Case Snapshot
| Case ID: 5324 | | Classification: Hoarding | | Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), horse, bird (pet), pig, chicken, rodent/small mammal (pet), rabbit (pet), bird (other farmed), goat | | More cases in Cascade County, MT | | More cases in MT | | Person(s) in animal care | | Login to Watch this Case
|
Images for this Case
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "People’s Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #5324 Rating: 4.3 out of 5
Hoarding - over 200 animals
Great Falls, MT (US)Incident Date: Friday, Aug 12, 2005
County: Cascade
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Pamela Polejewski
» Michael Hanson - Alleged
Case Updates: 23 update(s) available
Responding to a report of cruel conditions, sheriff's deputies and veterinarians on Aug 12 examined 130 dogs and more than 70 other animals at a Vaughn-area home.
No charges had been filed against the animals' owner, Pamela Polejewski, 48, on the night of Aug 12. Cascade County Sheriff David Castle said looking at each of the animals and determining if they are malnourished or diseased could take all weekend.
In 2000, prosecutors dropped 29 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against Polejewski after she agreed to find homes for her dogs.
Deputies scrambled to gather kennels and corrals to separate and contain the animals from the most recent seizure after county attorneys got a warrant to search the home on Aug 12, about 12 miles west of Great Falls at 77 Wexford Lane.
Simply counting the animals was a task.
Investigators said Polejewski had 130 dogs and puppies, 17 horses, one rabbit, 17 cats, 16 chickens, six pigs, six parakeets, two guinea pigs, two goats, two ducks and two turkeys.
Officers also found one dead kitten on the property.
The animals are being kept in makeshift kennels and in the two mobile homes on the property.
Castle said officers were working with the Equine Protection League and Cascade County and Northern Rockies regional humane societies to try to find a place to keep any animals that might be seized. For the time being, officers were searching for portable kennels to keep the dogs in during the investigation.
Until all the animals are examined, a deputy will be stationed at the home.
In court documents filed in connection with a recent complaint, she defends her home as a refuge for dogs that otherwise would be euthanized or abandoned.
Several friends wrote letters to the court, saying animals they had adopted from Polejewski were well-fed and well-cared-for.
In August 2000, police said they found 29 malnourished animals living in filthy conditions at Polejewski's Great Falls home. Within a week, deputies searched her county home, finding another 85 animals, mostly dogs.
Polejewski agreed to repay the Humane Society $1,500 for the cost of caring for her animals. She also vowed to find homes for the rest of her animals and said she would not take in any new ones.
In return, prosecutors dropped the charges.
The Humane Society helped place many of the animals at the time, and county neighbors who had been complaining for two years about the barking and yelping dogs thought the problem was solved.
The noise flared up again, and Polejewski was charged in December 2004 with creating a public nuisance with her rising number of barking dogs.
Putting off the trial, the County Attorney's Office once again asked her to reduce her number of dogs to 30 by the end of this month.
On Aug 10, 2005 deputies and the county animal control officer responded to a complaint that Polejewski's horses didn't have water.
They said looked around the property and found that all of the horses' water troughs were dry and the two bales of hay they were eating were moldy.
The officers examined the dogs with two veterinarians and have since been investigating to see if Polejewski licensed the dogs, among other things.
"There's different concerns for every animal," Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said. "What they're looking for now is if there are any animals in immediate danger."
Bonilla said finding a place to house so many animals could become tricky, and they likely would be kept in several locations.
Montana ExpoPark is host to a horse show this weekend but could eventually house livestock if investigators decide to remove the animals from the property.
To protect them from disease, dogs cannot be kept in a place with a dirt floor, so finding shelter for them is more complicated, Bonilla said.
Case UpdatesThe Montana Supreme Court issued a ruling earlier this week upholding a decision by a lower court that Pamela Polejewski's change of plea was filed too late to be accepted.
Polejewski's long saga through the court system began in 2005, when officers found more than 130 unlicensed and unvaccinated dogs, as well as 70 other animals, on her property at 77 Wexford Lane in Great Falls.
She was charged with numerous counts of failure to vaccinate animals and failure to tag animals, as well as six counts of cruelty to animals. She received additional charges of felony assault on a peace officer, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice, stemming from alleged confrontations with officers who were removing animals from her property.
In January 2006, Polejewski entered an agreement to plead guilty to the counts of failure to vaccinate, failure to tag and cruelty to animals. In exchange, the state agreed to dismiss the remaining charges, including felony assault on a peace officer, according to the Supreme Court decision.
Polejewski moved to withdraw her plea in March 2007.
The court typically considers such a motion untimely if it's filed more than a year after the original plea is entered, according to the decision.
The Supreme Court agreed with the District Court that for the change of plea to be considered, Polejewski would have to present newly discovered evidence that she is innocent of the crimes, which she failed to present. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Sept 26, 2009
Update posted on Sep 27, 2009 - 11:43PM |
A Great Falls woman accused of assaulting a deputy when he tried to take dogs away from her animal refuge in December 2005 struck a plea deal with the state Tuesday and was given credit for time served in jail.
