Example 16 - Animal Collector
The Complaint
A complainant called the State Police and stated that the animals at a private
shelter were suffering from health problems and were being denied medical care. In
addition, the shelter operator would not allow volunteers or employees to take animals
who needed to be euthanized to a veterinarian.
The complaint was corroborated by a veterinarian who had visited the shelter
and noticed that the animals were suffering from various maladies and in need of
medical care.
The Response
- An officer visited the premises and verified the statements of the
two complainants.
- The officer discussed the situation with the District Attorney's office and
applied for a search warrant to enter the premises. In addition, he did the following:
- Contacted several veterinarians in the area to assist at the scene when
the search warrant was executed.
- Contacted various humane societies in the area and arranged for them to
be present with vans to remove the salvageable animals.
- On the day the warrant was executed, the officers assembled the various
humane societies at the edge of the property for a briefing and assignments.
- The officer presented the owner of the shelter with a copy of the search
warrant. The officer then arrested the owner and had her removed from the property.
The owner was not allowed to return while the rescue effort was going on.
- The animals were identified and treated.
- The animals who were deemed not saveable were euthanized by a
veterinarian; the others were removed to the humane societies involved in the effort.
The destination of each animal was documented.
Charges Brought
The owner was charged with 100 counts of violating Section 353 of the Agriculture
and Markets law.
Supporting Documents Follow
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