120 animals seized, 75 more found dead
Newman Lake, WA (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 29, 2011
County: Spokane

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Carol A. McMullen
» James McMullen
» Kelly J. Covey

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

The home where 123 animals were seized and 76 were dead, have been in trouble with the law before. The McMullen's have been convicted or cited at least five different times in the last ten years.

Here is a timeline of the separate cases starting with Saturday's case.

More than 15 cats, 27 goats, 9 guinea pigs, 6 rabbits and more than 50 ducks and chickens were taken from the property.

All 15 cats had to be put down after a veterinarians evaluation and request.

In 2001 animal control officers began investigating Carols son James McMullen after allegations of animal cruelty and neglect. No convictions were made but animal control officers educated him on the proper care of animals and he was not cited. During this situation McMullen was living at a different address in the West Valley area but this is when the incidents of animal endangerment sparked the attention of authorities.

Then in April of 2003 Carol McMullen was cited with operating an illegal kennel on her property. Animal Control Officers cited McMullen with 10 counts of dog ordinance violations on that visit.

In 2004 Carol and her son James were found guilty of 13 misdemeanors related to the inhumane treatments of 61 dogs, cats rabbits and turtles. Her son James was found guilty of three counts various poor animal treatment.

James spent one day in jail in 2005 for violating his max two year probation by keeping more than 10 animals on his property.

In 2006 carol and her daughter Kelly Covey were investigated after a complaint that 18 cats were being hoarded in an RV. Officers found the cats living in " horrific and filthy" conditions"

Covey was charged with 18 counts of confining cats in an unsafe manner and one count of operating an unlicensed kennel--- which are all criminal misdemeanors. Those charges were dropped after she told authorities she lived in Idaho.

Case Updates

References

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« WA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Spokane County, WA

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