Joan Skillman: Australian Shephard, Breeder - Mason, Michigan

Animal cruelty case goes to the jury, deliberations resume Friday

KATHRYN PRATER

MASON — A Mason-area championship dog breeder accused of allowing many of her dogs to live in mud and feces has been charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, court records show.

Charges were filed today in 55th District Court. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said he notified Joan Skillman’s attorney Thursday that charges were forthcoming.

The 73-year-old Aurelius Township woman faces up to 93 days in jail as well as fines.

Neither Skillman or her attorney, Kevin Tyrrell, could immediately be reached for comment.

Skillman has bred Australian shepherds for more than 20 years on her property in Aurelius Township.

Ingham County Animal Control officers on April 27 went to Skillman’s property and seized about 70 dogs. It was called the largest seizure in the county’s history.

Officials said many of the dogs were living in filthy conditions. Some had severe medical problems. Kennels were filled with mud and several inches of feces that had been covered with wood chips. The bottom of one pen was covered with water, from which the enclosed dogs could not escape.

Animal Control placed most of the dogs that were seized in foster homes. About 17 remained at the county animal shelter last week, according to Director Jamie McAloon Lampman. Most of those dogs were in poor health, and some were still receiving veterinary treatment, she said..." More

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Breeders say seized dogs were cared for Some who have seen the 70 animals contend county’s move wasn’t needed

By: KEVIN GRASHA, LANSING STATE JOURNAL

The 70 dogs seized Monday from a Mason-area breeder were well fed and cared for, according to local breeders who have seen them. And, a woman who specializes in rescuing dogs agrees with the breeders…

“She probably got more dogs than she could handle,” said Ellen Brandenburg of Thornapple Aussies in Vermontville. Referring to television news footage, Brandenburg said: “I see dog houses, I see toys, I see clean concrete. She can’t be condemned for having wet dogs when we’re having a monsoon.”…More

UPDATE: No Dogs to be Euthanized

By, Jason Colthorp, WILX

MICIHIGAN — To our viewers who saw or read the story on wilx.com about 70 dogs seized from a home in Mason, Monday, take a bow, you’ve helped save dozens of dogs by getting the word out about the need for adoption.

Ingham County Animal Control told wilx.com Tuesday night, every adoptable dog has found a temporary or permanent home thanks to folks who lined up outside the shelter from sunrise to sundown. That means no dogs will be euthanized due to overcrowding.

Other animal shelters, including the Cascades Humane Society, also stepped in to take some of the 70 Australian Shepherds taken from that home.

Animal cruelty charges could come sometime this week against the woman who owned the dogs and was a licensed kennel and breeder. Her license was revoked Monday.

Staff at the shelter worked well into the night Monday, cleaning impacted mud and fecal matter from many of the 70 pure bred show dogs. One staff member said it would have taken weeks for the dogs to get so much dirt and mud built up on their paws and fur. Some had urine-stained paws, as well.

Authorities have not released the woman’s name as of Tuesday…”  More

Authorities seize 70 dogs; homes sought

By, Ryan Loew, LSJ

MASON — The Ingham County Animal Control seized 70 dogs from a Mason-area kennel Monday, in what officials are calling the largest seizure in the agency’s history.

Most of the dogs are Australian Shepherd dogs and were living in conditions one deputy described as “atrocious.”

“Some were living in mud and water,” said David Wilcox, deputy director of the Ingham County Animal Control. “One of the pens outside was completely covered with approximately 3 to 4 inches of water where the animals had no way to get out of the water.”

Other dogs were housed in kennels inside a garage-like structure attached to the owner’s home, Wilcox said.

“The kennels all had several inches of feces in them … it looked like they were just throwing wood chips on top of them to cover it up,” he said.

The seizure began Monday morning when an Animal Control deputy received an anonymous tip alleging poor conditions at the kennel…”  More & video

Photo by: Ryan Loew/Lansing State Journal