21 animals found in 106 degree rental truck - Fort Collin, CO

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2011

County: Larimer

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Dismissed

Person of Interest: Holiday Ann Christie

Case Updates: 5 update(s) available

A woman moving from Idaho to Texas was arrested on animal cruelty charges Tuesday after she was found to have 15 dogs, two cats and four pygmy goats in the back of her rental truck.

Holiday Ann Christie, 54, was booked in the Larimer County Jail after officers found the animals suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. The inside temperature of the vehicle was 106 degrees, according to animal control officers.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office were called at approximately 3 p.m. to assist Larimer Humane Society, who was responding to a dog at large complaint in the 3800 block of East Mulberry Street in Fort Collins.

By the time animal control officers arrived, the dog had been hit on the roadway and was dead. But Christie was uncooperative with the animal control officers, physically resisting their attempts to seize the other animals and attempted to leave the scene, so deputies were called, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office said.

Christie was arrested for investigation of aggravated cruelty to animals, a class six felony, and obstructing a peace officer, a class two misdemeanor.

She is currently being held at the Larimer County Jail with a $2,500 bond. An additional bond of $6,300 related to the care of the animals has been issued by Larimer Humane Society.

The animals are now in the care of the Larimer Humane Society.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office and Larimer Humane Society remind pet owners that in this heat pets should not be left unattended or transported in a vehicle that is not air conditioned or outside without shade and plenty of water.

The Timnath Police Department also assisted in the incident.

Case Updates

A deputy district attorney said all 19 dogs, cats and goats Holiday Christie had packed in the back of a U-Haul for a cross-country move would have perished without Larimer County officers' intervention, but the 19 animal-cruelty charges against her were dropped anyway. Prosecutor Mathew Munch said he agreed to the disposition because Christie, 56, needs mental-health and cancer treatment and "jail is not one of our goals in this case." Christie pleaded guilty Wednesday to two misdemeanor counts of obstructing a peace officer and was given two years probation. She can get custody of the animals while under probation, but Larimer County Judge Christine Carney must sign off on it first. Christie was stopped July 21 while at a gas station near Interstate 25 and Mulberry Street on her way from Idaho to Texas, when Larimer County Sheriff's deputies arrested her for keeping the animals in the back of the moving truck. The animals had become overheated and dehydrated. "They mean the world to me," Christie told the judge before sentencing. "They're my only reason for fighting to stay in this world." Munch said Christie exhibits "hoarding behavior," and a family member had said she had previously owned as many as 40 dogs. He said that, during the incident she was "very combative, very unpredictable" and had to be physically restrained as she continued trying to get into the U-Haul cab, where there was a loaded semi-automatic handgun. Munch said letting Christie off without supervision would "maybe kick the can down the road," but that it doesn't do her any favors not to be supervised. He said that on a 90-degree day in a metal U-haul, the animals' "body heat alone" could "raise the temperature very, very high indeed." Munch said the animals were "very severely dehydrated; they didn't have the energy to move. "What would have arrived in Texas is a truck full of dead animals," he said. Public defender Daniel Jasinski said that, while some officers responding to the scene said animals were unresponsive, the reports varied regarding the animals' condition. He disputed several of Munch's assertions, including that the animals weren't being cared for properly. He said a Chihuahua missing its jaw was "spoon-fed" by Christie after she'd rescued it. And Christie had been stopping every 50 miles to cool the animals with water, he said. Christie has been putting off treatment for lung cancer that has spread to her brain as she tries to move from Idaho to Texas. She has repeatedly told the Coloradoan that she wants to be with her pets. "There's nothing wrong with her choosing to live her last days in peace and solitude with her animals," Jasinski said shortly before sentencing Wednesday. Larimer Humane Society spokeswoman Marcie Willms said the humane society stands by the animal cruelty charges but respects the court's decision. Contrary to initial reports indicating the animals were in good condition (aside from the overheating and dehydration) when they were taken from Christie, a veterinarian's analysis revealed that several needed medical treatment. One beagle that belonged to Christie is available for adoption at Larimer Humane Society. Three additional dogs are recovering from dental surgery and will eventually be available for adoption. It's possible Christie could adopt one or more of the four animals remaining at the shelter as long as a written plan is submitted and approved by the court. If adoption is OK'd there would be a number of steps required of Christie, Willms said. Carney said she observed "countless examples" of "extremely irrational and not thought-out" behavior from Christie in connection with the case that might be attributable to the brain tumor in her frontal lobe. She said the animals were in an "extremely dire" situation. Carney waived all fees and costs associated with the probation. Christie may transfer the probation to her home in Texas. Marlies Figi has helped Christie find shelter since she was released from jail last weekend and is working to get her animals back to her. She attended the sentencing and said the result will be difficult for Christie. "She's now going to be forced to stay here several weeks," Figi said, adding that Christie cares more about her animals than anything else. Christie has, through government assistance, taken on the mortgage of a home with about three-quarters of an acre of land in Big Sandy, Texas. To move her animals, she packed them into the truck and propped the back gate open to provide some circulation. Willms said that, while the humane society doesn't doubt Christie cared for her animals, "we're required to uphold the laws. "We have great concern for Christie and her health," Willms said, "And we wish her the very best."

