162 animals seized from Plymouth, Mass. home

It's being called a real-life animal house.

Authorities in Plymouth, Mass. say three people have been arrested and arraigned on animal-cruelty charges.

Four-month-old Flower the calf is just one of 162 animals police in Plymouth, Mass. confiscated from 3 Indian Avenue.

Goats, a ram, rabbits and dozens of fowl were all found in close quarters in a pen behind the home. Bags of trash were also piled high in the pen.

A couple who lives nearby says at times they heard the animals.

"I hear a rooster and a lamb or something," one woman said.

All 162 animals were taken to a shelter in Dedham run by the Animal Rescue League of Boston after police visited the home back in June.

"One dog in particular had killed some of the smaller rabbits and poultry," Lt. Alan Borgal said of the conditions at the home.

Lt. Borgal says some of the animals were covered in mites and showing signs of neglect. He adds that the water available to the animals was filled with feces..."  More

More than 30 dead animals found in Harford County home

Officials in Harford County said they are investigating a possible case of animal hoarding at a Forest Hill home after more than 30 dead animals were discovered.

The Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits Division of Animal Control and Division of Housing Services said they were notified of a number of dead animals at a home after a fire Monday evening.

Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company firefighters were called to a home at 2447 Rocks Rd. shortly after 11 p.m. for a fire. Fire crews found dead cats and other animals in the home and called animal officials to help with removal.

Animal Control officers and Department of Natural Resources officials said more than 30 dead animals and reptiles were taken from the one-story modular home. Among the dead animals was a fox, which was found in a refrigerator.

Also, at least a dozen cats that died as a result of the fire were buried on the property early Tuesday before county officials arrived.

Officials said six cats, two dogs, nine raccoons and three turtles, which were found alive on the property, were also taken..."  More

Animal ordinance up for commission vote

By Thomas Garcia The Quay County Commission will vote on a proposed animal ordinance during its regular meeting Sept. 7. The commission meeting has been moved to 9 a.m., Sept 7 from Sept. 10, said County Manger Richard Primrose. Primrose said one of the items which will be on the agenda for that meeting is Ordinance 44, which will outline the county's animal control policy. He said the commission previously approved the introduction of the ordinance for the publics viewing before the meeting. This is a project which the commissioners have been working on for a year or more, said Brad Bryant, commissioner. Bryant said there has been no animal control ordinance for county residents. As a result, cases of animal hoarding and dumping have resulted in the county sheriff's office having to fall back on state statutes. Bryant said in the past, if there was an issue with dogs being at large or causing a problem, the person reporting the problem would actually have to file a police report before anything could be done. He said with an ordinance in place citations can be issued immediately for violations. However, some animal owners are questioning and are upset about the proposed ordinance. "This ordinance has a good base; it just needs some tweaking in order to be more effective", said Rebecca Biffle, county resident. She said the ordinance would penalize owners of animals at large, but a dog would only have to be off the owner's property, regardless of the circumstance, to be deemed at large. Biffle added that she moved to the county so she could own multiple dogs, but part of the ordinance would require a kennel permit, at a cost of $50 a year, for more than four animals more than four months old. Also, Biffle said, the permit would require an inspection by the sheriff's office beforehand and consent for follow-up inspections — basically, Biffle said, giving deputies free access to property on their own schedule. Bryant said the ordinance is not targeting any one resident or group of residents. He said it's goal is to help...."  More

Donna & Maggie Johnson - Monterey, California

Aug 23, 2012:  2 women charged in California cat hoarding case

A mother and daughter were charged Thursday in connection with an animal hoarding case after authorities recovered 51 neglected cats from their coastal California house and discovered 113 dead kittens in a nearby apartment.

Donna Johnson, 46, faces three felony animal cruelty charges, and she and her mother, 79-year-old Maggie Johnson, face three misdemeanor neglect charges.

Seaside police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County discovered the animals July 24 while conducting two searches. They investigated after a property manager alerted them about potential hoarding.

SPCA Sgt. Stacy Sanders, the lead investigator, said authorities discovered 113 dead newborn kittens in an apartment where Donna Johnson had been living on and off.

Authorities followed a tip that more cats were moved to a nearby house owned by Maggie Johnson. There, they found 51 adult cats who were alive, but sick and neglected.

