Backyard breeder - 69 pit bulls seized
Wichita, KS (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006
County: Sedgwick
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Timothy Collins
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Citing concern for public safety, a judge has granted the city's request to euthanize 51 pit bulls seized in July from a breeder who kept them in cramped crates stacked in his basement.
But Sedgwick County District Judge Eric Yost on Nov 17 also stayed his order for 10 days to give the breeder, Timothy Collins, a chance to appeal.
Police said the pit bulls were discovered when a state social worker went to check on the welfare of an 11-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl living there. In all, 69 dogs were seized from the house, but 18 later died or had to be euthanized because of disease.
In court on Nov 17, a lawyer for the city said keeping the dogs since July 25 has hampered operations at the Wichita Animal Shelter at a cost of nearly $30,000.
"It has essentially shut down the animal shelter for its essential purpose - to claim strays from the community and hold them until their owners claim them," Assistant City Attorney Jay Hinkel said, as he asked for permission to have the surviving dogs killed.
The city does not place pit bulls for adoption.
On the day Collins' pit bulls arrived at the shelter, the city asked Pals Animal Rescue to take other animals out to make room for them, Pals director Ellen Querner said at the time.
By late August, the city shelter was telling owners it would no longer accept animals. And by late October, animal shelter workers were saying they had no animals for adoption because of the resources being used by the pit bulls.
Collins, 39, wants the city to return the 51 surviving dogs and has offered to reimburse the city for its expenses.
Collins admitted he lacks permits to breed dogs or run a kennel. Denying allegations that he bred the dogs to fight, he said he raises pit bulls to sell them and that all of the dogs found in his house were awaiting pickup by people who had already bought them.
"My kids would pet them and help feed them," Collins testified.
Yost asked city officials and Collins to get together to determine whether any of the dogs are safe enough to be released.
"My main concern is for public safety," Yost said.
Case UpdatesThe city of Wichita on Friday completed paperwork that will allow the euthanization of 51 seized pit bulls that had effectively shut down adoptions at the city's animal shelter.
The city had earlier reached an agreement with Timothy Collins, the owner of the pit bulls. The dogs were seized on July 25 after Wichita police went to Collins' home to serve a warrant from social services.
Under the agreement, Collins will reimburse the city for the $4,071 in veterinarian costs. | Source: The Whichita Eagle - Dec 9, 2006
Update posted on Dec 12, 2006 - 12:23PM |
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