Two Wyoming County men, a father and his son, have each been charged with dozens of counts of animal abuse after 44 dogs were removed from a residence in the Town of Middlebury late last month. Authorities removed the dogs after a homeowner, 54-year-old Joseph Wenzel Jr., called 911 to report someone had dropped off dozens of caged Chihuahuas on his driveway. One dog was deceased.
Investigators determined the dogs were left there by 77-year-old Joseph Wenzel Sr., just days after officers went to his Batavia home on a noise complaint for a barking dog. They say Wenzel Jr. failed to inform them it was his father who abandoned the dogs.
Wenzel Sr. told officers he couldn't care for the dogs any longer. He has been arrested and charged with 44 counts of animal abandonment. Wenzel Jr. is charged with 44 counts of animal abuse and one count of falsely reporting. He is in the Wyoming County Jail on $10,000 bail.