health, and Rogue Valley Emergency Veterinary Hospital, began processing the scene. Investigators estimated that more than 30 dogs were living inside the residence.
The dogs appeared to have been confined indoors and were not regularly taken outside to urinate or defecate. The floors of the residence were covered in feces, creating an extremely hazardous environment. The dogs were carefully removed from the residence and examined outside by veterinarians. Each dog was secured and transported to area shelters.
Securing the residence and removing all of the dogs took more than nine hours. Tepper was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on Aggravated Animal Abuse charges. Additional charges are expected after the results of the exams have been assessed.
