- Ohio, USA -
~ Update: November 7, 2024
I heard back from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office and the following are the answers to my questions:
Voice For Us: Were any animals found deceased?
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office: None were found deceased.
Voice For Us: Why did the defendant have so many animals?
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office: Johnson advised our detective that she was breeding cats. During the course of the investigation, our detective discovered that Johnson was also breeding dogs.
Voice For Us: Were any of the rescued animals euthanized?
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office: The dogs were the only animals removed from the residence by Animal Control. The cats remained at the scene and were to be cared for by extended family. None of the animals that were rescued/removed were euthanized.
~ Original story:
On October 30, 2024, the Clermont County Communications Center received a call reporting an animal complaint.
A deputy contacted the reporting party who stated that animals were living in poor conditions at a residence in the 1400 block of Homewood Court in Batavia Township. The caller provided the deputy with a video showing four dogs in cages and another dog believed to be deceased on the kitchen floor and further stated that there were nearly “40 cats in the basement and multiple dogs in cages throughout the home.”
The deputy then responded to the residence in question and contacted 40-year-old GRACE LOUISE JOHNSON (pictured).
According to the press release by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office, JOHNSON allowed the deputy into the residence and “admitted to owning the animals in question.”
The deputy found multiple dogs living in cages with feces and urine. The deputy reported that there were also urine and feces throughout the residence.
JOHNSON denied that any of her dogs had recently died and refused to allow further examination of the residence.
At that point, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office Investigative Unit was called in to assist with the investigation and detectives obtained and executed a search warrant.
The search led to the discovery of six dogs, twenty-eight cats, and five children. The sheriff’s office said that JOHNSON was not able to confirm the number of cats within the home.
Deputies reported finding the furvictims with “matted hair, fleas, and indications their paws had been soaked in urine and feces for an extended period.”
A Deputy Dog Warden from the Clermont County Animal Shelter responded and took possession of the dogs.
Clermont County Child Protective Services (CPS) took the children to be with JOHNSON’s relatives at a different location. Those same relatives are working with the Clermont County Animal Shelter to arrange for future long-term placement of the cats.
JOHNSON was arrested on site and transported to the Clermont County Jail on charges of endangering children.
On November 1, 2024, after consulting with the Clermont County Dog Warden and Clermont County Prosecutor's Office, JOHNSON was additionally charged with eight misdemeanor counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals.
At the time of writing, online arrest records show that JOHNSON is being held into the Clermont County Jail with a $15,000 cash or surety bond for the endangering children charges.
Local 12 reports that JOHNSON is a “local animal breeder.” According to the news outlet, the sheriff’s office said that JOHNSON told one of their detectives that she was breeding cats.
Although the sheriff’s office said there was no indication JOHNSON was also breeding dogs, her Facebook page and online advertisements showed otherwise.
In fact, JOHNSON’s Facebook page Graceful Pups, has previously posted puppies for sale.
JOHNSON’s Facebook account lists her as the owner of Graceful Pups.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office. Link included. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
JOHNSON’s mugshot shared from the Clermont County Sheriff's Office
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Thank you for the update.