Case Snapshot

Case ID: 2625

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)

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Case #2625 Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Abandoning 7 cats, 1 dog leading to their death
Bellevue, WA (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jul 30, 2004
County: King

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Joyce Elaine Hunstad

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Police arrested Joyce Hunstad for investigation of animal cruelty after her pets were found abandoned and dead in her condo.

The animals were discovered after neighbors noticed a horrible stench and couldn't hear them anymore.

"Just a terrible smell, I knew something was wrong there," said Andreas Kischel as he described the foul odor coming from the woman's nearby condo.

Kischel's fears were confirmed when Bellevue Police officers in protective suits emerged with bags of dead animals. A total of seven cats and a small dog were found dead in a condo amid feces, fleas, and garbage. The animals apparently died from heat and lack of food and water.

Hunstad hasn't been seen here for several weeks and authorities have no explanation for the cruelty.

"She needs to pay for this," said Kischel with disgust. "This is bad. Dead animals. I don't even care that much about my own well being but I feel sorry for those animals how they died."

Kischel says he used to see one of the cats in the window and he could hear the animals meowing and barking. But when the temperatures grew so hot he decided to call police.

Officers checked the home Thursday but they didn't go inside until Friday.

"I'm disgusted in the police and animal control for not getting involved where they should have been involved," said animal welfare activist Christine Jones. Her voice shook as she tried to put her feelings into words. "This is what they're paid for. It didn't have to happen."

"The information we received from the caller was there normally was a cat sitting in the window and the cat's not longer there. Well, that's not enough evidence for the police department to kick in somebody's front door" explained Bellevue police officer Michael Chiu.

Animal control says they too just got word of the animals's plight in the last 48 hours.

Sgt. Kris Meyers of King County Animal Control says, "I'm sure this has been going on for some time, but the information just came to us and we acted on it right away."

Even though the larger pets perished, police say an animal rights group managed to get in and save a caged bird.

Charges will likely be filed against Hunstad next week.�

The animal protection organization Pasado Safe Haven is considering filing a lawsuit against the Bellevue Police Department and King County Animal Control for their alleged lack of action in stopping this crime from happening.�Pasado Safe Haven states that the police first responded to a call to Hunstad's residence back in July of 2003, so they were aware of the problem and failed to take action.

Summarized from

Case Updates

References

• - Aug 1, 2004
• « WA State Animal Cruelty Map

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