Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Lemuel Martinez | | Defense(s): | Glenn Smith Valdez | | Judge(s): | John Pope |
Images for this Case
93 dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens removed from sanctuary
Ramah, NM (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009
County: Cibola
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Arleen Krippene
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
In a raid that was the stuff of nightmares, the Cibola County Sheriff's Department, assisted by other agencies, removed approximately 100 animals from a residence in the Candy Kitchen area.
Arleen Krippene, 73, whose residence appears as both Candy Kitchen and Ramah in court documents, was arrested on 15 counts of extreme animal cruelty, a fourth-degree felony, Wednesday.
Krippene signed over ownership of the all animals on her property and gave consent for the search when law enforcement arrived.
Sheriff Johnny Valdez, reached as he was returning from Krippene's makeshift animal compound, said law enforcement and animal shelter workers found approximately 90 dogs, plus "seven to 10" cats, some rabbits and chickens in desperate condition at the compound.
Heather Ferguson, coordinator of the Attorney General's Animal Cruelty Task Force, said she helped Cibola County authorities pull the raid together. The number of animals that had to be evaluated and removed was too high for one agency to handle, she said.
In addition to the CCSD and the animal control department of the Grants Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department, Doña Ana County Animal Shelter, the Albuquerque Animal Control and other agencies were called in.
The effort also involved a forensic veterinarian, Ferguson said. Their assessment was the reason we could get the arrest."
The coordinator, who was at the scene until early Thursday morning, said most of the animals were in conditions that required they be euthanized. So many animals had to be put down that technicians from Doña Ana County were brought in to assist.
Animals were emaciated, dehydrated, in ill health, showing behavioral issues and otherwise suffering, she said.
"When we got there we found that instead of refuge or any kind of a sanctuary for these animals we found ... a death sentence," said Heather Ferguson of the New Mexico Attorney General's Animal Cruelty Task Force and Animal Protection New Mexico
Ferguson documented the suffering on video.
"We found animals that had been seemingly possibly intentionally starved to death," she said. "There was food available so you had bins of dog food on the property, yet you had dogs dying of starvation. A couple died while we were there."
"One dog was having seizures and had to be euthanized on site," she said.
Others had injuries from the nose all the way to the lower lip from dog fights, apparently for food, she added. Some showed evidence of broken bones that had not been treated and had healed as deformities.
The sheriff's department statement of probable cause states that one dog had a club foot, his toenails having grown into his foot pads and that another was pregnant and extremely emaciated, as well as listing numerous other animals.
The task force coordinator described finding a fire pit, "we call it a crematorium," and charred bones. She said that workers were walking on soft ground that turned out to be full of animal bodies in various states of decay.
Sheriff's Lt. Harry Hall, who was at the scene until 4 a.m. Thursday, said the stench was terrible.
Malnourished animals were stacked in small pet cages to the roof in several camp trailers.
"I've smelt death before," described Sgt. Mace, "this smelt worse."
Pictures indicated that the more aggressive "Alpha-male" dogs were healthy enough to dig massive holes under to escape the kennels or tried to chew through the fences.
Animals with enough life in them to be adoptable were transferred to the Albuquerque shelter. One dog name Lily, who Ferguson called "walking death," is among the ones that will be up for adoption. She is emaciated but appears to be otherwise healthy.
Lily will be the billboard dog for public pleas to spay and neuter, Ferguson said.
According to the Statement of Probable Cause submitted to the Cibola County Magistrate Court, the raid began at approximately 10:30 a.m., Wednesday. Law enforcement personnel searched Krippene's compound under the authority of a warrant obtained by sheriff's department Sgt. Tony Mace and as a result of efforts by Sgt. William Marion and Cheri Baisden of the Animal Care Center in Grants.
Late Thursday afternoon, crews were still at the scene, removing fencing. Hall said that if they left the chain-link pens up, the suspect would just do it again. The New Mexico Department of Transportation provided trucks to haul the fencing away.
Grants City Manager Robert Horacek, who was aware the raid was planned but had no other information, said, "It's tragic. All the more reason to spay and neuter."
Neither Mace nor Marion could be reached for comment.
Baisden said she could not offer a comment now.
"You don't realize what our animal shelter does unless you are out there and see what they do." He added that the shelter staff is very appreciated.
Case UpdatesThe trial of Arleen Krippene, 75, known to many as the "Dog Lady," accused of 15 counts of extreme animal cruelty, ended Wednesday in a mistrial in a Cibola County courtroom.
