Rockville animal rescue founders charged with animal cruelty

Officers with the Montgomery County Animal Services division found 28 cats and two dogs inside the flea-infested home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. The couple was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Officers with the Montgomery County Animal Services division found 28 cats and two dogs inside the flea-infested home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. The couple was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty July 27, 2016 in Rockville, Md. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue, were charged on 10 counts of animal cruelty after officers searched their home on a warrant July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
A cat walks through the home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Officers found the Rockville, Md., home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue, to be flea-infested and unclean. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Nine chickens were found in cramped, dirty cages outside the home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. The couple was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Nine chickens were found in cramped, dirty crates outside the Rockville, Md., home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
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Officers with the Montgomery County Animal Services division found 28 cats and two dogs inside the flea-infested home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. The couple was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue, were charged on 10 counts of animal cruelty after officers searched their home on a warrant July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)
Nine chickens were found in cramped, dirty cages outside the home of Merle and Susan Uskievich, founders of the Alpha Group Animal Rescue. The couple was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty July 27, 2017. (Montgomery County Animal Services)

WASHINGTON — A couple operating an animal rescue out of their home was charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty on July 27 in Rockville, Maryland.

Montgomery County Animal Services searched Merle and Susan Uskievich’s home on the 6000 block of Granby Road on a warrant and found two dogs and 28 cats inside, according to a news release from Montgomery County Animal Services.

Fleas were visible in the animals’ fur and throughout the home, where the couple ran Alpha Group Animal Rescue.

One 13-week-old kitten was humanely euthanized due to poor health caused by flea infestation. Nine chickens in cramped, dirty crates were also found outside the house.

The Uskieviches said they had turned over all of their animals to Montgomery County Animal Services on July 27, but Animal Services received calls from the rescue’s retail partner about Susan Uskievich dropping off sick kittens in the days following the warrant.

Animal welfare groups that are currently transferring animals to Alpha Group Animal Rescue are asked to call the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center at 240-773-5900 ext. 7.

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