By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Isaiah 11 Ministry has shut down its animal rescue program.

On Friday, March 29, Isaiah 11 Ministry posted the following statement on their Facebook page:

“We are changing our focus here at Isaiah 11. We will no longer have the animal rescue, refuge part of our ministry. We will continue to offer counseling, tutoring, and probably groups at our current location for the time being. We are trusting God will direct our next steps.”

– Isaiah 11 Ministry

“The animals have been removed and relocated to other animal sanctuaries not in our area,” said KCSO Public Information Officer Doug Light. “We took temporary possession for a few days until arrangements could be made for the sanctuaries to meet us to take the animals.”

“(Isaiah 11 Founder) Linda (Ozier) was advised to no longer accept animals by the KCSO,” said Light. 
“However, she still owns the property and no court order has been issued stating she has to shut down the property.”

“We are hoping the investigation will be completed this week and turned over to the prosecutor’s office for their review,” said Light.

Ozier was not reachable for comment.

In February, allegations were made online regarding the conditions at Isaiah 11 Ministry, which is described on its website as a counseling center and animal refuge.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Animal Control Officer Jeff Clark and Board of Animal Health Veterinarian Dr. Bruce Lamb investigated the ministry, and a follow-up visit was scheduled for March.

In February, Ozier was working to address the concerns and improve conditions for the animals.

Light reported that the follow-up visit was attended by Lamb, Clark, Kosciusko County Health Department Environmental Food Specialist Nathan Burton, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Investigator Jody Hill, KCSO Chief Deputy Chris McKeand, KCSO Lt. Mike Mulligan, Ozier, and Isaiah 11 board members.

Lamb released a report after the first visit. In the Tuesday, Feb. 27 report, Lamb said “the property and animal pens were littered with a lot of junk, including chairs, wire panels, kids’ swimming pools, old feed pans, extension cords, Styrofoam, etc.”

Lamb made a list of 23 general recommendations for the property, along with recommendations for specific animals, such as trimming a donkey’s hooves and making sure that multiple animals were up to date on their shots.

Light reported that Ozier was given Lamb’s list one day before the follow-up visit and given an extension to complete them. Light said that Ozier had made some improvements, such as reducing the number of animals and improving animal diets.

A dog, listed in Dr. Lamb’s report as “Dog No. 6,” at Isaiah 11. Photo provided by the Indiana Board of Animal Health.

Some animals, Lamb’s report noted, had previous conditions, such as a goat with deformed horns. One dog, listed as dog number six in the report, “had a malformed jaw with misshaped teeth. This dog came to the rescue in this condition.”

Light reported that by the time of the March 14 follow-up visit, the rabbits at Isaiah 11 had been taken to new homes. Two of three dogs, being sheltered for people who were incarcerated, would be returned in the near future.

In his March 20 follow-up report, Lamb noted that there was still trash on the property, and recommended it be removed to help control weeds and the spread of disease. He also recommended Isaiah 11 not take more animals than they were currently able to handle with their volunteers and to “adopt out the animals they receive so that the animals do not become permanent residents.”