Leeanna Kamp & Christopher Ellis: Yorkie Angel / California Pets & Supplies, Solano, CA

Dec 22, 2009: Number of seized Solano County puppies close to 100

The number of sick or mistreated puppies seized in a pet store raid last week has risen to almost 100, and complaints are flooding in statewide from customers who purchased dogs from the store owners' online business.

The owners, a Dixon couple arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty last week after more than 90 expensive purebred puppies were confiscated from their pet shop and home, pleaded not guilty Monday in Solano County Superior Court...." More

Dec 18, 2009: Complaints Pour In After Dixon Pet Store Raided

Today, there is more fallout from Thursday's raid of a Dixon pet store. The owners are now in jail, and accused of selling sick puppies and running an online dog lottery. The SPCA says all of the animals seized in Thursday's raid in Dixon are sick with various diseases. They're all quarantined and under lock and key for fear someone might steal them. Also, all of the canines are considered evidence in a criminal case involving hundreds of dogs and families that feel cheated.

"She showed me six pictures and I picked her out, and this is a year later so I never forget a face," says Escobedo. April Escobedo has never forgotten the face of Leanna Ellis. Ellis is the woman that sold Esocobedo a Tea Cup Yorkie back in August of 2008 for $1200. But four days later, the puppy named Nitro, was dead. "It started falling over, it didn't want to eat so we knew something was wrong with it, I took it to the vet," says Escobedo. .." More & video

Dec, 18, 2009: Solano County pet shop owners arrested, puppies seized

By Kimberly K. Fu

A Dixon couple was arrested Thursday on charges of animal abuse as authorities shut down their pet shop and seized more than 80 pure bred puppies that may be sick.

Christopher John Derek Ellis, reportedly a Canadian citizen, and his wife, Leeanna Rachelle Kamp, were booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of numerous charges, including two counts of animal cruelty and illegally operating an online lottery.

Ellis is currently on probation for a Sacramento felony. Both are being held on $50,000 bail, with arraignments scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday in Solano County Superior Court in Fairfield.

Their store, California Pets & Supplies has been at its current site in Dixon for a month and they also run an online business, YorkieAngel.com, selling pricey dogs such as Yorkshire terriers, Shih Tzus, Shiba Inus and Maltese for between $900 and upwards of $2,500..." More

Hoarding is coming out of hiding

By Cynthia Hubert

Moira Monahan opened the door of a home inSacramento's Meadowview neighborhood over the Labor Day weekend and found 130 sets of eyes upon her. Cats lounging on the floor. Cats perched on furniture. Cats prancing across countertops. Cats everywhere.

"I was kind of swimming in cats," said Monahan, an animal welfare volunteer. "It was surreal."

It was an extreme case of a largely hidden phenomenon: the "hoarding" of animals or objects to the point that living conditions become unsafe.

Scientists have only begun to delve into the roots of such behavior, with recent research suggesting it may be linked to serious mental problems including obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A documentary film, "My Mother's Garden," and a television program on the A&E station called "Hoarders" have shined public attention on some of the most dramatic cases around the country. The issue resurfaced in Sacramento earlier this month, when authorities confiscated 78 "hoarded" cats from a house in the south area of the city.

As odd as the behavior may seem, police and sheriff's deputies say they regularly are called to homes so overloaded with papers, trash, groceries and other items that navigating is virtually impossible..." More

Dozens of 'hoarded' cats rescued; home condemned

By Cynthia Hubert

From the outside, the gray house in south Sacramento looked neat and tidy.

But when a SWAT team kicked open the door Wednesday morning, they found horrific conditions for the home's owners and their dozens of pet cats.

Animal feces caked the home and a separate garage, where cat cages were stacked floor to ceiling and felines of all sizes and colors roamed and cowered. The hardiest investigators said they had rarely seen, or smelled, anything like it.

It was a classic case of animal "hoarding," said Penny Cistaro, animal care services manager for the city of Sacramento, who sought the court order that allowed officers to enter the home.

Researchers have recently begun looking into compulsive hoarding of animals and objects and the phenomenon's link to psychological problems, according to the Humane Society of the United States. A documentary television program on the A&E station, "Hoarders," has brought public attention to some of the most dramatic cases in the country.

It's an interesting thing about people who hoard animals," said Laura Warner, the city shelter's veterinarian, who was on the scene Wednesday.

"They really love their animals. Things just get out of control. It looks like that's what happened here."

The city has dealt with other animal hoarding cases, but Wednesday's is among the worst the shelter has encountered, Cistaro said. The agency has fielded complaints about the couple and their cats for at least a year, Cistaro said, but the homeowners refused to allow investigators inside.

Following weeks of planning, a small army of people including veterinary specialists, shelter workers, animal control officers and police converged on the home Wednesday and spent hours rescuing cats, which were taken temporarily to the county's animal control center. Property inspectors immediately condemned the house as being a safety hazard, and police said the owners would be charged with felony animal cruelty.

The owners, Paul and Kathy Franco, insisted that they cared for their animals, most of which appeared healthy and friendly..." More & additional pictures

Photo: Renee C. Byer