Dog rescued from Homewood house delivers 9 pups at shelter

There are now nine more animals that can be counted among those rescued from poor living conditions at a house in Homewood.

One of the saved dogs had puppies.

Officers from the city’s Zone 5 station were dispatched around 7 p.m. Monday to the house where they arrested a man accused in an assault.

As he was being taken into custody, police said the man told officers there were numerous animals living in the house.

The officers said they discovered an assortment of farm animals living in unsanitary conditions, as well as three dogs that were being kept outside in the cold.

The city’s Animal Care & Control unit rescued two goats, two pigs, four chickens, four reptiles and a scorpion, along with the dogs.

Police have not released the address of the home or the name of the man who was arrested.

Workers at an animal shelter where the dogs are being cared for discovered that one of the animals was pregnant.

Because the dog’s birth canal was not big enough to give birth safely, an emergency cesarean section was performed to deliver the nine puppies she was carrying. Shelter officials said the dog and her litter are healthy.

Authorities are urging anyone who is aware of animals that are being abused or neglected to call 911 or Humane Animal Rescue at 412-345-7300.

City residents are allowed to keep as many as five dogs or cats in their home, according to Department of City Planning.

Bees, goats, pigs and other farm animals are allowed in areas of the city that are zoned for urban agriculture. A permit is typically required to keep the animals.

The property also must meet a number of requirements to protect the animals and prevent them from becoming a nuisance.