Pamela Polejewski pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor obstructing justice. Charges of felony assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest were dropped.
Polejewski broke down in tears on the witness stand in District Court when she admitted to the charge. Judge Kenneth Neil sentenced her to six months in jail with all but 21 days suspended. She was given credit for serving the 21 days.
The obstruction charge she pleaded guilty to on Tuesday came forth when she lied to officers about the breed and ownership of a dog and its litter of puppies found in her home during the December search for Chihuahuas, which were reported to be on the property.
Polejewski had agreed to a plea agreement with the state last March, but the judge refused to accept it because she would not have to admit guilt on the obstruction charge.
Polejewski bought land at 77 Wexford Lane in 1998 to create a no-kill animal refuge and often clashed with her neighbors, who repeatedly asked the county to help control noise from her property.
In December 2005, she was accused of yelling at officers when they tried to take away her dogs.
Earlier that year, a deputy was called to her land to check on a report that Polejewski's horses had no water.
Officers found more than 200 animals, including 130 dogs. Polejewski was charged with 130 counts of failing to license and vaccinate the dogs. She later pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty and nine counts each of failing to tag and vaccinate the dogs.
She was ordered by the court to reduce the animal population on her property. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Jan 24, 2007
Update posted on Jan 27, 2007 - 1:28AM |
Three animal activists won a court battle Tuesday against Pamela Polejewski, who had been accused of neglecting animals at her no-kill animal shelter at 77 Wexford Lane.
Defendants Sylvia Mattson, Christian Cornelius and James A. Donahue were sent by Deputy County Attorney Greg Bonilla in December to seize dogs from the property of Polejewski and her husband, Mike Hanson. At Bonilla's direction, Mattson, Cornelius and Donahue also gathered up small animals owned by the couple.
Polejewski and Hanson accused the trio of stealing their small animals, including a rabbit, ferret, four finches, three hamsters and two cockatiels.
In her decision handed down Monday, Justice of the Peace Kathleen Jensen ruled the three defendants worked on behalf of Cascade County. She ruled that there was no evidence the three were negligent in removing the animals.
"The defendants cannot be held personally liable for any damages suffered by plaintiffs in the loss of the small animals," Jensen said.
At a small claims trial in late July, Cornelius said the small animals lacked water, food and clean living conditions.
But Polejewski and Hanson said they treated the small animals, as well as their dogs, very well. The couple spent much of the small claims trial defending the condition of their dogs.
Earlier this year, Polejewski pleaded guilty to 18 misdemeanor counts of failing to vaccinate and tag animals, and no contest to a first offense of cruelty to animals.
The defendants in the small claims case had argued at trial that Polejewski and Hanson should have sued Cascade County, which promised to return the small animals that had not been adopted.
Polewjewski at trial said she would accept cash in place of the small animals.
After the trial, Cornelius said most of the small animals died shortly after their seizure, including one hamster that escaped in the animal shelter and met a tragic fate. One ferret escaped.
The only seized small animal still alive and being held is a cockatiel that is sick and under foster care, Cornelius said. She is not sure what will happen to the bird. Bonilla could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Cornelius, who recently became interim executive director of the Humane Society of Cascade County, said she was not surprised by the ruling.
"We pretty much expected it," she said.
Hanson said Tuesday that he had not yet been notified of the ruling.
"I'm not surprised," he said.
Polejewski and Hanson received no money from their small-claims complaint.
Jensen did not address in her ruling whether Cascade County did anything wrong in seizing the animals. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Aug 30, 2006
Update posted on Aug 30, 2006 - 2:51PM |
The American Kennel Club suspended Pam Polejewski's license for five years, following her pleading no contest to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Polejewski is the former operator of a no-kill animal refuge in Cascade County.
At its national meeting last week, the AKC also fined her $1,000 for conduct prejudicial to purebred dogs, purebred dog events or the best interests of the American Kennel Club.
Polejewski was arrested in August when deputies responded to a complaint of unwatered horses and found more than 100 dogs on the property at 77 Wexford Lane.
The no-kill animal refuge had more than 200 animals total.
On Jan. 27, Polejewski pleaded guilty to 18 misdemeanor violations for failing to vaccinate and tag animals.
Justice of the Peace Sam Harris handed Polejewski a series of six-month suspended sentences, ordered her to pay $3,000 restitution and to not own, possess or care for any dogs or cats.
A charge of assaulting the deputy who helped seize the animals is pending in District Court. Polejewski's lawsuit against three Humane Society volunteers who confiscated the animals will be decided in small claims court in the next few weeks. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Aug 17, 2006
Update posted on Aug 17, 2006 - 1:45PM |
In a small claims case Friday, the testimony centered on a rabbit, a ferret, three hamsters, two cockatiels and four finches.
