Oct 1, 2008 5:54 pm US/Eastern
Goats, Ducks, Chickens Found In Ross Twp. Home
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) ―
When humane officers arrived at a Ross Township woman's doorstep with a search warrant, they found dozens of domestic and farm animals inside her house.
It happened at a home on Ridgeside Road.
Mary Lou Frankovic says she had about 40 bunny rabbits in cages, seven dogs and two cats. But it was the barnyard in her basement in suburbia that brought a flock of humane officers, building code officials, a state dog warden and Ross Township Police to her home.
Kathy Hecker, a humane officer with Animal Friends, says there's no way to maintain sanitary conditions for that many animals in that house. The animals were removed.
"I'm sick, really sick. I love all the animals and they should be out doing other things than coming after me I think," Frankovic said.
"She's being very cooperative for which we're grateful, I think we're taking a burden off her right now," Hecker said.
Frankovic also grows prize tomatoes and has lived in her home all of her 57 years. She only began raising farm animals a couple of years ago when she started going through a difficult divorce. Once that's settled, she wants to live in the country.
Raising goats in residential areas is illegal and Frankovic may face other fines for harboring the animals in her basement.
Frankovic was on her way to get licenses for her dogs.
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