Hoarding - 15 cats and dogs, 3 found dead
Myakka, FL (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
County: Manatee

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Annette Knight

Annette Knight has a poor track record of caring for animals. She has been issued six animal-control violations in Sarasota County since 2005.

And this month, Manatee County Animal Services officers were called to her Myakka City property, where they said they found 15 dogs and cats abandoned without food or water. Three dead dogs were decomposing, and some of the survivors were trapped inside a house with feces-covered floors.

Despite that, a judge on Friday decided to let Knight reclaim some of her animals during a court hearing on a civil lawsuit filed against her by the county.

Four of eight impounded dogs will soon be back with Knight, 44, who will be living with them in a Sarasota home with her daughter, stepfather, three other dogs and eight cats.

The deal struck in court Friday in the civil case allows Knight to keep those dogs pending a final hearing to be held within two months. At that point, a judge will rule on whether Knight is fit to care for the animals. Knight surrendered the four remaining dogs and all cats to Animal Services.

Knight has a Web site where she claims to run a nonprofit organization called Annette's Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. Knight's lawyer, Tracy Lee, said Knight loves animals but gets in over her head.

"The problem is she gets too many of the animals and becomes overwhelmed," Lee said.

Judge Robert Farrance set up weekly visits to Knight's home by Sarasota County authorities. He also ordered that no additional animals be possessed, and that the dogs be seen by a veterinarian within a week. Knight must also have a dog door installed so the dogs an leave the house, Farrance said.

Nearly 30 animal advocates who sat in the audience were angered by the ruling.

Shona Otto and Julia Johnson, president and vice president of Underdog Rescue, said Knight should not be permitted to own animals.

"She has a hoarding mentality," Otto said. "No matter what, she is going to get more animals and she is doing it under the name of animal rescue. If you aren't caring for the animals medically or emotionally and actively seeking a home for them, then it's not a rescue."

Mary Lupi, vice president of Honor Sanctuary Animal Rescue, said there is no excuse for the abandonment of animals. Lupi said she and many others have donated food to Knight in the past and would have taken the animals if she could not handle them.

Knight gets the animals via a pet rescue operation that she says is a registered nonprofit organization. Knight wrote on her Web site that she purchased the 10-acre Myakka City property for the sanctuary. She also pleaded for donations to help care for the animals.

Annette's Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, however, was not listed in the Internal Revenue Service's online directory of 501(c)3 organizations and could not be confirmed by an IRS representative.

Manatee Animal Services said it impounded eight dogs and six cats from the property in the 12400 block of River Road in Myakka. They euthanized a bloodhound because it was less than half its recommended weight and could not stand. One dead dog in the yard was being eaten by other loose animals, officials said.

Traps were set to capture about 10 more cats that are considered feral, or wild. Two ducks and a peacock also housed on the property will be relocated, they said.

Four horses are being held on Sheriff's Office property.

Animal Services has commitments for the remaining four dogs and six cats, said Joel Richmond, Animal Services supervisor. As of Friday, the cost of caring for all the animals recovered was $4,070, Richmond said. Knight could be responsible for those charges.

Possible criminal charges have also been forwarded to the State Attorney's Office for consideration, he added.

References

• « FL State Animal Cruelty Map

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