Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Stuart Dunnings | | Defense(s): | Kevin Tyrrell | | Judge(s): | Thomas Boyd |
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #16041 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Breeder charged with neglect - 69 dogs seized
Mason, MI (US)Incident Date: Monday, Apr 27, 2009
County: Ingham
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Joan Skillman
Case Updates: 5 update(s) available
Nearly 70 of Joan Skillman's Aussie Shepherds were seized April 27 from muddy conditions. Ingham County Animal Control called her kennel atrocious-- she blamed three straight days of rain.
Joan Skillman isn't about to admit to something she didn't do, which means she is fighting charges she neglected her dogs.
"I know they're not a child, but they're still a part of my family," she says.
The 73-year old breeder and kennel operator was charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty and neglect Friday-- three months after 69 Australian Shepherds were taken from her home in Mason.
News 10 caught up with Skillman and her attorney outside the Ingham County Jail after she was arraigned, fingerprinted and released without bond.
She didn't want to speak officially about the case but her attorney is ready to take this case all the way because Skillman has no interest in a plea deal.
"She did nothing wrong," says her attorney Kevin Terrell. "The Ingham County Animal Control was overzealous and exceeded their authority."
"I'm glad we're progressing on. I want this to be cleared up," said Skillman. "I'm glad we'll finally get to hear some of my side of the story."
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings has the Animal Control side of the story stands behind it.
"I think the evidence will speak for itself."
Dunnings tells News 10, just because Skillman is only charged for 11 animals doesn't mean the other 58 were alright.
"It becomes redundant after a point in time," explained Dunnings as to why Skillman isn't being charged for all 69 animals seized.
Because of the amount of information on each dog, the prosecutor's office worked up about 10 to 15 dogs for the formal charges. Dunnings says picking the 10 to 15 in the worst shape isn't how it worked.
"Given the conditions of the dogs, I don't think it's necessary to say 10 to 15 worst," said Dunnings.
It's also redundant because no matter how many counts, Skillman's lawyer says the maximum time she could serve behind bars would be 93 days for the misdemeanor.
Skillman and her attorney are discussing a civil suit against Animal Control, but haven't decided anything yet. Dunnings told me he has no problem with how Animal Control acted.
Skillman will be back in court for a pre-trial hearing August 10.
Case UpdatesA Mason-area dog breeder was sentenced to probation Monday for six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment.
Judge Thomas Boyd, chief judge of the 55th District Court, sentenced Joan Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township, to two years of probation and ordered her to pay more than $8,000 in fines, costs and restitution. She had faced up to 93 days in jail.
"I'm not a negative person," said Skillman, who broke into tears following a statement to the court, "and I'm just going to have to let it go and know that it's all going to work out."
A jury in January found Skillman guilty of six counts of animal cruelty or abandonment. She was originally charged with 11 counts.
The trial stemmed from what officials have called one of the largest animal seizures in Ingham County history, when on April 27 the Ingham County Animal Control seized 69 Australian shepherds from Skillman's kennel.
At the time of the seizure, Animal Control officers left Skillman with five dogs. Boyd allowed Skillman to keep the dogs, but she is prohibited from breeding them or any other animals while on probation. And with exception to those five dogs and a cat Skillman owns, she is not allowed to own any other animals.
"We felt that the judge did take into account the facts and circumstances of the case and sentenced her fairly," said Skillman's attorney, Kevin Tyrrell.
Boyd also ordered that Animal Control officers be allowed to inspect Skillman's property, with advance notice, to check on the five dogs.
"We're satisfied with the outcome," Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman said. "We'd like to see no animals left there, but with the conditions the judge imposed, I feel satisfied that those dogs will remain in good health as long as we can supervise them."
On Monday, Lampman said six of the 69 dogs remain at the animal shelter and three are in foster care. The rest have been adopted. Three have died.
During the trial, officers testified that the dogs were wet, dirty and matted and were living in 9 inches of mud, water, urine and feces.
Veterinarians said the dogs had health problems such as bloody urine, skin infections, broken teeth, overgrown nails, bladder stones and parasites. A behavior expert testified that many of the dogs showed signs of little or no human contact.
Skillman testified that the dogs were dirty from playing in the mud and were not in danger. Several other people also testified that they never saw signs of mistreatment in Skillman's dogs.
At least half of the guilty counts involved dogs that had heartworms, according to a veterinarian's testimony, and two of the guilty counts involved dogs that have died since Animal Control seized them from Skillman's kennel.
When Skillman is off probation, Tyrrell said, she could apply with the county once again to run a licensed kennel. Tyrrell said he thinks it's unlikely her application would be approved, however, given her conviction.
