More than dozen dogs found dead after being abandoned in Tri-Cities home
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- Police found 15 dead dogs and 9 neglected animals in a Kennewick home.
- Jamie L. Burns faces 15 felony charges and missed a Benton County court date.
- Officers described hazardous conditions, including feces-covered floors and decay.
A 51-year-old woman allegedly abandoned 23 dogs inside a Kennewick house, leaving a gruesome discovery for police.
Police said they found 15 dead dogs, floors covered with feces, and nine filthy animals left to fend for themselves for an unknown amount of time..
The woman who lived there, Jamie L. Burns, was nowhere to be found, court documents said.
Now, Burns is wanted on a $5,000 warrant after failing to come to Benton County Superior Court Wednesday to face 15 counts of first-degree animal cruelty.
Kennewick police were called to check on a home in the 8300 block of West Canyon Avenue on June 29, court documents said. When they approached, they smelled decomposition.
There was no power to the home, the driveway was empty and the lawn was unkempt, court documents said. When officers looked inside, they spotted five dogs with dirty, matted fur. They also moved lethargically and had difficulty breathing.
They could also see a dead dog on the floor near the window.
“It was apparent that the animals inside had been abandoned and the interior of the home would be hazardous for any living thing,” court documents said.
Police tried to contact Burns, but weren’t able to reach her. They received a search warrant and when they went inside, they found the corpses of 15 dogs.
Investigators said it was possible there were more scattered in piles of biological waste and rotting furniture.
Eight living dogs were caught and another one ran under the home. One cat was also found.
Kennewick police found Burns at another home, but she was not arrested at that time, Kennewick Police Commander Isaac Merkl said.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 9:28 AM.