Breeder charged with cruelty, 90 dogs seized
Calhoun, FL (US)Incident Date: Friday, Apr 24, 2009
County: Calhoun
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Beth Hall
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
90 chihuahuas, 5 horses and 16 goats all were all taken by authorities from Beth Hall's small home in Calhoun County friday and now she faces animal cruelty charges. Gadsden County Animal Control Officer Judy DuBois says the animals were living in unbearable conditions.
"There's numerous skulls, body parts, things like that out here, some that were suspected of being shot with a .22 caliber gun."
DuBois came over from Gadsden County since there is no animal control office in Calhoun County. She followed up on a complaint about conditions at Hall's home.
"She showed me a puppy that was for sale. it was covered in fleas. It had sores all over and had white gums which would show signs of anemia."
Beth Hall couldn't disagree more. She says she makes a meager living selling her puppies and taking good care of them.
"All of the dogs we're active and healthy. Nobody was laying down unable to get up. One little dog had a tremor. Nothing you could do for it but she was on my bed being loved and looked after and cared for every day of her life."
Hall faces animal cruelty charges...the dogs now in the hands of Bay County animal control having been rounded up on friday. In the process she says she was mistreated.
"They wouldn't let me go back in the house to get my keys, my purse, my identification...nothing. They got a van and they hauled me off to jail."
Hall says she's been on the property 23 years building blood lines in the dogs she refers to as her babies.
"Now they're fixing to destroy those blood lines...those precious blood lines because they won't let anybody breed any of them. They'll neuter them which I understand, but those blood lines are gone."
Bay County animal control will petition for custody of the animals monday, but Hall says she won't sign off on anything.
"They want me to sign a paper. I won't sign it. I'll go to jail. I have nothing else here to live for. Old people can die of grief just like some of the little dogs."
Dubois says unfortunately there are probably more situations like Beth Hall's out there. She says Calhoun County definitely needs some kind of animal control put in place.
Case UpdatesEighty-two dogs were seized from a Calhoun County home last week and today Bay County Animal Control receives the go ahead to start adopting out the chihuahuas.
People were lined outside with their lawn chairs and umbrellas as early as 7:30 this morning. Animal control doesn't open until 10 a.m and they had to issue numbers to people to make sure everyone got the chance to see the puppies.
Animal control allowed new owners to take home the male dogs so long they put down a $100 deposit. They have the next 30 days to get the dogs neutered. Once they do, they can return to animal control and receive back their deposit. However, female dogs have to stay at the facility until they get spayed.
Bay County Animal Control Director, Jim Crosby, says he's happy they're able to adopt out the chihuahuas but he doesn't want people to forget about the other animals at the facility. He also tells News 13 that they've been taking pre applications all week, close to 250 of them. Even if a person doesn't find a chihuahua or dog they want this weekend, that application is valid for the next three months.
Beth Hall, the 59-year-old woman who the dogs were taken from, is charged with felony animal cruelty and 105 misdemeanor charges of animal neglect. | Source: Pan Handle Parade - May 1, 2009
Update posted on May 1, 2009 - 6:32PM |
A Panhandle woman accused of animal cruelty speaks out.
Friday, News 13 brought you the story about over 100 animals that were seized from 59-year-old Beth Hall's property.
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office reported to a call about a malnourished horse and found 90 dogs, five horses, and 16 goats, all of which were seized.
Today, Hall tells News 13 she feels she was not doing anything wrong.
"They kept saying that there was years and years of stuff down on my floor," Hall says. "There was just a little bit from Sunday to Friday that had accumulated sine Friday, and every time I get up and move around I got put and put papers down. I am disabled. I have trouble picking up the floors if I bend over to even pick up, something small, I'm likely to fall on my head. I have bad balance because of my knee."
Hall is charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, and the charge could increase.
The 90 dogs have been taken to Bay County Animal Control.
Volunteers were there today to help bathe the dogs and clean cages. They tell News 13 they bathed 37 of the dogs today and will return tomorrow to help the rest.
They say many of the dogs had rotted teeth, and that the dogs range in age, but they're having trouble telling how old each dog is because of their teeth and overall health.
On Monday, the ownership of the dogs should be determined. If Bay County is granted ownership, adoption of the dogs will start Tuesday.
If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs, just stop by the Bay County Animal Control to fill out an application. There is also an adoption fee of $75. | Source: WMBB - April 25, 2009
Update posted on Apr 27, 2009 - 12:04AM |
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