"She has no intention of ever breeding again," Tyrrell said. | Source: Lansing State Journal - Jan 23, 2010
Update posted on Feb 23, 2010 - 8:37PM |
A Mason area dog breeder accused of animal cruelty was found guilty on six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment this evening.
Joan Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township, was charged with 11 counts, but a six-person jury found her not guilty on five of those counts. She faces up to 93 days in jail and fines.
"We're disappointed that she was convicted of anything," said Kevin Tyrrell, Skillman's attorney. "We'd have liked not guilty across the board."
Ingham County Animal Control seized 70 Australian shepherds from Skillman's kennel April 27.
Officers testified earlier this week that the dogs were wet, dirty and matted, and were living in 9 inches of mud, water, urine and feces.
Veterinarians have said the dogs had health problems such as bloody urine, skin infections, broken teeth, severe tartar, overgrown nails and bladder stones. They also testified that many of the dogs had heartworms and other parasites.
"Even just one guilty would have definitely told that these animals were in poor conditions," said Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman. Lampman had testified in court that the seized dogs resembled animals from a puppy mill.
Skillman testified Thursday that her dogs were dirty from playing in the mud and were not in danger.
"They had been playing out in the yard," Skillman testified during the third day of her trial in 55th District Court in Mason. "They loved to play in the mud. They're just like little boys."
Skillman choked back tears several times when describing some of the dogs, including three that died since being seized by animal control officers.
Several other people - including a former customer and former kennel employee of Skillman's - testified that they never saw signs of mistreatment and that the dogs were active, friendly animals. | Source: Lansing State Journal - Jan 15, 2010
Update posted on Jan 17, 2010 - 5:50PM |
Opening arguments began on Jan. 12 in the animal abandonment/cruelty case against a respected breeder of championship Australian shepherds.l
Joan Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township, was charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment. She faces up to 93 days in jail and fines if convicted.
"I probably had more dogs than what I probably needed," Skillman testified during the third day of her trial on Jan. 14. "But it was not out of control."
Skillman is accused of mistreating 70 Australian shepherds seized from her kennel on April 27 by Ingham County Animal Control. Her case was heard in 55th District Court before Chief Judge Thomas Boyd and a jury.
"When I (saw) those dogs, they looked to be in peril," Ingham County Animal Control deputy Glenn Turcotte said during testimony. "They were a muddy mess. Those dogs couldn't get out of the muddy water or fecal matter."
Turcotte said that most of the dogs were living in about 9 inches of mud, water, urine and feces covered by wood chips on the ground. The dogs were wet, dirty and matted. Some animals had severe medical problems.
"She told me that it recently had rained and she wasn't able to get to the kennels," Turcotte said. "She said she hasn't been able to give them away or sell them. She kept telling me it got out of control. There were just too many animals to take care of."
Defense attorney Kevin Tyrrell said in his opening statement,"My client's kennels were flooded. My client was doing the best she could to control the situation."
Local veterinarian Valerie Chadwick testified that some of the dogs suffered from maladies such as broken teeth, heartworms, severe dental disease, overgrown toenails and skin irritation.
"The general conditions of these dogs were deplorable and outrageous," Ingham County assistant prosecuting attorney Jeff Cruz said in his opening statement.
Tyrrell said the dogs could not have been seriously ill if a veterinarian did not check them until a week later.
Skillman was allowed to keep five of the dogs, according to her Tyrrell.
"All the other animals are still being held as evidence in the case," Tyrrell said.
Authorities have said a majority of the dogs that were confiscated were placed with foster homes and animal rescue groups. At least 14 dogs still are at the county animal shelter. Three dogs have died from their medical issues.
Angie Falcsik, who specializes in behavioral and temperament testing, testified during the second day of Skillman's trial that the 25-30 animals she tested exhibited signs of little or no human contact and were afraid and antisocial. A veterinarian said some dogs had heartworms and bloody urine.
Falcsik said during questioning by Cruz. "They're fearful of human contact. They did not want to have any interaction with me."
Falcsik said the dogs' characteristics could be described as "feral," or like that of a wild animal.
"These dogs were similar to that type of behavior. They hadn't been socialized," she said.
Local veterinarian Susan Tavernier and veterinary technician Angela Farrand testified about the health of some of the dogs they examined a few days after the seizure.
Five of 10 dogs Farrand examined and several others Tavernier checked had heartworms. Tavernier noted other symptoms such as bloody urine, skin infections, bladder stones and severe tartar, which she said was 3 millimeters thick on some dogs and covered entire teeth.
