20 malnourished animals seized from condemned Auburn home

An Auburn mother and daughter may face multiple misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after 19 malnourished cats were seized from the home they recently shared, according to the Finger Lakes SPCA.

Josh Crane, the chief law enforcement officer for the Auburn-based branch of the SPCA, said that one large-breed dog, 19 live cats and two dead cats were found Friday amid a horrible stench of urine, feces and garbage at 48 Burt Ave., Auburn.

Crane said that Carol Walker and her daughter Michelle Davis had been living at the home until mid-April when the Auburn Code Enforcement Office condemned the building as uninhabitable. Crane said that the SPCA secured a warrant Friday to search the house after a caller to the SPCA this week reported that the building was full of animals.

Crane said that three investigators, three animal shelter employees, a veterinarian and a city code enforcement officer went to the home Friday to take the animals into custody. Crane said that everyone entering the home wore masks and that they rotated in and out quickly because of the overwhelming stench inside the building.

Neighbors told investigators that Walker and Davis had been at the house Friday morning, but Crane said that no one was there when his team arrived Friday afternoon.

The animals were checked by a veterinarian, Crane said, and all were underweight and malnourished. A health screening chart placed many of the cats "one notch above emaciation," Crane said.

Walker and Davis will likely be charged next week with several misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty as well as a violation charge for allegedly failing to provide shelter for the dog. The dog was found chained to a post in the backyard without food, water or shelter, Crane said..." More

Samuel & Diane Walker: Pawsatrack Racing Sled Dogs, Colorado

Dec 30, 2009: Kennel owners released on bail in cruelty case

By Howard Pankratz

Samuel and Diane Walker, owners of the Pawsatrak Racing Sled Dog Kennel near Hartsel, turned themselves in Christmas Day in connection with allegations of animal cruelty.

An arrest warrant was issued for the couple Dec. 23. After their arrest at the Park County Jail in Fairplay, they posted $2,000 bail and were released.

Their next court appearance is 9 a.m. Jan. 4.

The couple have been charged with two counts of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor..." More

Dec 28, 2009: Couple Surrenders In Sled Dog Abuse Case

The couple who owned more than 100 sled dogs seized after they were reportedly found starving in "deplorable conditions" has turned themselves in to face animal cruelty charges, officials said Monday.

Samuel and Diane Walker turned themselves in at the Park County Jail on Christmas Day, according to the Park County Sheriff's Office. They were released after both posted $2,000 in bail.

The Walkers were charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and 30 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, officials said..." More

Dec 18, 2009:Starving Huskies Seized In Massive Park County Rescue Operation

About 100 Huskies, raised for sled racing but found starving and living in what has been described as "deplorable conditions," were rescued Thursday as part of a two-day around-the-clock operation.

Park County sheriff's investigators and representatives of the state veterinarian's office seized the dogs from a rural mountain property off County Road 53, south of Hartsel.

The sickest dogs were seized Wednesday and investigators returned Thursday to seize the remainder of the animals, said Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore.

As many as 90 Husky and Husky-mix dogs were underweight and not properly fed, Gore said. Eight of the dogs had died..." More