WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

A Mahoning County grand jury indicted a woman on two dozen animal cruelty charges after humane agents say several dead dogs were found in an Alliance home. 

Animal Charity Coordinator Jane MacMurchy tells 21 News the incident happened back in February of 2024 when humane agents were called to a home on Alden Avenue in Alliance.

Humane agents found about 10 to 12 dead dogs and two living dogs. MacMurchy says the two living dogs were starving and some of the dead ones were partially dismembered.

"We rescued two living chihuahuas and we recovered several deceased canines in full and in part," MacMurchy told 21 News Friday evening, adding that the dogs were starving to the point where they began eating each other to survive.

According to a police report from Smith Township PD who assisted at the scene, officers smelled feces and dead animals as soon as they arrived on the scene. Police observed stacks of mail on the front porch and the door was slightly open.

When they got inside, police noticed several inches of stacked feces covering the floor. 

"The smell of the house was unbearable and it was very hard to breathe. There was not a part of the floor not covered in feces and trash," the report reads.

Police found a dead dog and a dead cat in the house.

Police say there was also a trailer outside of the house. Investigation of the trailer revealed several more dead dog and the two that were still living. Police say the dead dogs appeared to be malnourished and some were half eaten.

Police say the trailer appeared to be in the same condition as the house with stacked feces "covering every inch" of the trailer.

The report states that the Mahoning County Health Department was called to condemn both the house and trailer.

21 News sent a crew to the address provided, and found nothing but an empty lot. Sebring Fire Chief Michael Springer told 21 News the house had since been burned down in a suspected arson.

MacMurchy went on to say the suspect, identified as 59-year-old Denise Wiggins was aware that all this was going on, but did nothing to stop or prevent it from happening.

"This was a first," MacMurchy said. "We've never done a case where we have recovered this amount of deceased animals before."

According to the indictment, this had been going on between November of 2023 and February of 2024 and involved several Chihuahuas. Some charge also mention cats.

The police report states that Wiggins turned herself in at the Smith Township Police Department and told police she knew the dogs were starving and freezing but was "too embarrassed" to ask for help.

Wiggins is charged with 24 counts of cruelty to companion animals. She's due to face a judge August 20.

MacMurchy says the Smith Township Police Department assisted at the scene.

A separate call Friday kept MacMurchy and other humane agents busy.
They got called to South Garland in Youngstown for a neglect case that required police backup.

"The dog was apparently shot in the leg several weeks ago and has not received medical care," said MacMurchy. "Likely is going to need surgical intervention. Don't know if the leg is savable at this time."

For now, the St. Bernard is getting care at Animal Charity.
The surviving dogs from the Alliance case have been adopted and are doing fine.