Case Snapshot
| Case ID: 13442 | | Classification: Hoarding | | Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, cow, sheep, other wildlife, other farm animal, chicken, bird (other farmed), goat | | More cases in Elk County, KS | | More cases in KS | | Login to Watch this Case
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Hoarding - 56 animals seized
Howard, KS (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
County: Elk
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Billy G. Claycamp
» Susan Lyles
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Personnel from the Elk County Sheriff's Department were called on March 13 to investigate a report of livestock running at large in the northern area of the county.
But what officers found upon arrival was much more macabre and sad than what they could have expected. As a result, charges of cruelty have been made against two Elk County residents.
When deputies arrived at 1341 Turkey Road, they discovered a grim scene that was described as "animal hoarding," according to a press release given out by the Elk County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday.
In the largest round-up in recent memory conducted by the Elk County Sheriff's Department, investigators seized 56 animals which were in various stages of emaciation, neglect and, in a few cases, decomposition.
The animals included 11 miniature horses, seven head of cattle, six llamas, five Great Pyranees-mix dogs, five other dogs of various breeds, four donkeys, four cats, three sheep, three full-sized horses, two goats, two prairie dogs, two turkeys, one pony and one chicken.
Elk County Sheriff Doug Hanks said the deplorable conditions that many of the animals were found living in is one of the rarest and most alarming cases of his career.
"I've never seen animal cruelty of this magnitude," said Hanks. "Both of my veterinary clinics here have been a godsend."
According to the release, sheriff's deputies described finding the carcasses of four deceased horses, numerous dead fowl, one deceased canine and a virtual "pile" of dead goats, which one of the surviving dogs was feeding on.
Furthermore, many of the horses found on the property were in such an emaciated state, that investigators found that they may be beyond the point of recovery due to lack of proper nutrition.
"So far, since we took the animals, we haven't lost any which is a miracle within itself," said Hanks.
The seized animals which survived the ordeal are currently in the custody of the sheriff's department and are temporarily being kept at various locations throughout Elk County, except for the horses and donkeys, which have been placed in the care of an undisclosed, out-of-county horse rescue sanctuary. Hanks also said that calls have been coming in from all over the Midwest from animal rescue groups offering their assistance.
Ten charges of animal cruelty were filed on March 13 against Elk County residents Billy G. Claycamp, 58, and Susan Lyles, 49, both residents of 1341 Turkey Road, Elk County Attorney Marla Foster Ware announced.
Claycamp was arrested the following day and is scheduled for trial on March 31. Due to her failing health, Lyles was given a summons to appear in court on April 1. Neither was available for comment.
Elk County officers contacted representatives of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Service regarding the prairie dogs. However, since the sheriff's department does not know at this time how Claycamp and Lyles acquired the feral prairie dogs, it is not yet possible to determine if any game violations are appropriate and will be added to the existing charges.
According to the press release, Ware said that animal hoarding is often associated with adult self-neglect and is a largely unrecognized community problem that affects both human and animal welfare.
"This is not a problem that is unique to Elk County," Ware said. "It's a problem that is likely to crop up in communities everywhere and, a lot of the time, these people just don't realize that they're not taking care of these animals, nor are they capable, which in turn causes the animals to suffer because of that."
In the release, Ware said that the economic impact on Elk County, due to any type of animal hoarding, can affect people more than they know. Ware advised that future procedures for animal hoarding, under state law, will require a resolution to be passed by the Elk County Board of Commissioners.
If passed, the new resolution would enable volunteer animal shelters to adopt animals seized in cases like these. Ware is currently preparing a resolution for commissioners to consider.
"The resolution will not solve the problem entirely, as shelters mat be reluctant or financially unable to step forward and help the county out on the cost," said Ware in the press release. "We, meaning horse and animal lovers like myself, need to consider setting up a fund to defray the expenses involved in finding these animals a proper home."
Case UpdatesTwo Elk county residents who are facing animal cruelty charges had nearly 60 animals removed from their property last week. Now, we're learning this isn't the first time they've been in hot water because of their critters.
Billy Claycamp and Susan Lyles each face 10 counts of cruelty to animals in Elk county. But we found out before this latest incident, officials in Butler county had numerous complaints about animals the two owned, including a lion that attacked a young girl.
"It has happened again. We had this going on in our county," says Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy. "The exotic animals weren't the only animals she had."
It's a situation Butler county officials struggled with for years. A man and a woman with several animals in Leon... some considered exotic.
"We never had any abuse of animals in our County," explains Murphy. "It was, 'We've got a danger here and then we wind up with a couple of kids bitten."
Neighbors like Carrie Marlett saw everything from horses and pigs to lions and tigers. Exotic animals like large cats can be kept, but require a special permit, which the owners did not have. A female lion later attacked two children in 1994 and by law, was put down. But neighbors say eventually the owners just up and left.
"It was a big safety and property issue," says Marlett, who lived nearby.
Those owners were Billy Claycamp and Susan Lyles, who's last name was then Richards. They are the same two people who had the animals in Elk County taken from their property in Howard last week.
"It's not a problem unique to Elk County at all," says Marla Ware, Elk County Attorney.
The two face animal cruelty charges in Elk County. Officials in both counties say they don't believe Claycamp or Lyles necessarily had bad intentions, but possibly just couldn't keep up with the responsibility.
"They fail to recognize that they're not capable of being able to care for these animals," said Ware.
"I don't think it's a malicious act," said Murphy.
But intentions aside, authorities say they're now focused on trying to get help for the animals and the individuals involved. They say if they don't, they fear this won't be the last time this happens.
KAKE news made multiple attempts to contact Lyles and Claycamp but were unable to. They never faced charges in Butler county, but Claycamp's trial in Elk county begins March 31st. Lyles first appearance is April 1st. | Source: WIBW - March 21, 2008
Update posted on Mar 22, 2008 - 12:55AM |
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