The animals were seized by three volunteers at the home of Pamela Polejewski and her husband, Mike Hanson, in December.
Now Polejewski and Hanson have sued the volunteers who took the small animals away in the first place.
Hanson and Polejewski want the animals back, or compensation for them. Justice of the Peace Kathleen Jensen said she would rule within 30 days.
Polejewski was accused last year of hoarding animals at the couple's no-kill animal shelter west of town at 77 Wexford Lane. She reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in January.
Polejewski pleaded guilty Jan. 27 to 18 misdemeanor violations for failing to vaccinate and tag animals. She also pleaded no contest to a first offense of cruelty to animals.
Justice of the Peace Sam Harris handed Polejewski a series of six-month suspended sentences, ordered her to pay $3,000 restitution, and ordered her not to own, possess or care for any dogs or cats.
Polejewski and Hanson kept as many as 200 animals on their property. In all, authorities seized about 100 dogs. All but one of the dogs has been placed into homes. One had to be euthanized.
In Justice Court Friday, the argument was over small animals. Harris' order had said the small animals seized should be returned to Polejewski "if not adopted."
Polejewski and Hanson have yet to regain any of those animals.
Defendant Christian Cornelius, who ran a shelter for Polejewski's dogs at Montana ExpoPark, testified she was asked by Deputy County Attorney Greg Bonilla to remove dogs and cats from the property in December.
Cornelius asked Sylvia Mattson, a veterinary employee, and Jim Donahue, Humane Society board president, to help her remove the dogs and cats, as ordered by a judge.
Mattson and Donahue are the other two defendants in the small-claims case.
Cornelius said the small animals were not listed in the court order, but were living in poor conditions.
One of the three hamsters was missing an eye because it had been cannibalized by another hamster, she said, adding that she saw no food or water in the hamster cage. The injured hamster was euthanized.
Four finches were living in an aquarium she could not see through, and water for the birds was moldy, she said. The ferret had no food or water in its cage, she testified.
Cornelius asked Bonilla by phone what to do with these animals, as well as a rabbit and two cockatiels. She observed the rabbit was in an unheated area with frozen water.
"He told me to please take the animals if I decided they needed care," Cornelius said.
The volunteers took the small animals to the Humane Society shelter. Most of them later died. Polejewski questioned why they did not receive immediate veterinary care.
Of the two remaining hamsters, one died naturally. Another escaped from its cage in the animal shelter and died in an accident.
All four finches died in foster care within days of being rescued.
One of the cockatiels died, and another is very sick.
The rabbit also died.
"They're incredibly fragile," Cornelius commented.
The ferret escaped from foster care.
Cornelius said she "absolutely" believes poor care by Polejewski and Hanson before the seizure contributed to some of the small animals' deaths.
Polejewski could not be reached after the hearing to reply to that theory. Hanson said earlier that all their animals were well cared for.
"Every morning and evening, they're cuddled and nestled and taken care of," Hanson testified.
Polejewski said she would accept compensation for the small animals if necessary.
"I wish I were allowed the due process of law," Polejewski added.
Defendant Jim Donahue, an attorney, argued Polejewski should have sued Cascade County, rather than suing volunteers working on the county's behalf.
"They're the ones who should be here," Donahue said.
After the trial, Donahue suggested a reason why Polejewski might have sued the three volunteers.
"She hates us," Donahue said. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - July 29, 2006
Update posted on Jul 29, 2006 - 9:49AM |
A Great Falls woman accused of assaulting a deputy when law enforcement came to take dogs from her animal refuge is set to go to trial after a plea deal fell through March 7, 2006. At a change of plea hearing, Pamela Polejewski did not admit to obstructing an justice when questioned by a prosecuting attorney. After Judge Kenneth Neill said he could not accept the plea and the state asked to set a trial date, Polejewski's attorney asked to withdraw from the case. No trial date has been set. In exchange for her guilty plea to obstruction of justice, prosecutors planned to drop misdemeanor resisting-arrest and felony officer-assault charges. Her sentence was to be six months suspended with credit for 21 days served. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison for the assault charge.
Polejewski bought land at 77 Wexford Lane in 1998 to create a no-kill animal refuge. But her intentions clashed with neighbors who repeatedly asked the county to help control the noise from the barking dogs. The situation exploded in August when a deputy responded to a complaint that horses had no water. Officers found more than 200 animals, including 130 dogs and puppies. Polejewski was charged with six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 130 counts of failing to vaccinate and license her dogs.
Polejewski pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty and nine counts each of failing to tag and vaccinate the dogs. The sentence ordered her to reduce the remaining animals on her place to 10 by the end of February 2006. She can have a maximum of five horses and can't own dogs or cats for the next five years. Polejewski must pay $3,000, in $50 monthly installments, to help cover the costs of caring for more than 100 dogs that were seized from her property in mid-December.
