With the demolition and cleanup of the Orchard Street bungalow where hundreds of Chihuahuas were found this summer expected to be completed by Monday, April 19, Dearborn officials will now turn their attention to finding a way to collect the nearly $50,000 in costs for the work.

Prior to the demolition of the home and the garage on Thursday, crews had to remove some small amounts of asbestos and spray the home with insecticide because many neighbors were worried what might come out of the home once it started to come down.

Cleanup costs and the removal of the hundreds of dogs cost the city more than $40,000, not including the $8,000 and change in demolition costs. It is not clear how the city will ever collect those costs from Kenneth Lang Jr., 56. Lang is currently serving a five-year probation for the hoarding of the dogs. As part of the restitution listed for Mr. Lang following his criminal case, he was ordered to pay the city for the cost of the cleanup. 

A city spokeswoman says there is a lien on the property for the cost of the demolition so if the family tries to sell the property the city would need to be paid first.

Given Lang’s financial situation, it is unknown how he would be able to pay,  the spokeswoman says.