Only three of the state's witnesses testified on the stand before Judge John Pope declared a mistrial.
"The mistrial was declared because the state had not provided me with the doctor's (veterinarian) final report," said Glenn Smith Valdez, attorney for Krippene.
Krippene, a resident of the Candy Kitchen community, was indicted in 2009 on charges of animal cruelty. Krippene operated the "St. Francis Sanctuary for Animals" in the southwest portion of Cibola County.
Valdez stated he was given a preliminary report and told by the veterinarian that it was the final report. However, when he approached the witness stand he noticed that the witness, Dr. Patricia Norris, was referencing to a report with a different format and its title had been changed from the preliminary report to a veterinary forensic report.
"We were just blown away by the fact . . . they have a whole new report that they are using," Valdez stated.
Valdez said he asked Pope to strike the testimony of the veterinarian but the judge was unwilling. Pope then asked if the defense wanted a mistrial.
Valdez emphasized that "If it is because of misconduct of the state, then yes, because that should bar a new trial for my client."
However, Lemuel Martinez, 13th Judicial District Attorney, said his office will refile the case within the next two to three weeks.
"We are confident there is sufficient evidence to get a guilty verdict," Martinez said.
The prosecution's witnesses included: Tony Mace, undersheriff for the Cibola County Sheriff's Department; Robyn Gojkavich and Dr. Norris, both from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department.
Dr. Norris is among a small number of forensic veterinarians in the United States who specialize in animal cruelty cases and who routinely work with law enforcement agencies.
In June 2009, the Cibola County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Don Ana County Sherriff's' Office and other tribal and state agencies, conducted a search of Krippene's property. The search yielded the seizure of 93 dogs and numerous cats, rabbits and chickens.
Of the 93 dogs that were seized 70 were euthanized, 20 were adopted; and three remain at the Grants Animal Care Center. | Source: cibolabeacon.com - Jun 16, 2011
Update posted on Jun 17, 2011 - 11:19AM |
The recent dog hoarding case in Candy Kitchen has left a trail of community members asking themselves how that could have happened.
"I had gone down there about three weeks ago, but I didn't look around real well," said Judy Curtis of a local animal advocacy group. "I think she was trying. She was overwhelmed with too much to do."
Curtis said many of the animals Arleen Krippene were receiving were already injured.
Krippene is 73 years old and ran the "St. Francis Sanctuary for Animals" on her 17 acres in Cibola County. She was arrested June 10 and charged with 15 counts of extreme animal cruelty.
There is a positive outcome, however.
While many dogs had to be euthanized at the scene because of poor conditions, 11 dogs were taken to the Albuquerque Humane Association for a second chance at life. The animal in the worst condition at the sanctuary was named "Lily" and is to be the face of the Animal Protection Agency. Her photo will appear on billboards to show people the ravages of animal cruelty.
"I named her Lily, after the flower of rebirth," said Heather Ferguson Legislative Director of the APA. "She certainly has a will to fight and get better."
"Typically, (hoarders) start off wanting to do the right thing, the intentions start off good, but become overwhelmed," said Curtis Childress, Director of Animal Control with Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office.
Childress's department was called in to assist because of the number of animals involved.
"I've got four dogs. I've got the time to give attention to all four dogs everyday," said Childress, "if they're sick I know it, I can care for each of them."
Childress said the law states animal owners are responsible to give animals proper sustenance of food, water and shelter. According to court documents Krippene was ordered to reduce her dogs to 15.
"In her case, I think 15 is probably too many," said Childress.
Workers on the scene found a kennel license application stored away which hadn't been turned in.
"Based on conditions, she would never got a permit from Dona Ana County.
I wouldn't suspect she wouldn't pass as a kennel facility in Cibola County," said Childress. "If I were the judge, and I'm not, I would take a long hard look at these pictures and seriously consider not allowing her to have any more animals until she can prove she can take of them."
Lily and the others have undergone intensive care at the AHA including x-rays, blood work and behavioral testing to ensure the animals can be adopted.
The female pointer mix, was referred to as a walking dead and only a few days from death.
Now, Lily has made progress. She has made other dog friends and was able to make eye contact with handlers within this week. Lily has what looks like a basketball in her stomach after receiving three small meals a day to restore her to health.
Already, two other dogs have been adopted by loving families.
"She will be going into foster care as soon as a behavior plan is in place," said Ferguson.
The other rescued dogs hope to follow Lily in recovery. | Source: cibolabeacon.com - Jun 18, 2009
Update posted on Jun 17, 2011 - 11:03AM |
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