Tuesday's hearing began with Polejewski taking the stand and being questioned by her attorney, Arnold Rohrer of Conrad. Rohrer asked if she pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and then immediately asked the judge to begin sentencing. Neill interceded and allowed Deputy County Attorney Steve Bolstad to question Polejewski whether she had obstructed justice when deputies came to her house. Polejewski said she let officers in her gate and her house after they obtained a search warrant for several Chihuahuas believed to be at the home. While searching the house, deputies discovered another dog with a litter of puppies. "I pointed at the dog and said that's not a Chihuahua," Polejewski said. "How did you obstruct justice?" Bolstad asked. "Would obstruction be the fact that I stood up and said that's not a Chihuahua?" she asked. "Did you argue with them and try to stop them from going in the room?" Bolstad persisted. "No," she answered. "Did you try to stop them from removing the dog and puppies?" "I don't think I had a chance after that," Polejewski said. "I thought obstruction was when you stand up and say anything." "Did you hinder or interfere with law enforcement in their duties," Bolstad asked. After a long pause, Polejewski said, "Mister Bolstad, I've been honest about what happened. I stood up and said that was not a Chihuahua, it was my own personal dog. That was my understanding of interference. As much as I want to get on with my personal life, I'm telling you the truth."
Neill said he could not accept the plea agreement because Polejewski did not admit guilt. "The defendant hasn't admitted to any factual basis that would support the plea and has not indicated necessarily understanding the matter," Neill said. Bolstad asked a date for Polejewski's trial be put on the calendar. Neill told Rohrer he would need to file a written motion to be removed from the case. After the hearing, Polejewski said she intended to plead guilty. "I was trying to make a plea agreement," she said. "Part of me says I'm not (guilty) and part of me says if this is what it takes to move on with life, this is what I need to do. By me trying to tell the truth, they're saying I don't understand the process." Polejewski said she has been mislabeled as a "hoarder" and "white trash," when she was only trying to create a no-kill animal shelter. "Nobody could believe it was somebody doing something good," she said. "A hoarder does not have an adoption program. I'm trying to stand up for the dogs." Polejewski said she has been told that several dogs taken by the sheriff's office were euthanized for various reasons, an action she was trying to prevent. "There's not been an ounce of credit given to our system," she said. "The facility was lacking, yes, but I was started on a hope and a dream." | Source: Great Falls Tribune - March 8, 2006
Update posted on Mar 12, 2006 - 11:02AM |
The Cascade County Attorney's Office is looking to defer prosecution against Pamela Polejewski's partner, who is charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Michael Hanson would pay a prosecution fee under the deal. But if he stays out of trouble for the next six months, his record would be wiped clean.
Hanson helped Polejewski care for the animals, including dogs, cats and horses, at her no-kill refuge at 77 Wexford Lane.
The county argued that the number of animals grew out of control. When a deputy responded to a complaint of horses needing water, he found 200 animals on the property.
Polejewski reached a plea agreement Friday. In addition to paying a $3,000 fine to help cover some of the roughly $42,000 the county has spent caring for 100 seized dogs, Polejewski cannot have dogs or cats for the next five years.
She also is limited to having 10 other animals, not more than five of which can be horses.
Hanson and Polejewski were scheduled to go to trial today on the animal cruelty charges. She also faced 130 counts of failing to vaccinate and license the dogs.
Her charges were reduced and she was sentenced to five years suspended, giving the court control over her ability to keep animals as long as she lives in Cascade County.
"She got a heck of a lot harder sentence than someone who hits their wife or commits an assault," prosecutor Steve Bolstad said.
The county can search her property if they have reason to, generally sparked by someone calling to report that she has too many animals.
Bolstad said the county is finalizing a plea deal with Hanson, canceling his trial.
The county has found homes for all but a dozen of the 100 dogs and puppies seized from Polejewski in mid December. The remaining animals are being kept at the Montana ExpoPark pony and llama barn.
Camp coordinator Christian Cornelius said a couple more of the dogs were adopted at an open house Saturday, but a dozen more still need homes.
She is working with rescue groups to take as many as possible because the animal shelter is full. But people can still arrange a visit to adopt a dog by calling Cornelius at 899-2917.
"We still have a few arrangements to make," she said Tuesday. "Hopefully soon we'll be out of the barn and get these guys into their homes." | Source: Great Falls tribune - Feb 1, 2006
Update posted on Feb 1, 2006 - 1:59PM |
Saying that Pamela Polejewski's love for animals had gone beyond her ability to care for them, a judge ruled Friday that she can't have more than 10 animals for the next five years.
The decision is part of a plea agreement that also calls for Polejewski to pay $3,000, in $50 monthly installments, to help cover the costs of caring for more than 100 dogs that were seized from her property in mid December.