"Heartworm is preventable. It is not very common to find," Tavernier said. "Mentally and physically, they were deficient in many ways."
Dring the second day of the trial, Pamela Henrys said her mother's animal cruelty trial that Skillman loved her dogs as if they were her own children, and she never saw her mistreat them.
"They were cared for. They were children to her, they were not dogs," Henrys testified.
On Jan. 14, the six-person jury adjourned deliberations, which were to resume the next day..
"Man's best friend should not be subject to horrible conditions. Man's best friend should have adequate care," Cruz said in his closing statement.
"It occurred at a time of winter thaw ... and then we have five straight days of rain. Could my client control that it rained? No. She was doing the best she could to deal with it," Tyrrell said in his closing statement. | Source: Lansing State Journal - Jan 15, 2010
Update posted on Jan 17, 2010 - 5:49PM |
Pamela Henrys said during the second day of her mother's animal cruelty trial that Joan Skillman loved her dogs as if they were her own children, and she never saw her mistreat them.
"They were cared for. They were children to her, they were not dogs," Henrys testified Wednesday in 55th District Court in Mason.
Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township, has been charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment. She faces up to 93 days in jail and fines if convicted.
Ingham County Animal Control seized 70 Australian shepherds from her kennel April 27. Officers testified Tuesday that the dogs were living in 9 inches of mud, water, urine and feces.
"We'd had so much rain. There was just mud everywhere. There was nothing we could do because it just kept raining," Henrys said.
The case is being heard before Chief Judge Thomas Boyd and a jury. Ingham County assistant prosecuting attorney Jeff Cruz has rested and defense attorney Kevin Tyrrell began questioning witnesses Wednesday. The trial continues today.
Several people testified that they never saw signs of mistreatment in Skillman's dogs.
"Dogs were running and playful. They were full of life," said Sherry Koshurbo, who visited Skillman's kennel in April to buy a puppy. However, Koshurbo said she saw only three to five puppies and about 20 adult dogs.
During the prosecution's questioning, Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman said the seized dogs resembled animals from a puppy mill.
"These dogs to me, based on my experience, were almost identical to puppies we've seized from puppy mills," she said.
Obedience trainer Angie Falcsik, who specializes in behavioral and temperament testing, testified that 25 to 30 dogs she evaluated exhibited signs of little or no human contact and were antisocial.
Falcsik said the dogs' characteristics could be described as feral. Several veterinary workers testified that multiple dogs had heartworms.
"Mentally and physically, they were deficient in many ways," veterinarian Susan Tavernier said.
Tavernier noted other symptoms such as bloody urine, skin infections, bladder stones and severe tartar. Veterinary assistants also testified that many of the dogs had other parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms. | Source: Lansing State Journal - Jan 14, 2010
Update posted on Jan 17, 2010 - 5:47PM |
Pamela Henrys said during the second day of her mother's animal cruelty trial that Joan Skillman loved her dogs as if they were her own children, and she never saw her mistreat them.
"They were cared for. They were children to her, they were not dogs," Henrys testified today in 55th District Court in Mason.
Skillman, 73, of Aurelius Township, has been charged with 11 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty or abandonment. She faces up to 93 days in jail and fines if convicted.
Ingham County Animal Control seized 70 Australian shepherds from her kennel April 27. Officers testified Tuesday that the dogs were living in 9 inches of mud, water, urine and feces.
"We'd had so much rain. There was just mud everywhere. There was nothing we could do because it just kept raining," Henrys said.
The case is being heard before Chief Judge Thomas Boyd and a jury. The prosecution, led by Ingham County assistant prosecuting attorney Jeff Cruz, has rested and defense attorney Kevin Tyrrell began questioning witnesses today. The trial continues Thursday.
Several people testified that they never saw signs of mistreatment in Skillman's dogs.
During the prosecution's questioning, Animal Control Director Jamie McAloon Lampman said the seized dogs resembled animals from a puppy mill -- an operation based on profit and quantity, rather than quality of care.
"These dogs to me, based on my experience, were almost identical to puppies we've seized from puppy mills," she said.
Obedience trainer Angie Falcsik, who specializes in behavioral and temperament testing, testified that 25 to 30 dogs she evaluated exhibited signs of little or no human contact and were antisocial.
"They're fearful of human contact. They did not want to have any interaction with me," she said.
Falcsik said the dogs' characteristics could be described as "feral," or like that of a wild animal.
"These dogs were similar to that type of behavior. They hadn't been socialized," she said. | Source: Lansing State Journal - Jan 13, 2010
Update posted on Jan 17, 2010 - 5:47PM |
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