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Case ID: 16767
Classification: Hoarding, Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, bird (pet), rodent/small mammal (pet)
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Approximately 200 live animals sized, 44 dead
Strathmore, CA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 29, 2010
County: Tulare

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Linda Leigh Baker-Corsiglia

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A woman working with an animal rescue group was arrested last Thursday after Tulare County Animal Control and Sheriff's deputies discovered 140 sickly animals and a dozen deceased animals in and around her home in Strathmore.

The detectives and officers were originally dispatched to the home in the 21000 block of Road 254 at about noon on July 29. According to the Sheriff's Department, detectives asked for a search warrant after observing a horse on the property with no food or water and numerous deceased animals in various stages of decomposition around the property. Upon further investigation they observed dogs, cats, birds and other animals inside the residence both inside and outside of cages which appeared to be in various stages of neglect. Officers observed several of the animals fighting with each other and felt their safety and well being were in jeopardy. Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff's Ag Crimes Unit responded to assist with the investigation.

Detectives returned with a search warrant and entered the residence to secure the animals. Upon entering the residence approximately 140 live animals (dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, rooster, cockatoos, parakeets, cockatiels, chinchillas) were located throughout the residence in various stages of declining health. Officers also located approximately a dozen deceased animals throughout the residence, also in various stages of decomposition. Additional Animal Control Officers were requested to assist with the removal of all animals from the residence.

Detectives arrested the property owner, Linda L. Baker-Corsiglia, when she returned home with a 16-year-old female juvenile, who neighbors identified as her daughter. Baker-Corsiglia was arrested without incident and booked on charges of Animal Cruelty/Neglect and Child Endangerment. The juvenile was placed into the custody of Child Welfare Services.

According to the Sheriff's report, Tulare County Animal Control officers were contacted by the Kern County Animal Control requesting that they check the rescue operation after Baker-Corsiglia had adopted a large number of animals from Kern County.

Guy Shaw, director of Kern County Animal Control, said Baker-Corsiglia had been rescuing entire litters of cats and dogs for several weeks. He said the first time she came in nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary as she had proper animal crates and checked out with a non-profit rescue shelter, Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Countryside Rescue.

Shaw said after a few weeks, his staff began to get a feeling that something was wrong. The woman's appearance began to decline and the conditions of her vehicle and animal crates were less and less sanitary, despite efforts by Animal Control to educate her on proper handling and care. Again, they called Countryside Rescue to check the validity of her operation and were again assured that she had plenty of room and care for the well being of the animals. Despite the reassurance, staff notified Shaw who then requested that Tulare County Animal Control check out the facility.

'If it wasn't for staff paying attention to the signs, who knows how long this might have gone on,' Shaw said. 'She had come in to rescue more animals even after we had turned her in.'

David Weiss, director of Countryside Rescue, said he was devastated when he heard the news of Baker-Corsiglia's arrest.

'I am really twisted inside over this,' Weiss said. 'We take rescuing animals very seriously and we are just heartbroken by this news.'

Weiss said Countryside has been around since 2005, but that he took over a little over a year ago after the sudden death of the original director Michelle Munson. He said Countryside does check out every rescue facility with which it is affiliated and does background checks on rescue operators. Weiss said Countryside has a good rapport in the industry, having participated in an event with the Sonoma Humane Society over the weekend. He said Baker-Corsiglia approached them two months ago with a 10-acre property for dogs and cats that, at the time, was clean and sanitary.

'Everything looked fine and we had a good feeling about the facility in the beginning,' Weiss said. 'But she turned out to be something she was not and we are sorry for that.'

Weiss said he could only speculate as to why the woman would be hoarding animals, but said that there are people who feel that any situation is better than a shelter. 'Maybe she started off fine and got overwhelmed with the number of animals and at that point didn't know how to come back.'

Neighbors said that the woman had only lived at the location for two months. Some of them didn't even know she had that many animals and were unaware of any problems.

'We are furious over this and will do whatever we can to help prosecute her to fullest extent of the law,' Weiss said. 'We have learned a hard lesson that will never be repeated.'

Anyone with information in regards to this case is asked to please contact Sgt. Jody Cox or Det. Mike Hallum of the Tulare County Sheriff's Ag Crimes Unit at 735-1853 or 733-6218.


Case Updates

A Strathmore woman was arrested Tuesday on four counts of animal cruelty and booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in Visalia after being investigated four the past three months for possible animal cruelty and neglect.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., members of the Tulare County Sheriff Department's Agricultural Crimes Unit went to the 21000 block of Road 254 in Strathmore to serve an arrest warrant on Linda Baker Corsiglia for suspicion of animal cruelty and child endangerment.

The investigation began in July when animal control officers and deputies responded to a report of animal neglect and cruelty at the Strathmore location.

At that time, TC Animal Control officers said they had been contacted by officers with the Kern County Animal Control office who asked them to look into the woman's residence after she adopted numerous animals from Kern County and reportedly was operating an animal rescue center.

Upon arriving at the residence in July, Animal Control officers and TCSO deputies reported observing numerous deceased animals in various stages of decomposition around the property. In addition, dogs, cats, birds and other animals were found in various stages of neglect.

In total, approximately 200 animals were found at the residence �" 44 of them deceased. All surviving animals were removed from the residence.

Also at that time, a 16-year-old juvenile who lived at the residence with Corsiglia was placed into the custody of Child Welfare Services.

The Ag Crimes Unit has been working with the Tulare County District Attorney's office to complete an in-depth investigation.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sgt. Jody Cox or Det. Mike Hallum of the Sheriff's Department, Ag Crimes Unit at 735-1853 or 733-6218.
Source: recorderonline.com - Nov 3, 2010
Update posted on Nov 3, 2010 - 8:36PM 

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