The case cost the county roughly $42,000, including overtime for a deputy to watch the animals around the clock for a week and for the cost of feeding and housing the dogs.
All but 10 of the dogs have been adopted, either in Great Falls or through rescue groups and animal shelters from across the region. Until the last animals find homes, the bills continue to roll in for their care.
Polejewski bought land at 77 Wexford Lane in 1998 to create a no-kill animal refuge. But her good intentions clashed with neighbors who repeatedly asked the county to help control the noise from the barking dogs.
The situation exploded in August when a deputy responded to a complaint that horses had no water. Officers found more than 200 animals, including 130 dogs and puppies.
Polejewski was charged with six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and 130 counts of failing to vaccinate and license her dogs.
Under the plea agreement reached Friday, the charges boil down to one count of animal cruelty and nine counts each of failing to tag and vaccinate the dogs.
Polejewski told the court that after she was charged, she arranged to have the dogs tagged and vaccinated.
"She is a very caring person," Polejewski's lawyer, Meghan Sutton, said. Veterinarians and animal behavior experts "found no problems with the dogs' health and happiness. This is simply that her heart is a lot bigger than her pocketbook."
Polejewski reluctantly pleaded no contest to the animal cruelty charge, admitting no guilt, but admitting that the state had enough evidence to convict her of feeding the horses moldy hay and not providing water.
"It was totally a slanderous campaign and I lost and the dogs lost," Polejewski said after her sentencing.
She pleaded guilty to the other charges and is working on a plea agreement in a felony case that accuses her of resisting arrest and assaulting an officer who was trying to seize the dogs.
Justice of the Peace Sam Harris acknowledged the emotion on both sides of the case - from frustrated neighbors to Polejewski's friends and family.
"Her intentions were not mean-spirited," Harris said. "One person can not care for this many animals and the result was some harm to some of these animals."
Polejewski will spend no time in jail; however she will be supervised for the next five years, giving the court control over her decisions to take in animals.
The sentence orders her to reduce the number of animals remaining on her place - including horses, hamsters, birds, goats and pigs - to 10 in the next 30 days. She can have a maximum of five horses.
Deputy County Attorney Steve Bolstad said that in the past five months, he's heard from people around the world concerned that Polejewski was an animal hoarder.
Montana has no laws limiting the number of animals a person can have and it was difficult to prove that the animals were mistreated, he said.
"Within the next five years, I'm hoping that the Legislature addresses this issue and puts in hoarding laws similar to other states," he said. | Source: Great Falls tribune - Feb 1, 2006
Update posted on Feb 1, 2006 - 1:55PM |
There's Brownie, a friendly Australian shepherd mix, and the shier Shadow, also a shepherd. Beaver - the lone lady of the bunch - is a playful heeler mix who always has a smile on her face. Tippy's on the small side for a shepherd/heeler cross, and Fuzz is just like his name. Once packed with howling hounds, the pony and llama barn at Montana ExpoPark now is home to nearly a dozen rescued dogs.
Seized from an animal refuge west of Great Falls, the dogs have camped out at the fairgrounds waiting to find homes. Since then, the number of dogs and puppies has shrunk from 100 to 10. Those that weren't adopted by local families have been sent to out-of-state rescue groups and neighboring counties' animal shelters. While most of the dogs were adopted quickly, the county had no luck with last weekend's open house and struggles to find homes for the remaining dogs. Camp coordinator Christian Cornelius hopes to adopt out the dogs at an open house on January 28, 2006. If only two or three are left, they can be kept at the animal shelter and the camp at the fairgrounds would be shut down. Between 10 and 15 volunteers have worked with the dogs daily, cleaning and feeding them. They will be on hand at the open house to answer questions about the dogs and their personalities. None of the people who adopted one of the rescued dogs has complained or brought them back, Cornelius said. "Everyone has been really patient. They realize that these dogs haven't had the socialization and attention that most dogs do," she said. "They just need a little more time and attention," she said. "They'll be well worth it in the end. These are some really great dogs."
Polejewski and her partner Michael Hanson are set to go to trial on the animal abuse charges February 1, 2006. She also faces 130 charges of failing to register and vaccinate the dogs. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - January 27, 2006
Update posted on Jan 28, 2006 - 2:37AM |
Prosecutors are investigating why the last dogs at Pamela Polejewski's property vanished before deputies could take them to be adopted. In mid-December 2005, deputies and volunteers seized more than 100 dogs, including 33 puppies from Polejewski's property west of Great Falls. They couldn't catch a half dozen dogs that roamed free, so they returned to get them. But the dogs were gone, Deputy County Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said.
A judge initially ordered the sheriff to seize Polejewski's dogs after rescue groups that had arranged to take 20 Chihuahuas and basset hounds from her discovered that she had adopted out other dogs without telling the county. Polejewski is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 1, 2006 on six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and 130 counts of failing to license and vaccinate her dogs. Because the dogs are considered evidence, the county was to supervise their adoption.
