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Rescue neglect
Toledo, WA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 9, 2007
County: Lewis
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Theresa Hutton
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Fifty-four dogs seized from a Toledo home remain under quarantine, Lewis County Animal Services spokeswoman Amy Clark said Wednesday.
The dogs were taken after the owner failed to appear in Lewis County District Court to face animal-cruelty charges related to horses on the property.
The dogs were living in filthy conditions, and many didn't have food or clean water, Clark said. Up to 80 dogs were left on the property because the shelter couldn't accommodate them, she said.
Theresa Hutton of Toledo was arrested Aug. 9. She was released Friday on her own recognizance after making her court appearance, prosecutor Michael Golden said.
Hutton said she wasn't aware of the mandatory court appearance. Officers took only small, expensive and rare breeding dogs, Hutton said.
"The dogs were fat and healthy except for the two with mange," she said.
Their living area hadn't been cleaned, and they didn't have food and water because she was in jail, she said.
In April, the state Department of Agriculture placed Hutton's property under quarantine after veterinarians saw dogs infected with canine brucellosis and traced the disease to her residence, Clark said.
County staff has tested animals at the property several times for further infection, and 41 have been euthanized, Hutton said.
Hutton is scheduled to appear in court again Sept. 5 to follow up on the three counts against her regarding the horses, Golden said.
The charges came about after Lewis County investigators filed a petition regarding 11 horses in her care. The animals reportedly did not have adequate shelter or clean water and were confined for extended periods. Several reportedly had split hooves or overgrown hooves and areas of rot.
Hutton's children are living with a relative as she continues to fight the animal cruelty charges, she said. The relative had reportedly filed a parenting petition after Hutton's 12-year-old daughter ran away from home. A judge decided there was reason to investigate and has instructed that Hutton can see her children once a week for now.
"They just want to come home," Hutton said of her children. "They ask about how their animals are doing. My 5-year-old has never been away from me. It's just so traumatizing it's unbelievable."
Case Updates| Theresa Hutton is sentenced to working in an animal shelter in connection with animal cruelty charges. It’s linked to horses previously found in tough shape at Hutton’s Toledo area property. Authorities during the investigation also found more than 100-dogs. More than 40-dogs that were sick had to be euthanized. | Source: KELA AM - July 23, 2010
Update posted on Oct 3, 2010 - 6:58PM |
A Lewis County woman was sentenced Monday for criminal mistreatment of her young daughter.
Theresa Hutton, 34, will serve four years in prison following a case of abuse and neglect.
"The amount of cruelty that was involved in this case almost unimaginable," said Deputy Prosecutor Colin Hayes.
Hutton showed little emotion throughout her sentencing as her daughter, Katie Hutton, looked on.
Theresa Hutton was convicted two weeks ago of starving and beating the child over a period of six-and-a-half years. The girl suffered a form of dwarfism from the abuse.
"You don't seem to get it. Normal people just don't treat people that way," said Katie’s grandmother, Joleen Roy.
The abuse took place at a home and property in rural Lewis County where Theresa Hutton had taken in dozens of dogs, cats and horses.
County animal control raided the property and had to euthanize many of the dogs because they carried a highly contagious and fatal canine disease. Her daughter, Katie, was forced to feed all the animals before school and often attended class covered in mud and animal feces.
"You know you didn't want Katie from day one, but your sick twisted mind did not want anyone else to have her," said Katie’s aunt and guardian Merry Auman-Music.
Theresa Hutton's only response in court was to call the charges lies.
"That was particularly joyous to see her walk out in handcuffs and shackles,” Roy said.
Katie weighed just 60 pounds in the sixth grade, but is now healthy and growing. She is doing well in school and sports. | Source: KIRO-TV - May 4, 2009
Update posted on Oct 3, 2010 - 6:55PM |
Animal cruelty charges are pending against a horse owner and dog breeder who may now also be in violation of a quarantine involving a deadly disease in Lewis County.
The case involves a dozen horses and more than a hundred dogs. Lewis County health officials are checking the property northeast of Toledo.
The place calls itself Three Mountains Dog Rescue. The health officers have been here before and found more than 120 dogs in outdoor cages with murky drinking water.
Officials found indications that the deadly brucellosis virus may be spreading through the dogs. 41 had to be euthanized, we're told.
Those horses were seized.
A quarantine order was slapped on the place because of the dog disease.
Lewis County prosecutor Mike Golden is investigating allegations that the property owner brought in more dogs, violating the quarantine.
"Potentially the court could order if it finds her in contempt, could order all of those animals be removed," said Golden. "The fact that she may or may not have too many dogs on the property is one issue. But what really has her in trouble now with the law is that horse. She's not supposed to have any horses here."
"I think it's horrible. I'm appalled. I think it's horrible," said Tonja Nichols, a neighbor. "I know this is the country and people can have animals, but animals have rights and they should be treated well."
We tried and failed to get a response from owner Theresa Hutton. She told us earlier that she doesn't hurt animals; she rescues them.
"It just seems really wrong and unjust," said Nichols. Animal rights folks see horses that need new homes and dogs that may have been given a death sentence because of what they fear is an unchecked spread of brucellosis.
The Lewis County prosecutor will make an animal cruelty charging decision next week. | Source: KOMO News - July 15, 2007
Update posted on Oct 3, 2010 - 6:54PM |
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