"The cats were living in extremely horrible conditions," Sanders told the Associated Press in July. "They were separated into two groups and locked into rooms with little to no ventilation. The floors were saturated in urine and feces."..."  More


July 26, 2012:  Monterey SPCA: 113 dead kittens found at Seaside cat-nabber's home

By Amy Larson

Monterey County SPCA officers said they found 51 sick and neglected cats, as well as 113 dead kittens, in an apartment and house in Seaside on Tuesday.

"No live kittens were found," Beth Brookhouser of the SPCA said.

Officers believe many of the cats were pets of other Seaside residents until they were cat-napped off the street by a cat hoarder.

If you are missing a cat and believe your pet may have been stolen by the hoarder, contact the SPCA with a photograph. The SPCA said it would reunite owners with their missing feline friends.

The hoarder's two properties are near Noche Buena Street and Wanda Avenue in Seaside, police said.

After Tuesday's rescue, the 51 cats were brought to the SPCA's shelter off Highway 68 and staff members worked late into the evening providing medical care for each cat..."  More

AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse

ANICARE TRAININGS

Upcoming AniCare and AniCare Child Trainings

Our next trainings will be:

-San Diego, CA - September 20-21, 2012

-Chicago, IL - September 20-21, 2012 (please see flyer below for details)

-Knoxville, TN (hosted by the Veterinary Social Work Program at the University of Tennessee) - October 5-7, 2012

-Tampa, Florida - December 7, 2012 (hosted at the Family Justice Center)

-Kansas City, MO - February 21-22, 2012

-Knoxville, TN (hosted by the Veterinary Social Work Program at the University of Tennessee) - April 9-10, 2013

-Denver, CO - Spring 2013
Please check back soon for more details.

Created in 1999, the AniCare Model of Treatment for Animal Abuse is the first professionally developed psychological intervention program for animal abusers over the age of 17.  A program called AniCare Child is used to treat offenders under age 17.

The AniCare program uses a cognitive-behavioral approach with direct interventions emphasizing the client's need to acknowledge accountability for his or her behavior (much like the approach used with spouse batterers). It involves both assessment and treatment, using exercises that clinicians use to suggest specific interventions for the particular client. It addresses seven major concepts: accountability, respect/freedom, reciprocity, accommodation, empathy, attachment and nurturance.

Animals and Society Institute collaborates with a variety of organizations to offer trainings through the United States.  For more information about a specific training (or if you're interested in bringing a training to your area), please contact us at info@animalsandsociety.org.

Link

Treatment growing for animal abusers in East TN

Treatment for people convicted of animal abuse or hoarding could soon expand in East Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee Veterinary Social Work Services program is offering two training sessions for area counselors this school year.

"AniCare is a program developed by the Animals and Society Institute.  It's the first published protocol for the treatment of animal cruelty," said Dr. Elizabeth Strand, Director of UT Veterinary Social Work Services.

Licensed mental health professionals can learn to use the program on clients. 

During counseling, animal abusers and hoarders undergo a mental evaluation.  Their past childhood is explored, and more.

"I work with the person.  First, being accountable for what they did.  So, acknowledging they were cruel to an animal and facing that fact.  Number two, building empathy.  The lack of empathy is what allows a person to be violent towards and animal," Dr. Strand said.

More East Tennessee judges are prescribing AniCare counseling to people convicted of such abuse as part of their punishment.

Learn more about the upcoming Fall and Spring AniCare training sessions on AniCare's website.  Further information about Dr. Strand and her department may be found on the UT Veterinary Social Work Services website.

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Hoarding of infected cats discovered

By Pamela Cote

White County Animal Shelter representatives have discovered yet another case of animal hoarding, this time at a residence in the eastern portion of the county, where they believe at least 40 cats, all with respiratory infections and ulcerated eyes, were living in a home that, in many places, was reportedly piled chest-high with garbage and waste.

According to Ronni Connelly, of White County Animal Shelter, a young man lives in the residence and refused to surrender the animals when a deputy from White County Sheriff Department went to the property. Connelly said the officer threatened to arrest him for his lack of proper care for the animals, who were all visibly very ill and close to death, with oozing eyes and lacerations on their faces.

“Hoarding doesn’t start because people hate animals,” Connelly said. “They like them. But there’s something in their brains that makes them think that they are doing a good thing.”

Representatives from the shelter went to the home Aug. 20 to try to collect the cats, with the permission of the sheriff department. Connelly said the sheriff department told her if she felt the animals’ lives were in danger, she had the right to seize the animals..."  More

Man surrenders 52 animals seized by sheriff's office

By Kevin Welch

Arturo Morales agreed Monday to surrender the 52 animals Randall County sheriff’s deputies seized on Aug. 17.

