Rockford - Dog groomer Allen Miller's room-mate in Florida said Wednesday she fears for his well-being after he dropped out of sight rather than face questions about 19 dead dogs found at his former home here.

"He said, 'I can't take it anymore.' I know he's not coming back," said Judie Hartwig, who lived with Miller the past several months in Bradenton, Fla.

Hartwig, former owner of Grooming by Judie in Rockford, said Miller, 54, arrived in Florida looking depressed and saying someone had killed his dogs by poisoning them with antifreeze.

After authorities found the decomposed carcasses Monday and tracked Miller to Florida, he disappeared Tuesday morning. Hartwig said he left behind all his personal belongings, including his one remaining dog and his latest paycheck.

Winnebago County officials have been searching for Miller, former owner of Groomingdale's pet salon on Johnson Ave. since finding 19 carcasses at 625 Furman St. One official has called it the worst case of animal abuse seen locally.

County Animal Services director Len Selkurt said Wednesday he could be convinced that the animals were poisoned and died quickly, despite initial assumptions that they were abandoned and died of starvation.

Selkurt, however, questioned Miller's claim that an intruder was responsible for the killings. Selkurt wondered why the veteran dog groomer and breeder would not report such an incident to police.

Hartwig, 58, who relocated to Florida three years ago, said Miller was shocked when he discovered his dogs dead - most of them rare giant schnauzers.

She said he already was depressed from respiratory ailments and other health problems that made it difficult to care for his dogs. She speculated that finding his dogs dead sent him over the brink.