Source: coloradoan.com - Aug 23, 2011 Update posted on Aug 25, 2011 - 10:11AM

A woman accused of animal cruelty for allegedly moving 21 animals across several states in the back of her moving van is scheduled to enter into a plea agreement Wednesday. Holiday Christie, who is being held in jail on several misdemeanor charges, is due in Larimer County Court at 1:30 p.m. Larimer County deputies arrested the 56-year-old July 19 during a pit stop in Fort Collins along her route from Idaho to Texas with 15 dogs, two cats and four pygmy goats in the moving van. Authorities said Christie was spraying down her dogs when one beagle ran into traffic and was killed. Animal control officers responded and said the traveling conditions were inhumane because there was no ventilation, food or water in the back of the van. Christie reportedly told them she stopped every 90 minutes to give her pets air and a break. Animal control officers seized all the animals, and deputies arrested Christie. She initially pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of animal cruelty, and a jury trial was scheduled Oct. 19-20. Instead, attorneys scheduled a hearing Wednesday at which Christie is scheduled to enter into a plea agreement. Details of any agreement will not be public until that hearing.

Source: reporterherald.com - Aug 23, 2011 Update posted on Aug 23, 2011 - 7:06PM

A woman who tried to move more than 20 dogs, cats and goats cross-country in a U-Haul truck is trying to get out of Larimer County jail with help from strangers, but one acquaintance cautions people not to be too trusting. Holiday Christie, 57, is set for a pretrial conference today on 19 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and one of obstructing an officer. She was arrested last month at a gas station off Interstate 25, east of Fort Collins, after Larimer County sheriff's deputies found the animals were overheated and dehydrated. Anne Thomas of Gilmer, Texas, who worked with Christie to get her into a home with government assistance, said she tried to help the woman but she turned out to be "a manipulator and conniver" and "turned on me like a junkyard dog." Christie has said the conditions in the U-Haul were adequate before she was stopped, and the animals became overheated in the truck while she dealt with law enforcement. With no friends or family in Colorado, she said at the Larimer County Detention Center on Wednesday that she is "scared" and "desperate." "They are my whole reason for fighting to stay alive," Christie said of her animals, many of which remain in custody of the Larimer Humane Society. Marlies and Randy Figi of Bellvue have offered to help Christie find a place to stay and are coordinating an effort to provide support. But Christie continues to have difficulty raising the $10,000 bond. The Figis attended one of Christie's previous court hearings and have expressed concern that Christie wasn't getting adequate medical treatment at the jail. Christie said she has lung cancer, which has metastasized to her brain, resulting in the removal of a tumor earlier this year. Sheriff Justin Smith said Wednesday that he could not discuss an inmate's medical condition without their permission. He said all inmates are processed into the jail with medical screenings involving physical and mental health. "In any way you look at it, it's a sad situation," he said of Christie's case. By this week, only a beagle and two cats were still available for adoption at Larimer Humane Society. Four goats and five of the dogs had been adopted, and two dogs had been euthanized because of health problems. The remaining dogs are waiting for foster care or will be transferred to a rescue, according to the Humane Society. Christie has said she moved the animals with a U-Haul because her resources are limited. U-Haul spokeswoman Joanne Fried said Wednesday that rental contracts prohibit transporting live animals in part because the van box "doesn't really have any airflow in it." Dr. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, assistant professor and clinical coordinator with the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said it's "very difficult" to move 20 animals safely across the country. She said secured containers, ventilation and proper temperatures are among the concerns. "It's really hard to transport that many animals safely, in an inexpensive way," she said. "Another thing some people will do is (travel with) just a few at a time." Animal carriers, "doggie seatbelts" and gates inside SUVs and station wagons are preferable for transporting a few animals safely, she said. Christie bonded out of jail after her July 19 arrest but then violated her bond when she drove to Texas, where she expected Thomas to help her get back to Colorado in time for her court hearing. Thomas said she had planned to use a truck and stock trailer to get the animals from Colorado to Texas, but she was told by the Larimer Humane Society the transportation wouldn't be suitable. After that, her relationship with Christie faltered. "When I met her the first night, there was