Pet store neglect
Copperas Cove, TX (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010
County: Coryell
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Bambie Lynn Byrom
A Copperas Cove pet store owner is facing animal cruelty charges that may put her out of business.
Bambie Lynn Byrom, owner of Bambie's Puppy Palace on the 2300 block of East Highway 190, has been charged with cruelty to animals by the Coryell County Attorney. According to the criminal complaint acquired by News Channel 25, Byrom's store was investigated by Copperas Cove Animal Control on October 20, 2010 after receiving "numerous complaints."
The officer then found six cages housing canines in "deplorable and unsanitary conditions," according to the complaint. Food and water were provided to the dogs, however, the officer decided the amount of feces inside the cages made their quality of life unsanitary.
Byrom eventually turned herself in to Copperas Cove Police. Criminal charges were filed against her on November 22, 2010.
Byrom tells News Channel 25 that she denies all charges.
In an open records request obtained by News Channel 25, Harker Heights record keepers confirmed Byrom dropped off four cocker spaniels at Harker Heights Animal Control on October 21, 2010, the day after Puppy Palace was investigated. Two of those terminally ill dogs were eventually taken into foster care.
She told animal control employees that she could no longer care for the dogs she claimed were rescued already in poor shape.
"People who are breeding strictly for profit aren't doing it for the right reasons. That's how so many of these dogs get dumped off at shelters, and euthanized or just dumped on roads," said Donna Sanchez, who adopted a male and female cocker spaniel that were previously under the care of Byrom.
Sanchez believes there are more dogs at the Copperas Cove location that are not getting proper treatment.
"The male also has cataracts on both his eyes, and his ears both have horrible infections," said Sanchez. "He's basically blind and deaf."
They were among the dogs allegedly living in their own feces. One brown canine was reported as living in a cage far too small for its size.
According to the complaint, witness Mandi Wiessner made a written statement claiming she had obtained a Boston Terrier from Puppy Palace only to be forced to take it to the vet the same day because of its poor health. It was reportedly euthanized a few hours after Wiessner received the dog.
Curtis Moore owns the adjoining business to Puppy Palace and provided a written statement alleging the Byrom's mistreatment of dogs lasted "24 hours a day."
Byrom tells News Channel 25 she is unaware of the various complaints made against her business, and maintains that she is operating under the best interest of her dogs.
"Most of the time it's just about the product puppy itself, and it gets bred back to back, no medical care, no interaction, nothing," said Michaela Ramos, who adopted a year-old Pekingese allegedly given away by Byrom, whose tail has been removed and genitals mutilated. "They just spend their life in cages."
Ramos hopes both the Pekingese and the two cocker spaniels in foster care find new permanent homes soon. She says her veterinarian has described the three dogs to be in poor health.
"The dogs that we have got in our care have not had the minimum care," said Ramos.
Prosecutors tells News Channel 25 they believe they have a good case against Byrom, calling it a "horrible case."
"There really aren't breeder permits that exist around so it's very easy for someone to do that, unless there's a complaint lodged against them," said Sanchez.
The Puppy Palace charges come amidst a tumultuous time for animal rights in Copperas Cove. In April, the city council created a controversial ad hoc committee, of which Ramos is a part of, to revise ordinances related to animal rights. Most recently, In November, Dr. Kevin Kruse, who served on the Copperas Cove Animal Control Advisory Committee, suddenly resigned citing "a group of outsiders" attempting to force their agenda on the city. He also questioned the necessity of the ad hoc group.
New ordinances, as well as revisions to old ones, are in the revision stages through the City Attorney. An ordinance that would ban an individual with a cruelty conviction from owning or selling a pet is one of the new additions to be voted on by the City Council sometime this year.
Byrom's court date is scheduled for Thursday, January 13 at 1 p.m. at the Coryell County Courthouse. References |
