Haddonfield Man Surrenders 2 of 3 Pit Bulls After Being Accused of Abandonment

Neighbors in the 500 block of Coles Mill Road have finally regained the quiet peace of their cul-de-sac homes after an alleged nuisance neighbor apparently moved out and surrendered two of his three pit bull dogs to authorities.

The dogs were surrendered on Oct. 11 and taken to the Animal Orphanage in Voorhees, a no-kill shelter. Police Lt. Ed Wiley said Tuesday the resident of the home was in tears when he finally agreed to surrender his dogs. Wiley said police and animal control officers visited the home on numerous occasions over the last month and observed the animals inside the three-bedroom rancher.

Neighbors had complained of round-the-clock wailing from the dogs, who they believe were not being let out or fed. The ordeal lasted for almost a month, according to police and published reports.

The first police report was filed on Sept. 21, but an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week, written by a neighbor and borough resident, indicates the incident started several days earlier, according to borough police and published reports.

The Inquirer identifies the dog owner as Elliot Hayes, a relative of the deceased home owner, Olga Coffin. Hayes was apparently in the process of moving to North Carolina and had left the dogs in the home to be cared for by a friend, according to Wiley and the Inquirer. The friend was reportedly letting the dogs out early in the morning , shortly after midnight, the Inquirer reports. Many neighbors disputed that claim.

Wiley said police couldn't enter the home without cause and the dogs appeared to be in relatively good condition, even though the property was not. Police reached Hayes, first by phone and then with notes left at the property. Wiley said they convinced him to surrender two of his three dogs. No charges or citations have been filed against Hayes.

The home now appears to be vacant, Wiley and other borough officials said. Code enforcement officer Steve Walko said Tuesday he and the building inspector are evaluating what violations the property can be cited for. Tax Collector Terry Henry said the property taxes are up to date, but have been being paid by the mortgage servicer Wells Fargo.

Haddonfield is no stranger to nuisance neighbors with dogs. The Taffet family of Upland Way was featured this year on an HBO documentary One Nation Under Dog for their ongoing battle with neighbors. The Taffets owned a pack of four Rhodesian ridgeback dogs, animals originally bred for lion hunts. One of their dogs ripped off a large chunk of the ear of a 4-year-old girl before it was euthanized.

CORRECTION: An earlier edition listed the wrong address for the Taffets.