Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Brandon Fremin | | Defense(s): | Steve Covert | | Judge(s): | Bonnie Jackson |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #12407 Rating: 1.0 out of 5
Backyard breeder - 39 dogs seized from filth
Baton Rouge, LA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007
County: East Baton Rouge
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Shauna Elaine Jenkins
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Nearly 40 Pomeranians lost their home Wednesday when police arrested their caretaker, Shauna Elaine Jenkins.
Police arrested Jenkins, 38, on a count of felony theft after receiving a complaint from a dog broker in New Hampshire, who claimed she bought a Pomeranian from Jenkins but never received it, said Sgt. Don Kelly, a Police Department spokesman.
Kelly said Jenkins accepted a $5,000 payment in December from the broker, working for an animal buyer in Australia.
But after months of negotiations, Jenkins failed to provide the dog or a refund, he said.
When police arrived at 7233 Annabella Ave. to arrest Jenkins, Kelly said, they found 39 Pomeranians, one of which was dead, throughout the home and a semidetached storage room.
Hilton Cole, director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center, had the dogs taken to the center's headquarters on Progress Road after deeming their living conditions unfit.
Cole said the home was littered with feces and urine, making the air unacceptable to breathe.
In addition, some of the dogs were in overcrowded cages, he said.
The animals themselves, however, were in good condition, Cole said.
"What I see is a lady who became overwhelmed," he said.
Nevertheless, Hilton issued Jenkins 38 counts each of the following misdemeanor summonses: simple cruelty to animals, failure to register an animal, failure to tag and failure to vaccinate.
Jenkins also was expected to be booked into Parish Prison on one count of felony theft in connection with the sale of the Pomeranian the broker didn't receive, Kelly said.
The dogs inside Jenkins' home will either be put up for adoption or remain at the parish Animal Control Center until Jenkins' case is concluded, Hilton said.
The dogs will remain at the center if Jenkins contacts Hilton within 15 days and agrees to pay for the dogs' care, he said. The center charges $8 a day per dog.
If Jenkins doesn't notify the center, Cole said, the dogs will be put up for adoption, an opportunity he assumes a lot of people will be interested in.
"They are very cute," he said.
Cole said he also anticipates getting calls from people who claim they own the dogs and has contacted the parish attorney to determine how to handle such statements.
"We won't release anything unless there is proof of ownership," he said.
Jenkin's website, Windsor Pomeranians, was password protected when access was attempted.
Case UpdatesA Baton Rouge woman arrested last fall after police found nearly 40 Pomeranians living in squalor in her home was put on probation this week. The head of the parish’s animal control center said justice was served.
State District Judge Bonnie Jackson ordered Shauna Jenkins not to possess, own or breed animals during the duration of her one-year probation.
Jenkins, 39, also was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, obtain counseling, pay court costs and remain arrest free.
Baton Rouge police arrested Jenkins in October on one count of felony theft after receiving a complaint from a dog broker in New Hampshire who said she bought a Pomeranian from Jenkins for $5,000 but never received the dog.
Prosecutor Brandon Fremin said the theft charge, which could have meant jail time, was dismissed at the request of the victim, who got her money back.
In addition to the felony charge, animal control issued Jenkins 38 counts each of the following misdemeanor summonses: simple cruelty to animals, failure to register an animal, failure to tag and failure to vaccinate.
Police seized 38 live Pomeranians from the house. Jenkins owned 12 of the dogs, and 26 belonged to people who had sent them to Jenkins for breeding. Police also found one dead Pomeranian in the residence.
Jenkins pleaded guilty Tuesday to two misdemeanors: criminal mischief, which related to her neglect of other people’s property; and violating a city-parish ordinance relating to maintaining sanitary conditions at the home, Fremin said.
“I think justice was served,’’ East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control Center director Hilton Cole said. “I think she just got overwhelmed. I think she learned her lesson.’’
Jenkins’ attorney, Steve Covert, declined comment.
The 26 dogs not owned by Jenkins were returned to their owners. One of the other 12 died at a veterinarian’s office. The rest were adopted or given to volunteers.
“There’s no doubt they’ve all been homed in good homes,’’ Cole said. | Source: 2 The Advocate - Sept 28, 2008
Update posted on Aug 5, 2009 - 9:13AM |
Officials are still trying to find homes for some of the many Pomeranians that were seized in a Baton Rouge home.
Shauna Jenkins now faces animal cruelty charges after a total of 38 dogs were taken from her home. Animal Control says jenkins owns 12 of the dogs, but some of the other ones could be up for grabs.
Animal Control has come up with a fair way to get the dogs to safe homes by drawing names out of a hat.
Meanwhile, officials say even if Jenkins is able to post bail on the dogs, they'll stay at the animal shelter.
For more information on the Pomeranians, you can contact the Baton Rouge Animal Shelter at 225-774-7700. | Source: KFLY - Oct 11, 2007
Update posted on Oct 11, 2007 - 4:19PM |
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