Oak Hill, WV Couple Charged With Animal Cruelty and Child Neglect.

This is just one of a thousand abuse cases that involve children and animals. In the 3/29/08 edition of the Herald Dispatch, I had a guest column called " It's Time To Stop Abuse In All Cases." It dealt with the correlation of animal abuse to domestic abuse.

An Oak Hill couple was charged with multiple counts of child abuse and neglect after city police said they found four children living in "disgusting" conditions unfit for humans. Allen M. Fitzwater, 23, and Regina L. Ulmer, 28, of 11-7 Pine Knoll Apartments, were each charged with four felony counts of child abuse and neglect by a parent, guardian or custodian leading to bodily injury, according to Police Chief Mike Whisman and Patrolman M.J. Jarvis.

They were being held Tuesday at Southern Regional Jail on $20,000 bonds. Both were also charged with one count each of obstructing a police officer. Police were called to Pine Knoll Apartments around 4:30 p.m. Monday to assist Child Protective Services. CPS workers were there to remove Ulmer's four children -- three girls ages 10, 8 and 6, and a boy, 7 months -- after receiving an order to do so by a judge. When officers arrived, Ulmer and Fitzwater, her boyfriend, were instructed to open the door and they refused. So, officers entered through an unlocked rear door.

Jarvis, a police officer for five years, said he then encountered the worst living conditions he had ever seen. Trash was strewn throughout the three-bedroom, two-level apartment to the point where one bedroom door could not be opened, he(Jarvis) said. Dirty diapers were found "all over." Maggots were found in a bathroom. Officers also found dog feces and urine virtually everywhere, including the children's beds, Jarvis said. The two small-breed dogs that appeared to have skin problems were seized by animal control officers. "No human being should have to live like that -- especially kids," Jarvis said.

The children, initially upset, were taken to Plateau Medical Center as a precaution because of their living conditions, Jarvis said. They were then released to CPS custody. Jarvis advised people -- particularly school officials and others who work with children -- to be observant when it comes to children's overall hygiene and appearance, noting any constant and severe problems.