Over 80 animals seized
Saint Joseph, MO (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
County: Buchanan
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Rachael Gentzell
At the front patio to the home in which officials seized 80 animals, a person's gag reflex kicks in at intervals to keep the stench of urine and feces from entering the body.
The home is yellow-taped - uninhabitable. St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue officials took 31 rats, 24 cats, 15 birds, six dogs, two guinea pigs and a mouse from a 32-year-old woman's home on Oct. 23.
Two weeks prior, the woman told an animal welfare organization in Iowa that she was taking in strays, like the rats, so they wouldn't become snake food.
In fact, the woman had told the group she was going to drive to the Des Moines suburb, on a weekend, to drop off some of the rats to be adopted.
But before she could, a neighbor on Oct. 21, who was no longer able to take the noxious odor, called the city of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue.
Two days later, the agencies served a joint warrant on the home at 2818 Jules St.
Inside, the place reeked. Cats defecated all over the home. Fecal matter was everywhere, said Rick Smith, animal control director.
"One bedroom was wall-to-wall. Two- to 4- to even 6- inches deep," he said.
Steve Hofferber, who oversees property maintenance for the city, said urine had seeped into the wood floorboards, and kitchen and bathroom sinks were clogged.
Surprisingly, the animals were in overall healthy condition, Mr. Smith said. One-by-one, each was loaded into animal control trucks as other city officials tagged the home as uninhabitable.
The animal's owner, Rachael Gentzell, relinquished the animals to the city. She was cited for neglect, waste accumulation and unregistered animals.
Mr. Smith said he has seen "animal hoarding" before.
He calls it a situation of a "kind-hearted citizen that acquires too many animals and becomes overwhelmed."
Most of the 24 cats are feral. Some have been euthanized, he said. The six dogs are sociable, and all are gradually being adopted.
Furry Friends Rescue - the Iowa animal organization that Ms. Gentzell had contacted - took the guinea pigs, rats and mouse. On Thursday, a group volunteer drove the animals to the non-profit's home base in Clive, Iowa.
Britt Gagne, director of the organization, said the animals seem to be healthy and well kept by their owner.
"We are a no-kill organization," she said. "(The animals) will be adopted or put in foster homes."
St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue has no adoption policy for birds.
City officials will put the 15 birds up for sealed bids. Public viewing is today between 2 and 3:30 p.m. at the animal shelter, 701 Lower Lake Road. Bids will be taken until 2 p.m. Friday at the office of the purchasing agent, 1100 Frederick Ave., Room 201.
The birds include four Cockatiels, five Parakeets, three Zebra Finch, and one Rosella, Sengal and Cockatoo. The Rosella and Cockatoo are considered exotic birds.
For more information about the bid process call 271-4696. References« MO State Animal Cruelty Map
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