Bonilla said the missing dogs are part of an ongoing investigation into whether Polejewski violated her bail conditions and a court order. The county took roughly 100 of the dogs to the Montana ExpoPark. Most were adopted last week. Christian Cornelius, who is coordinating the camp, said rescue groups and animal shelters across the state took nearly 35 dogs and local families adopted about 40. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - January 19, 2006
Update posted on Jan 23, 2006 - 11:40AM |
On January 12, 2006, 10 of the dogs found homes. Camp coordinator Christian Cornelius said another 14 border collies and heelers that have problematic personalities would go to rescue groups. In addition to the dogs available at the pony and llama barn, volunteers will be looking for homes for 33 newborn puppies and their mothers. Some of the puppies will be weaned from their moms in the next few weeks. People can reserve a puppy now. An eighth dog will give birth to a litter soon.
Volunteers posted signs describing each dog's personality to help families find a match. Some dogs didn't need anyone to say they were friendly - Toni, a gray and black heeler mix, poked his nose out of his pen as people stopped to visit. While there is no fee to adopt the dogs, people will need to pay to spay, neuter and vaccinate the dogs. Volunteers will arrange for the dogs to be taken to a veterinarian and will call references before the dogs can be taken home.
Polejewski and her partner Michael Hanson's trial on six misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and 130 counts of failing to vaccinate and license the dogs is scheduled to start Feb. 1, 2006. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - January 13, 2006
Update posted on Jan 15, 2006 - 5:51PM |
Some 70 dogs - mostly Australian shepherds, heelers and border collies - camped at the Montana ExpoPark are ready to meet their future families.
A few people have picked up adoption applications from camp coordinator Christian Cornelius. With so little response, she decided it was time for the rescued dogs to make their public debut. "It's hard for people to say I want a dog when they haven't seen it," Cornelius said Tuesday. "They are really good dogs. They really are." Cornelius said volunteers will be able to guide adopting families to dogs that are better suited for outdoor life, that are good hunters or that might be best with young children.
The dogs have been in legal limbo since August 2005, when deputies responded to a complaint of unwatered horses at 77 Wexford Lane. There, the officers found more than 200 animals, including 140 dogs. Their owner, Pamela Polejewski, who bought the land in 1998 to create an animal refuge, was charged with misdemeanor animal abuse. In December 2005, a judge ordered the animals be seized from the property and kept on the fairgrounds until they can be adopted. Veterinarians and volunteers also rounded up about 10 cats that were euthanized. Deputy County Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said the cats had upper respiratory infections and that even extensive vet care might not save them. This summer, a horse with a bad leg was put down.
There is no adoption fee for the dogs, but potential owners will need to pay between $50 and $150 to spay or neuter and vaccinate their dogs. People won't be able to leave Thursday or Saturday with a dog. Cornelius and other volunteers will be taking applications, checking references and arranging spaying and neutering. She said people should expect to wait a few days. However, they will be able to choose and reserve a dog.
Six moms and their 31 newborn puppies, which are being kept at local veterinarians' offices, aren't ready to be adopted. Cornelius is looking for foster families who could care for the puppies until they can be weaned and adopted out.
On January 9, 2006, Polejewski was released from the Cascade County regional jail. Her $50,000 bond for assaulting an officer who was taking her dogs was lowered to $5,000.
Her trial on six animal cruelty charges and more than 130 counts of failing to vaccinate and license her dogs is set to begin in Justice Court Feb. 1, 2006. If she's convicted of the charges, the county intends to ask a judge to forbid Polejewski from having any animals for several years. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - January 11, 2006
Update posted on Jan 15, 2006 - 7:47AM |
Pamela Polejewski pleaded innocent January 5, 2006 to assaulting a deputy and resisting arrest when officers and volunteers arrived on her property to seize roughly 70 dogs.
She is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 13, 2006 in Justice Court on six animal cruelty charges, 130 counts of failing to tag her dogs and 138 counts of failing to vaccinate them - all misdemeanors
Polejewski is set to go to trial on the latest charges - assaulting an officer, a felony; resisting arrest and obstructing law enforcement, both misdemeanors - before District Court Judge Kenneth Neill on April 17, 2006.
The dogs are being kept at Montana ExpoPark until they can be adopted. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - January 6, 2006
Update posted on Jan 7, 2006 - 7:11PM |
Volunteers are lined up to care for the nearly 60 dogs camping out at Montana ExpoPark. Still adjusting to their new surroundings, the dogs are not yet ready to interact with volunteers or to go home with new families, said Humane Society of Cascade County Director Chuck Tourtillott. First shelter workers want to get to know the dogs and to give them some stability. "Right now we are still trying to establish some routines," he said.