no way I was riding with that lady all the way to Colorado and back," Thomas said. Christie had become too dependent and pushy, Thomas said, to the point that local police got involved. Thomas said she also found that after she let Christie use her debit card to buy gas at a truck stop, unauthorized charges of $164 were made at the truck stop's store. After Thomas declined to help Christie reclaim her animals in Colorado, she said Christie went through her town (population about 5,100) soliciting donations while saying "cruel and vicious" things about Thomas. She said Christie clearly loves her animals but was too difficult to deal with. "I've never seen anybody like her. I've been in real estate 24 years and I've never met anyone like this," Thomas said. Christie told the Coloradoan that Thomas is responsible for the problems she's had since she was last in Texas. Christie's pretrial conference on the misdemeanors is set for 1:30 p.m. today at Larimer County Justice Center.

Source: coloradoan.com - Aug 11, 2011 Update posted on Aug 11, 2011 - 10:57PM

A woman accused of animal cruelty charges was arrested this afternoon in Fort Collins. Holiday Christie was arrested around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Best Western Transmission by Fort Collins police officer Michael McGregor. Police had a warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear in court July 27 and jumped bail and fled the state Larimer County Sheriff's deputies first arrested Christie on July 19 at a gas station near Interstate 25 and Mulberry Street after officials found 19 animals in a U-Haul trailer. Christie was traveling from Idaho to Texas with the animals. She stopped for gas and was approached by Larimer County Sheriff's deputies after a beagle, Sammy, ran out of the trailer and was struck by a car. Christie said she was trying to make it back to Colorado despite the warrant to reclaim her animals, "no matter what it took." On the way back to Fort Collins, her transmission blew; she had stopped at Best Western Transmission at 1810 South College Ave. to resolve the issue. During an interview with the Coloradoan shortly before the arrest, Christie said she was out of money and trying to make ends meet to reclaim her animals and avoid getting arrested. "I don't have a money tree," Christie said. "I don't know how to be flat broke with my kids (the animals) in jail and them wanting ransom. Now (the animals) aren't even mine. It's just too much at one time." When asked if she was willing to go to jail to get her animals back, Christie said she wanted to do whatever she could to "get my children back." "Go to jail? I'm claustrophobic," Christie said. "But I would do anything to get my kids back." Christie was arrested shortly after uttering those words by McGregor. All 19 animals from the U-Haul were transferred into Larimer Humane Society custody at 7 p.m. Friday when Christie failed to make it to Colorado to reclaim them. Two of the dogs have been euthanized, according to Larimer County Human Society community relations manager Marcie Willms. Willms said the animals were euthanized due to overall health and age. Another dog is currently being seen by the Larimer Humane Society's supervising veterinarian for a medical issue. "The decision for euthanasia was based on the determination concerning the animal's quality of life and probably suffering due to their extreme medical conditions," Willms said. The two animals were a Schipperke dog, estimated to be at least 12 years old, and a Chihuahua, estimated to be approximately 8 years old. Willms said the Schipperke has multiple medical issues, including advanced dental disease, bilateral cataracts and severe mammary masses; it was not considered a candidate for adoption and reportedly showed aggression toward staff members. The Chihahua was missing the entire lower jaw, had no teeth and was lacking its right eye, Willms said. "Larimer Humane Society's supervising veterinarian was unable to determine if the Chihuahua was born with the condition or if it was removed or in an accident," Willms said. Five of Christie's dogs will be ready for adoption following Larimer Humane Society's "Meet Your Match" personality assessment, according to Willms. Meet Your Match determines the friendliness, playfulness, energy level and motivation for dogs, cats and puppies. Willms said after the assessment, animals are placed in one of nine color-coded categories describing their personality. "It is the responsibility of our Evaluation and Enrichment team to assess the animals' behavior and interest in this regard so adopters can take home an animal they really click with," Willms said. Willms said the animals should be available for adoption later this week, pending recovery from spay and neuter procedures. The remaining seven dogs are being placed in foster care until they are ready for evaluation and possible adoption, Willms said. The two cats found in the U-Haul will be assessed for adoption today. The four Norwegian Dwarf dairy goats will be available for adoption after they receive vaccinations.

