Animals abandoned in home
Albany, OR (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
County: Linn
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Amanda Munoz
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The city of Albany initiated forfeiture proceedings this week against a 20-year-old Albany woman for neglect and abuse of her birds and animals.
City Prosecutor Matt Jarvis said Municipal Court Judge Robert Scott signed an order Monday requiring that Amanda Munoz, formerly of 335 15th Ave. S.E., give up the rights to her animals within 72 hours or explain why she should be allowed to keep them.
Albany police have tried to serve Munoz with a citation but have been unable to locate her, said Sgt. Curtis Hyde.
"We think she is in a shelter in Corvallis, but she appears to be avoiding us," he said.
Police rescued four dogs, four cats, three ferrets and two rabbits, Jarvis said. The dogs were taken to Linn County Dog Control, the cats to SafeHaven Humane Society, and the ferrets and rabbits to Pipe Dreams Aviary.
Three birds, probably cockatiels, were found dead in the home.
Police went to Munoz' home after her May 7 eviction because lights were seen on in the house.
"We went in to do a welfare check to look for people and found animals instead," Hyde said. "Inside the house there was rotting food, dirty dishes, maggots, flies, feces and trash. There wasn't a place where you could sit down."
He did not know how long the birds and animals had been on their own.
The police took two dogs away on their first visit, and then went back the next day to get the rest of the animals. On that trip they saw someone had put two more dogs in the backyard.
The first two dogs were tangled up in their chains and could not get to food or water, and no shelter was available.
Jarvis' hope is to have Munoz relinquish her animals so they can be adopted as soon as possible.
If the city seeks a conviction, Munoz could serve up to a year in jail and pay a fine of $250 per animal.
Case UpdatesThe city of Albany initiated forfeiture proceedings this week against a 20-year-old Albany woman for neglect and abuse of her birds and animals.
City Prosecutor Matt Jarvis said Municipal Court Judge Robert Scott signed an order Monday requiring that Amanda Munoz, formerly of 335 15th Ave. S.E., give up the rights to her animals within 72 hours or explain why she should be allowed to keep them.
Albany police have tried to serve Munoz with a citation but have been unable to locate her, said Sgt. Curtis Hyde.
"We think she is in a shelter in Corvallis, but she appears to be avoiding us," he said.
Police rescued four dogs, four cats, three ferrets and two rabbits, Jarvis said. The dogs were taken to Linn County Dog Control, the cats to SafeHaven Humane Society, and the ferrets and rabbits to Pipe Dreams Aviary.
Three birds, probably cockatiels, were found dead in the home.
Police went to Munoz' home after her May 7 eviction because lights were seen on in the house.
"We went in to do a welfare check to look for people and found animals instead," Hyde said. "Inside the house there was rotting food, dirty dishes, maggots, flies, feces and trash. There wasn't a place where you could sit down."
He did not know how long the birds and animals had been on their own.
The police took two dogs away on their first visit, and then went back the next day to get the rest of the animals. On that trip they saw someone had put two more dogs in the backyard.
The first two dogs were tangled up in their chains and could not get to food or water, and no shelter was available.
Jarvis' hope is to have Munoz relinquish her animals so they can be adopted as soon as possible.
If the city seeks a conviction, Munoz could serve up to a year in jail and pay a fine of $250 per animal. | Source: Democrat Herald - June 8, 2008
Update posted on Jun 8, 2008 - 6:44PM |
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