INDIANAPOLIS—
An Indianapolis pet trainer and dog rescuer is wanted in Ohio on criminal animal abuse charges.Lindsey Clouse, 28, is charged in a 2007 case that includes 47 misdemeanors. FOX 59 News caught up with Clouse and discovered she is running the same kind of animal training and rescue business here in Indianapolis.
Columbus, Ohio prosecutor Bill Hedrick sent FOX 59 photographs from the criminal case. The photos show in great detail the deplorable conditions Clouse is accused of allowing 18 dogs to live in before she left the state.
The dogs left behind were brought in through a Central Ohio animal rescue operation called West Side Strays.
In a phone interview, Clouse told FOX 59 News Wednesday that she has never hurt an animal.
"I am not sure where that number comes from. I was aware of the warrants," Clouse said.
FOX 59 was able to easily find the Indianapolis native on the internet through Facebook, her new animal training business website in Indianapolis, and on the Columbus, Ohio prosecutor's animal cruelty "most wanted" website.
In the three years since the 18 dogs were found in squalor Clouse admits she has not returned to Ohio to answer the charges. Instead she started a new business and has begun working again with rescue organizations.
FOX 59 News found her new store front closed and disorganized in the 3500 block of East Raymond Street on Indianapolis' Southeast side.
"It's really more than I can really deal with at this time. I can't imagine what my friends will think," Clouse said.
The Ohio prosecutor isn't afraid to say what he thinks:
"She's doing all these things with animals yet she left this disaster here in Columbus for us. I'm outraged that she would leave this mess here and set up another operation in Indiana," City prosecutor Bill Hedrick said.
In late 2009 Indianapolis business owner Jeff McKinney let Clouse use his far Westside building and if it wasn't for an anonymous phone call he may have never known she was a wanted woman.
"I brought that up to her and asked her about the charges and she didn't deny them," McKinney said.
When FOX 59 News asked Clouse if she planned to return to Ohio to face the charges she said, "no." She did say that she is planning to close her Indianapolis business due to medical problems.