Source: coloradoan.com - Aug 2, 2011 Update posted on Aug 2, 2011 - 9:57PM

A woman arrested last week on charges of cruelty to animals has jumped bail after she was unable to retrieve more than a dozen dogs, two cats and four pygmy goats from Larimer Humane Society. Holiday Christie, 56, called the courts this week to inform the judge that she was "1,000 miles away" and would be unable to attend her Wednesday-morning court appearance, said Chief District Judge Stephen Schapanski. Christie was apparently moving from Idaho to Texas with the animals packed in the back of a U-Haul rental truck when she stopped at a gas station July 19 off Interstate 25 east of Fort Collins. Larimer County Sheriff's Office arrested Christie on suspicion of a felony, aggravated cruelty to animals; and a misdemeanor, obstructing a peace officer. The Larimer County District Attorney's office has since filed 19 charges of Class 1 misdemeanor cruelty to animals along with the obstruction charge. Schapanski issued a bench warrant in court Wednesday for Christie's arrest on failure to appear and violating bond conditions (by leaving the state). She told his office that she was in Texas, and she mentioned car trouble among "things I can't verify in any way" regarding her reasons for not appearing, Schapanski said. Christie last week left Larimer County Jail on a $2,500 cash bond. She tried to get her animals back on Thursday from the humane society's south Fort Collins shelter, where they're recovering. Because she is charged with no felonies, Christie's case has been moved to Larimer County Judge Christine Carney's courtroom. A Class 1 misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a fine up to $5,000. If Christie doesn't contact the humane society by Friday, the animals will be tested for behavior and health and could be up for adoption early next week, said humane society spokeswoman Marcie Willms. To get her animals back, Christie must pay a $40 impound fee plus a $10 daily boarding for each animal, or pay $6,300 bond for a hearing on the fees. She would need to show that the animals are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations, and she would have to show the animals would be transported by secured in enclosures in a vehicle, with proper ventilation and air conditioning. Christie's arrest last week at the 3800 block of East Mulberry occurred after she stopped to buy fuel and hose down some of the animals. One of the dogs escaped, and animal control responded to help but was unable to catch it before it was struck and killed, according to a previous report from the humane society. Officers then noticed the animals inside the truck, where the temperature had reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit.

Source: coloradoan.com - Jul. 27, 2011 Update posted on Jul 27, 2011 - 11:39PM

References

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