Randall County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jerry Bigham signed a court order to formalize the agreement that Morales, 55, would forfeit the animals that range from miniature horses to llamas and peacocks. The sheriff’s office will continue to hold and care for them until the Amarillo/Panhandle Humane Society is ready to receive them, said Danny Alexander, the sheriff’s department spokesman.

The Humane Society will handle the adoptions of the animals..."  More

Palena Rae Dorsey / Sanctuary Animal Refuge - Texas

Aug 20, 2012:  Woman who stole money, mistreated 158 dogs at Sanctuary Animal Refuge gets 10 years' prison

A woman charged with mistreating 158 dogs at the Sanctuary Animal Refuge west of Fort Pierce was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, primarily for stealing the money that was supposed to go toward the animals' care.

Palena Rae Dorsey, 60, was charged with 158 counts of animal cruelty in April 2011 after St. Lucie County sheriff's deputies discovered deplorable conditions at the shelter Dorsey ran at 9550 Carlton Road. Conditions included her malnourished dogs infected with heartworm and suffering from open and unhealed sores, mange, dehydration, diarrhea and fleas crowded into pens, lying in feces and urine.

During Monday's hearing, Deputy Rick Stuhr of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office started showing Circuit Judge Gary Sweet a number of photos of dogs taken from the shelter and conditions there. After numerous photos, Sweet said, "That's enough."

Dorsey also was charged with first-degree grand theft after authorities determined she used money from a $500,000 trust for the animals' care from the estate of Laura Linscott, founder of Dogs and Cats Forever, to buy a home in Fort Pierce, cars, a motor home, electronics and appliances.

Sweet sentenced Dorsey to 10 years in prison for the grand theft and five years for the cruelty charges, which had been reduced to 16 counts, one for each of the dogs from the shelter that had to be euthanized.

Sweet allowed Dorsey to serve the two terms concurrently, but he also ordered her to serve 20 years of probation after her release from prison. During that time, Dorsey is to repay $305,54.71, the amount authorities were able to prove she stole.

Sweet also ordered that Dorsey can own no more than three animals..."  More

 

Oct 2, 2011:  Animal shelter operator accused of hoarding

by: Darlene Dorsey

SAN ANTONIO--- Former employees and volunteers say Cheryl Wildenstein, who runs Animal Friends Humane Society, is cruel to animals. The former workers joined the owner of the shelter property in court to ask a judge to grant an eviction notice to Wildenstein.

The former employees say Wildenstein keeps dogs locked in cages too many hours each day. In court documents, they also claim the shelter operator didn't keep necessary medical records or get routine vaccinations for cats and dogs--which has led to many illnesses. The workers says this makes it hard to find adoptive homes for the animals.

The former employees believe Wildenstein is a hoarder. They says she keeps too many animals on the property, has made many excuses for not granting adoptions, and has kept dead cats in a freezer. According to court documents, the shelter manager didn't allow pets with identification to be returned to their owners unless those owners were persistent or asked police for help.

One former worker, Lissa Tuttle, says she and others have used their time to bury animals and their own money to buy medicine. Alice Lang, who adopted a dog from Animal Friends, says she started volunteering after her adoption. She says she then discovered horrible conditions for animals. She told us the shelter operator wouldn't allow people to check the back of the property, where many dogs remained locked in cages, and said only few animals were kept up front for visitors to see. Lang says she left after six months of work.

Some neighbors have signed a petition. They want Wildenstein to go because they believe she is abusing animals and because foul odors from animal urine and feces fill the air. A former worker told us sometimes the shelter operator would leave feces on the floor for hours as she worked around it..."  More & video

‘Dog hoarding’ discovered at Yuma

by Martha Sparks

More than 50 animals were discovered in a building at Yuma Thursday afternoon in what local animal activists are referring to as “dog hoarding.”

A local business man said he was horrified when he peeked through the window of a building on the property of the former Clubhouse Suites and saw a lady inside with dozens of dogs.

“We purchased this about a week ago and there was a guy living here taking care of the property,” said Carl Goff. “I told him ‘you guys will have to go.’

Goff returned a few days later and discovered the woman and what he assumed was about 15 dogs inside the small building.

“I didn’t know that there were any dogs or a lady living here,” said Goff. “I pulled up one night and saw the woman and I called my wife and told her were going to have to call the state or somebody to get her some help.”