Roughly 80 people have put their names on a Humane Society volunteer list. About 10 are already helping out, and more people will be contacted this week. "We have a substantial list of volunteers, and we've got plenty of food and plenty of straw," Tourtillott said. Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said the dogs, mostly Australian Shepherds, heelers and border collies, are not leash trained. For many, this is their first experience indoors. "The workers have to know a little about each dog before we can look at adoption," Bonilla said. "And that's taking some time."
In the coming weeks, the Humane Society may need additional straw and assistance. To help can call 454-2276. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - December 31, 2005
Update posted on Dec 31, 2005 - 9:19PM |
Cascade County Sheriff's deputies took 15 newborn puppies and eight dogs from an animal refuge west of Great Falls on December 19, 2005, but owner Pamela Polejewski wasn't willing to let them go without a fight and was arrested.
The county will return to her property on December 21, 2005 to round up the remaining 100 or more dogs. Until the animals are cataloged and adopted, they will be housed in a temporary camp set up at Montana ExpoPark.
Polejewski, who is set to go to trial in January 2006 on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and for failing to vaccinate and tag 130 dogs, was charged with assaulting an officer, obstructing law enforcement and resisting arrest. Armed with a court order, officers arrived to take 20 Chihuahuas, which rescue workers had found homes for in the Seattle area. The Chihuahuas were gone.
Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said once officers were on the property at 77 Wexford Lane, they discovered four litters of puppies, all less than a week old. They were able to take three litters and their mothers from an unheated trailer. The fourth litter was tucked away and couldn't be reached, he said. "She had no choice to let us on the property because of the court order," Bonilla said. "I would not say she was cooperative at any juncture." When the officers began taking dogs, she became upset and physically assaulted an officer, Sheriff David Castle said. She will appear on the latest charges in District Court December 20, 2005.
"There's no reason for them to be out here," Polejewski's partner Michael Hanson said. "They're trying to steal our Chihuahuas. All the vets say all the animals are happy and healthy." Hanson is also is charged with six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
The couple is seeking a court order to stop the animals from being seized. Hanson said the officers were taking the couple's personal dogs and small dogs that weren't noisy or troublesome. "Pam said that's my personal dog and they arrested her," he said. "This is the most corrupt system I've ever seen."
Dogs ran loose as five deputies, an animal control officer and two animal rescue workers wrapped puppies in blankets and placed dogs in two vehicles to be taken to veterinarians. Several dogs circled Polejewski's ankles, one even climbed into the patrol car, as she was escorted away in handcuffs. Three blue healers chased the patrol car that drove her away. The officers and animal rescuers took as many dogs as they had room for but when they return, more officers and volunteers plan to take the remaining dogs.
In August 2005, officers responding to a complaint of unwatered horses discovered more than 200 animals on the property, including 135 dogs. Bonilla said recently dogs have been adopted out without the county's involvement and dogs have given birth to litters. The county must be involved because the animals are evidence in the criminal case. "What's there now isn't what was there a month ago," he said. Before the animals are adopted out, the county must check their previous list of dogs to find which ones are missing and which are new animals.
Meanwhile, the county is scrambling to prepare the fairgrounds to house more than 100 dogs. Businesses are already chipping in to help. Poulsen's donated building materials to make pens. Big R gave feeding and water bins, and Mountain View Co-op donated three tons of hay for the dogs to sleep on. Peterson Rental is loaning propane heaters, and Petco gave water dishes and food. Bonilla said the biggest needs are going to be food, straw and volunteers to help care for the animals until officers can record all the information and an adoption process is set up. Once the dogs have homes, the county will move on to find homes for the cats, then other animals including horses, pigs and birds. Humane Society of Cascade County Director Chuck Tourtillott is working with animal rescue groups to take many of the animals. "Any animal that comes off that property, we'll try to find homes for," he said. "Having the dogs off the property will make it easier for rescue groups from out of town to see and take the dogs." "We need to get a system set up for people so they can come in and see the dogs. They're really going to want to see if a particular dog is right for their situation. We want to make sure these are good adoptions," Tourtillott said.
Hanson said he and Polejewski want the exact same thing, but the county interference has stopped them from adopting out the animals. "We don't want all those animals, but we want to give them to the people we think are good people," he said. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - December 20, 2005
Update posted on Dec 20, 2005 - 11:34AM |
As soon as December 18, 2005, the county wants to take 130 dogs from the owners of an animal refuge west of Great Falls after the couple yelled at and turned away rescue organizations who tried to take the dogs for adoption. With District Judge Julie Macek's approval, deputies and animal rescuers will seize - by force if needed - as many of Pamela Polejewski's dogs as they can manage.
The remaining dogs would be taken as resources allow. With the criminal charges pending, lawyers have been wrangling to arrange for the animals to be adopted.The legal hoop-jumping frustrates neighbors who have been asking for help controlling the noise since Polejewski moved there in 1998.
"We neighbors have known for years that she doesn't keep agreements," said Linda Metzger, one of 17 neighbors suing Polejewski and Hanson.
