Inside the Waterbury Home: What Officers Found – Part Two

LAKEWOOD, OHIO – The stench of defecation and ammonia wafted through the hallways inside 1654 Waterbury Rd. as animal control officers searched each room for the terrified, downtrodden beagles.

Ernest R. Lazor, the dogs’ owner, previously told Kurtis Bialosky, Lakewood animal control officer, that only 15 animals resided on the property. The scene that unfolded the night of the rescue contradicted his statement.

Officers entered through the doorway on December 19 to execute a search warrant granted based on Bialosky’s visit and conversation with Lazor the prior day.

The pungent smell caused their eyes to burn. They wore hazmat suits and shoe covers for protection against unknown pathogens. They took breaks to catch breaths of fresh air, symbolic of the beagles rescued from the home, most of which took their first breaths outside that night.

Jack Crawford, Lakewood animal warden, confirmed, “the smell was horrific.” He later spoke about the difficulty of moving through the home, saying that the “steps and walls were slippery with feces.”

They immediately were met with nearly impassable, waste-strewn floors. A small pathway through the mess was the only access through the kitchen.

Justin Maskaluk, Lakewood maintenance inspector, said “every walkable surface” was covered with dog waste. He described a home with no furniture or any markings of occupancy. It was “hard” and “unsafe” to move from room to room.

Plywood separated the living room and kitchen area on the first floor. Bialosky walked into a bedroom, which had a torn-up, soiled foam mattress and some occupants.

“There were four younger dogs, around three to four months old,” he said. “There was a foam mattress that was chewed up. You couldn’t move around the room. There was too much garbage.”

Multiple officers described walking through cobweb-filled doorways as if the home had been unoccupied for quite some time.

“No kitchen or bathroom facilities were accessible or functional,” Maskaluk stated.

The sheer amount of dog waste had taken its toll on the structure. Upon entering the third floor, Maskaluk discovered excessive corrosion on the home’s gas lines. Years of unkempt conditions had worn away the pipes. He immediately notified the gas company, which responded and turned off service that night.

Masklauk ultimately cited Lazor for 10 violations at the property and condemned the home, which now sits vacant.

Thirty-five dogs were ultimately removed from the home. Conditions were similar in the garage, which held the six beagles mentioned in the original complaint.

The dogs sat in kennels, yelping and afraid. Eight to 10 inches of newspaper lined the floor. It was so thick, officers found it difficult to get the cages open. Nearby, a space heater was operating – a fire waiting to happen.

“It seemed like [the beagles] didn’t even know what it was like to be outside,” Crawford said about the animals rescued that night.”They wouldn’t walk on a leash. They were very scared and would crouch down, scared to death.”

Multiple sources close to the situation said Lazor was allegedly living at a machine shop in Cleveland. He visited for brief periods throughout the day but would rarely, if ever, stay overnight.

Editor’s Note: This is part two in a three-part series about the night the Waterbury beagles were rescued. Part one covers the events preceding the execution of the search warrant for the property. Part two describes the property’s condition and the rescue operation. In part three, learn about Ernest R. Lazor’s past record and alleged plans for the animals. All descriptions and quotes are taken from direct testimony at the probable cause hearing which occurred on Dec. 29, 2022.