Goff described the woman, identified as Rachel, as very skinny and looking like a “zombie.” Rachel eventually did speak to Goff, telling him that she had lived there for almost two years.

“I asked her how many dogs did she have and she said about 12 or 13,” said Goff. “I had never been inside the building.

Goff located some of Rachel’s relatives who in turn notified the missing caretaker, who was identified as Danny Mounts. Rachel is reportedly Mounts’ sister.

“They come back today and got her,” said Goff. “I didn’t want to call the dog pound; I wanted someone to adopt them. Little did I know what I would find today.”

Inside the two story building, dozens of dogs were kept on each floor with the windows covered. Animal hair and feces covered the floor and the stench was overwhelming. But surprisingly, there were no dead animals and the animals, although underweight, did not look starved.

“I only made it in about two feet,” said Goff. “I’m a Marine Corp veteran and it took my breath. It was unreal.”

Inside the building there are several items of furniture, including a couch and chair, and the television had been left on. There was no water to the building, but the electricity and an air conditioner was working.

Following a call for volunteers on facebook, the Logan County WV Pound Adoptable Animals and SAFE (Saving Animals From Euthanasia), food and water was brought in for the animals. Total animal count was more than 50 dogs and one cat.

Logan County Administrator Rocky Adkins came to the location and spoke with Goff about removing the animals.

“Unfortunately, the pound is at full capacity,” said Adkins. “Summer Wyatt with the state humane office will be here in the morning (Friday) about 9:30. At that point we will try to decide — with all the volunteers helping with the rescue — on how to fix this issue. We’re going to make sure we save as many of these animals as we can.”..."  More

Delaware Hospice to host hoarding workshop Sept. 7, 2012

Delaware Hospice Family Support Center will host a workshop for family members of hoarders on Friday, Sept. 7.

The workshop will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford.

Hoarders and people who live with them face significant health risks from dust, animal excrement, unsanitary conditions, mold and unwanted pests.  There is also a higher risk of fire and falls.

Dr. Judith E. Pierson, a licensed psychologist, and Dr. Angela M. D'Antonio will lead the workshop.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling (302) 856-7717 ext. 1129.

original article: here

Amarillo man charged with animal cruelty; 52 animals seized

by Travis Ruiz

A year and a half long investigation ended with 52 animals being seized and a man charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals.

The Randall County Sheriff's Office said its investigation uncovered that animals and fowl were badly neglected and in very poor condition on property in the 1500 block of Pueblo. That area is in rural Randall County off South Osage and FM 1151, also known as the Claude Highway.

During the investigation, the Sheriff's Office said animals were found without water, no veterinary care and dead animals were in the same pens with live animals for extended periods of time..."   More

Linda Davis, 'Save a Dog, Save a Cat' animal shelter worker, accused of 'animal hoarding'

A no-kill rescue group is under investigation after county animal care and control workers removed 23 live cats and the skeletal remains of two cats from a rotting home in Lake Worth Tuesday.

Investigators confirmed that the home is owned by Linda Davis, a longtime employee of the Boynton Beach shelter 'Save a Dog, Save a Cat,' or SADSAC.

Authorities believe Davis was hospitalized, leaving the animals alone in the home.

They're also calling this a tragic case of 'animal hoarding.'

Workers with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control arrived at the around 7 p.m. Tuesday and worked into the night sifting through filth to find animals in bad shape..."  More & photos (graphic)

More Than 300 Dogs Rescued From Alleged Breeder Turned Puppy Hoarder

An ailing dog breeder turned over hundreds of Shar Peis and Chihuahuas to the Richland County Humane Society.

Humane society agents were working to find homes for 300 to 340 dogs found at the home of Perry and Edith Buchko, who previously were convicted of animal cruelty in New Jersey. The couple moved to Ohio after the conviction.

Perry Buchko recently passed away, and Edith Buchko is bedridden.

Richland County humane agents had previously visited the Plymouth home, where they found hundreds of dogs. Agents did not take action at the time because the dogs were not “needlessly suffering,” as Ohio law describes as animal cruelty, according to Missy Houghton of the Richland humane society.

The Buchko’s son contacted the Richland County Humane Society to assist in the removal of the animals after his father’s death.

Humane agents said that they believed the case was one of a breeder turned hoarder. Agents said that Buchko would not face charges.

