Marci Biesheuvel, Litl' Bit of Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary - Capenter, Wyoming

Mar 7, 2010: Animal rescuer operator faces cruelty charges

The operator of an animal rescue shelter near Carpenter faces two counts of animal cruelty after authorities seized more than 100 dogs, cats and rabbits.

Fifty-year-old Marci Biesheuvel is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Laramie County Circuit Court on the two misdemeanor counts.

Cheyenne Animal Control officers seized the animals last week from the nonprofit Litl' Bit of Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

Authorities originally went to the property on Feb. 24 with a search warrant after receiving a complaint about unclean and filthy conditions.

Cheyenne Animal Shelter Director Rick Collord says the seized animals have been surrendered to his organization..." More

Feb 25, 2010: 93 dogs seized from rescue

By Jodi Rogstad

A rural animal rescue facility northwest of here had 93 dogs, 17 cats and several pet rabbits confiscated Wednesday afternoon because officials say they were in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Marci Biesheuvel, 50, after she allegedly refused to allow them into her residence at 4765 County Road 206 on a search warrant.

The warrant was issued in response to a complaint from a prospective customer who visited the non-profit that Biesheuvel operates there, Litl' Bit of Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

Rob Shank, shelter manager at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, said there were 45 dogs living inside the manufactured home, and more were living in outdoor kennels.

Officers at the site said the house floor, where Biesheuvel lived, was littered with feces. A foul odor from the house could be detected about 20 feet away.

The dogs, cats and rabbits will be examined at the shelter and kept there in protective custody at least until the case is resolved. Aside from the misdemeanor obstruction charge, other charges have not been proposed yet in connection to the animal case..." More

Richard and Shirley Clark - Cheyenne, Wyoming

Jan 13, 2010: Couple pleads not guilty in case of cat hoarding

By Michael Van Cassell

A couple accused of hoarding more than 100 cats pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to animal cruelty charges in Laramie County Circuit Court.

Richard and Shirley Clark of Cheyenne were both cited earlier this month. Each faces four misdemeanor counts - two for animal cruelty and two for failing to vaccinate the cats for rabies.

Cheyenne Animal Shelter Director Rick Collord said 122 cats had been removed from the homes as of Tuesday morning.

More than a handful will be ready for adoption within 24 hours, and another 20 or so are awaiting surgery or antibiotics for respiratory problems, Collord indicated..." More

Jan 1, 2010: More cats recovered from a second home

By Jodi Rogstad

One day after Cheyenne Animal Control officers recovered 32 cats from a home on South Second Avenue, they were trapping cats at a second property owned by the same man.

Tuesday, officials became aware of the situation when the 60-year-old made suicidal threats and told a deputy he could no longer care for the cats. The floor was matted with feces and urine, and the man voluntarily went to the hospital.

Wednesday, officers found bigger challenges at the second property on Wenandy Avenue.

The house is vacant, its windows boarded up, and there is no electricity. Cats were seen in the half-light slipping into holes in the walls and into furniture. A neighbor said Tuesday he went to the home twice a day to feed the cats.

The floors were "completely covered" in filth, said shelter manager Rob Shank..." More

Dec 30, 2009: 44 cats taken from Cheyenne man

by: Jeffrey Wolf / Adam Chodak

Animals control officers removed 44 cats from two different properties of a 60-year-old Cheyenne man this week citing deplorable conditions.

Tuesday, officers with the Cheyenne Animal Shelter removed 34 cats from the man's house on South Second Ave. in Cheyenne, Wyo. On Wednesday, they took away 10 more cats from another property in town.

The shelter's executive director said it is one of the worst hoarding cases his staff has ever seen.

"Our officer actually had to ... get respirators because it was so toxic (inside the house)," Executive Director Rick Collord said..." More

Cat Hoarding

Introduction

There are countless cases of animal hoarding. There is one today in the Wyoming News. A 60 year old man living in south Cheyenne (map marks the spot) admitted he could no longer cope. There were about 50 cats; 32 were removed. His house was unbearable (toxic to humans) for the animal control officers. One room was habitable (of sorts) for humans, the remainder of the house was a total mess. The cats were stressed and so was the man. So, what happened?

The interesting part of animal hoarding is the science and psychology behind it. At the beginning a cat hoarder is simply a cat keeper. Perhaps he or she has a couple of cats or a little more - no big deal. Then gradually, or quickly, the numbers grow. There comes a time when it gets out of hand and ACOs (Animal Control Officers in the USA) come it. There is a moment when the line is crossed from manageable to chaotic but the person does nothing. Why?

There would appear to be more than one type of person who is prone to cat hoarding. But despite claiming to love or at least like cats they are unable to recognise that they are hurting them by housing them in unsanitary conditions. They are also unable to recognise that the situation is hurting themselves or at least they don't care.

It is said that the underlying problem is that a animal hoarder is not doing it for the animal but for themselves. This is what Dr. Patrone says. The irrationality of it indicates that this is the case because it takes little awareness or intelligence to recognise when the conditions for the cats is detrimental to them..." More