Hoarding - dozens of animals seized
Tucson, AZ (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Sep 17, 2011
County: Pima

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Beverly Westmoreland

A Southwest Side home has been condemned as police and other safety officials investigate possibly diseased animals.

Beverly Westmoreland, the owner of the property at at 1832 S. Santa Cruz Lane, and her neighbors can't return to their homes while the investigation continues.

Neighbors called 911 on Saturday night complaining about an odor in the area.

"The list that we have included goats, sheep, pigeons, pigs, ducks, cats, dogs and geese," explained Sgt. Mary Hawke with Tucson Police.

Police found dead birds on the property. Those birds may be diseased and may have been fed to pigs and goats, which may have then been fed to people, authorities said.

119 chickens that were all sick and dying had to be euthanized. Pigeons, ducks, and geese were also impounded, but none have died that we know of, and test results are still to be determined.

Aside from the Tucson Police Department, and the City of Tucson, the Department of Agriculture is also doing an investigation. They're doing tests on the two chickens that actually died while being examined. One is being tested for Salmonella, and the other is being tested for the Avian Flu.

60 goats and 6 pigs were taken from the property, all of them seem to be doing fine so far, and the Department of Agriculture is finding foster care homes for them.

Tucson Police officers, wearing protective gear and masks, are searching the property for people who might still be inside. The officers will have to be decontaminated after their search.

In addition to all this, News 4 did some digging, and found out that this isn't the first time that the owner of the property, Beverly Westmoreland has been cited by city officials. She's violated codes before regarding animal cruelty, once for not giving animals enough water, and again for unlawfully keeping manure on her property.

Westmoreland was cited for obstruction, but not taken to jail, police said.

Westmoreland is the registered owner of 1820, 1826, 1828, 1832 & 1850 S. Santa Cruz Lane.

References

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