Dogs recovering after being found living in squalor at a Cape Coral home

Reporter: Asha Patel Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:

A woman now faces the consequences after letting her dogs live in filthy conditions.

Those 20 dogs were found at home along SW 12th Lane in Cape Coral, living in horrible, inhumane conditions. The woman was cited for not cleaning up her mess, despite being previously asked by authorities.

Luckily, the dogs are on a journey to recovery. Some have been placed with Lee County Domestic Animal Services, and the rest have already been placed in their new homes.

As for the previous owner, she’s in big trouble.

Twenty dogs, along with their owner, were found living in their own feces and urine.

But, for weeks prior, investigators tried to get Kathleen Hamelin to clean her house and clean up her 20 dogs. When that didn’t happen, they took the dogs away from her.

A report says that the dogs seemed healthy when investigators first made contact. But, when they visited ht home on Friday, they found emaciated animals.

A Cape Coral police report says that Hamelin “seemed to lack remorse” for the condition of the animals.

But, when asked if the dogs “were the love of your life” by WINK News reporter Amanda Porter on Monday, Hamelin replied, “Yeah they were, yeah they were…”

The very next day, on Tuesday, WINK News reporter Asha Patel went back to Hamelin’s home to get her side of the story hopefully, but she didn’t answer immediately.

After about 10 minutes, Hamelin emerged from her garage, and she wasn’t happy. But, Patel was recording on her phone.

“Ma’am, please stop following me… listen b****, please get away ma’am please stop following me and get away from me.”

The Cape Coral Police Department is not moving forward with felony charges. But for now, Hamelin is just facing the 20 citations for the condition of her dogs while they were in her care.

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