Over 80 birds found dead
Birch Bay, WA (US)Incident Date: Monday, Nov 19, 2007
County: Whatcom
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged:
» Michael Koenen
» Melinda Koenen
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A gruesome discovery was made on Thursday when more than 80 chickens and ducks were found dead, locked in sheds on property that was recently purchased by BP.
A Whatcom County resident called Pasado's Safe Haven, an animal rescue service in Monroe, to investigate a case of animal neglect at 7061 Jackson Road, near the BP Cherry Point refinery. Susan Michaels, founder of Pasado's, said the property was in complete squalor. While more than 80 chickens and ducks had perished, approximately 20 were saved and taken back to the Monroe facility.
"I haven't seen anything like this in years. There were animals right inside the sheds near the doors, trying to get out," Michaels said. "It was a house of horrors."
It also came as a shock to officials at BP, said Mike Abendhoff, spokesman at the refinery. He said the company had purchased the property from Michael and Melinda Koenen on Nov. 19. The Koenens could not be reached for comment.
Michael and Melinda Koenen are the father and stepmother of Michael Koenen, a former Western Washington University football player and current Atlanta Falcons punter.
"We knew they had chickens and ducks on site, but we thought they (the previous owners) would take the animals with them," Abendhoff said. "Our intention was to knock over the buildings, clean up the area and leave it as open space. It didn't occur to us that there would be animals left behind. It's a terrible tragedy."
Michaels said they made the rescue after getting a call from a resident who said the local agencies weren't available. As it turns out, the SSP contract to handle these county cases is just ending and the new Whatcom Humane Society contract begins this weekend, said Jeff Parks, chief criminal deputy for the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
"They (Pasado's) were very helpful during this transition," Parks said.
Parks was unaware of anyone notifying the Sheriff's Office until they got a call from Pasado's. They then sent a supervisor out to assist the organization. Parks said they are trying to determine if this is a criminal situation of animal negligence.
"It was pretty severe, so we're continuing to investigate what happened on that property," Parks said.
At this point it is unclear what other animals were on the property. Michaels said a resident told her there used to be horses, cows and dogs on the property, while Abendhoff said he had heard there were pigs in the area.
Case UpdatesA couple accused of leaving more than 80 chickens and ducks to die after selling their Jackson Road property in November have been charged with animal cruelty.
Michael and Melinda Koenen will face three counts of seconddegree animal cruelty in Whatcom County District Court.
Whatcom County sheriff's deputies and employees of Pasado's Safe Haven, a Monroe-based animal rescue service, rescued approximately 20 fowl from the couple's property at 7061 Jackson Road and found countless more dead.
BP Cherry Point Refinery purchased the property from the Koenens a week before officials rescued the animals; a spokesman said they were unaware of the animals on the property. | Source: Bellingham Herald - May 6, 2008
Update posted on May 6, 2008 - 12:01PM |
Michael and Melinda Koenen will be charged with three counts of second-degree animal cruelty for allegedly leaving dozens of fowl to die after the couple moved away from their Jackson Road property.
Kari Hathorn, a deputy at the Whatcom County Prosecutor's Office, said staff would be filing the charges in District Court today.
Animal rescue officials from Monroe were called to the Koenens' property at 7061 Jackson Road after the couple sold the property to the BP Cherry Point Refinery. Approximately 20 chickens and ducks were recovered from the property, but countless more had died of apparent starvation. | Source: Bellingham Herald - April 30. 2008
Update posted on Apr 30, 2008 - 10:48PM |
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