“We are seeing a lot of chronic eye infections, ear infections, skin infections,” said Jennifer K
ulina-Lanese of the Humane Society of the United States. “They are infested with fleas.”..."  More

Skeletal remains of two cats found, 23 others found alive in Lake Worth woman's home

By Alexandra Seltzer

After removing 23 cats and skeletal remains from a Lake Worth home Tuesday, Animal Care and Control investigators today said they have another job to do: find the woman who owns the residence and the animals.

The investigation into the home at 430 North B St., south of 10th Avenue North, started Tuesday after Crime Stoppers received a tip from someone claiming the owner of the home was hospitalized and more than 30 dogs and cats were left inside, said Animal Care and Control Lt. Misti Scaggs.

Officers left paperwork on the home’s front door with hopes that the owner would contact them.

However, the owner never did.

Investigators went back to the home Tuesday for a follow-up and, because of the complaint they received and the “foul smell” coming out of the home, they executed a search warrant and entered the home.

“There was a lot of clutter, a lot of urine, a lot of feces,” Scaggs said. “It was a typical kind of hoarder-like house.”..."  More & video

Animals seized from Hialeah home

Authorities have seized dozens of sick animals from a townhouse.

Hialeah Police and the State Attorney's Office are investigating this as a case of animal cruelty. The authorities seized over 60 animals from the three-bedroom home of Ileana Arnais and Rubin Arrojo, located on West 26th Avenue, around 6 a.m. Thursday.

Miami-Dade county has a four dog limit per household not over thirty, as it turned out at this particular house. "I don't have over thirty," said Arnais, as she was placed in cuffs.

The animals found at the couple's home include dogs of all types of breeds, exotic birds and "about 10 cats, turtles, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, there is something in the back, which we don't know what it is because it is in some sort of a pond," said Hialeah City Council President Isis Garcia.

Officials said this is not the first time the home has been found with this many animals. After a groomer alerted police of deplorable conditions in the home, between the months of April and May, they took 34 animals, mostly dogs, from the residence. "We tried to go about it through civil remedies, get a code enforcement, get an inspector. We weren't getting much cooperation," said Carl Zogby of the Hialeah Police Department..."  More

Nearly 75 cats seized after mobile home's roof collapses in Pinson

By Carol Robinson

Authorities responding to a collapsed roof in a mobile home at Pinson over the weekend found 75 cats living in the home.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies responded to the call in the 9300 block of Old Tennessee Pike Road about 2:45 p.m. Saturday. The homeowner called to report her roof fell in, and her cats were still inside.

When the deputy arrived, he saw at least 30 cats in the yard, and more than 40 in the trailer. The homeowner asked if the deputy could help her find shelter for the cats.

Birmingham Jefferson Animal Control responded and took custody of the cats, Christian said. The owner gave them up willingly..."   More

Over 100 animals rescued from deplorable Florida hoarding home

By Amy Rossi

"Operation Fido" is what rescue groups are calling one of the worsthoarding cases they've ever seen.

Ileana Arnais and Rubin Dario Arrojo were charged with 34 felony counts of animal cruelty - one for each dog removed from their 2-bedroom townhouse on West 26th Avenue Thursday.

They were each held today at the Miami-Dade County Jail on $85,000 bond.

View slideshow: Operation Fido Rescue

When rescue crews returned to the home, where the couple lives with their 26-year-old son, 40 more dogs were found inside (some that weighed only three pounds), so more charges are pending.

In just 1,100 square feet of space, along with the dogs, rescuers also found cats, turtles, birds, fish, chickens, a hedgehog, a goat, and a pig.

Feces were matted on the animals' fur, and on the couple's bed where 20 dogs slept, because the animals never left the house..."  More

It’s Time We View Animal Hoarding As An Illness, Not A Misdemeanour

By Dr Vadim Chelom

The tragic animal hoarding case in  Newark, Delaware highlights the dangers of animal hoarding:

“When officers arrived and entered the home, they smelled a pungent odor of urine, which made it difficult to breath, emanating throughout the house and observed the residence to be in deplorable conditions…

…SPCA animal control agents removed the pets – including 19 dogs, five cats, two rabbits, three quail, nine chickens and one duck…

…Sandra Kelsch, 49, and her husband, Edward Kelsch, 48, were each charged with endangering the welfare of a child. They were released on $500 unsecured bail. Animal cruelty charges are pending against the couple by the Kent County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.”

I have been involved in a number of animal hoarding cases and inevitably the situation involved suspected mental illness. I am not trying to make a diagnosis from a news story article or telling the law officers how to do their job but it seems a little pointless to charge someone with animal cruely where the sanity of the person is obviously in question...."  More