On December 11, 2005, people with Chihuahua and Bassett Hound rescue foundations tried to enter the property and take at least 20 Chihuahuas, which were to be placed in the Seattle area. Two sheriff's deputies and the county animal control officer were there for security and to document which animals were taken. Polejewski had agreed to the date and time, but when authorities arrived she and Hanson yelled at them and refused to let them on her property.
The Chihuahua rescue group had arranged indoor kenneling and feeding of the animals until after Christmas when volunteers would take them to their homes. All of the rescue groups are no-kill operations. Polejewski told the officers that she had already adopted out some of the dogs and she now had seven, not 20, Chihuahuas. The county has to be notified and supervise all adoptions, which hasn't been the case, said Deputy County Civil Attorney Theresa Diekhans. "We need to be able to track the dogs and know where the dogs are going," she said. "In light of the criminal case that's going on, these dogs are evidence. And because we want to make sure she's actually adopting them out."
In their motion to seize the animals, the county notes that Polejewski's contract with adopting owners allows her to take the animals back if she feels they aren't properly caring for the dogs. Out of the 135 dogs, 71 are appropriate for homes, 55 require a "knowledgeable owner," and nine are appropriate only for rescue foundations because of behavioral issues.
Polejewski faces 130 counts of failing to vaccinate, 138 counts of not having ID tags for her dogs, and six counts of animal cruelty, in which investigators allege she had sick and underfed horses, cats and pigs. Hanson is charged with five counts of animal cruelty. All the charges are misdemeanors, but his maximum fines are $5,000 and her fines could be as high as $140,000.
Their criminal trial is scheduled to start Jan. 13. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - December 16, 2005
Update posted on Dec 17, 2005 - 3:25PM |
None of the 135 dogs belonging to a Cascade County couple facing animal cruelty charges need to be euthanized, Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said Tuesday.
Experts checked the dogs' behavior and determined that 126 are appropriate for adoption.
However, of those 126, 55 require a "knowledgeable owner," he said. And another nine must be placed with rescue organizations because of behavioral issues.
Adoptions may begin as early as next week, Bonilla said.
District Judge Julie Macek ordered an evaluation of the dogs earlier this month. Those found to have serious behavioral problems were to be euthanized.
The animals belong to Pamela Polejewski and Michael Hanson, who were charged with a slew of misdemeanors in August. The charges are related to the approximately 200 dogs, cats, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, guinea pigs, parakeets, ducks and horses deputies discovered on their property.
Veterinarians who performed a cursory examination determined that roughly 90 percent of the dogs had behavioral problems, court records said.
At the time, Polejewski's lawyer, Meghan Sutton, said that was a gross exaggeration.
"Obviously, that's been proven to be true," Sutton said Tuesday.
Polejewski faces 130 counts of failing to vaccinate, 138 counts of not having ID tags, and six counts of animal cruelty. Hanson is charged with five counts of animal cruelty. All the charges are misdemeanors.
A trial was set for Nov. 23 but likely will be postponed until after Thanksgiving, Sutton said. Justice of the Peace Sam Harris is expected to make a ruling on the care of the couple's other animals during the trial. | Source: Billings Gazette - Nov 16, 2005
Update posted on Nov 16, 2005 - 1:31PM |
The county has been grappling with what to do with the animals since August, when owners Pamela Polejewski and Michael Hanson were brought up on a slew of misdemeanor charges related to the approximately 200 dogs, cats, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, guinea pigs, parakeets, ducks and horses that deputies discovered on their property.
Wednesday's order, issued by District Judge Julie Macek, calls for an evaluation to determine which of the dogs and cats are healthy enough to be adopted. Those that are found to have behavioral problems will be euthanized.
Veterinarians who performed a cursory examination of the animals determined that roughly 90 percent of them had such problems, court records said.
Polejewski's lawyer, Meghan Sutton, said that's a gross exaggeration. She said Polejewski has the "utmost of care and concern" for the animals. "She wants to see them all end up in good homes."
Two dog trainers and a veterinarian will begin evaluating the dogs and cats Monday morning.
Depending on the outcome, the county may hold an adoption clinic to help find homes for the animals, officials said.
Macek's order did not address the couple's other animals. Justice of the Peace Sam Harris is expected to will make a ruling on their care during the couple's criminal trial, which is scheduled for Nov. 23.
Also pending is a lawsuit against the couple filed by 17 of their neighbors.
It asks a judge to label Polejewski and Hanson as animal "hoarders" and seeks unspecified damages. It also asks that all of their animals be taken away, and that the couple be prohibited from getting any more pets. | Source: Billings Gazette - November 3
Update posted on Nov 3, 2005 - 9:04AM |
Seventeen neighbors have filed a complaint against a Cascade County woman, asking a judge to take away her 200 animals and forbid her from having any pets.
Pamela Polejewski and her husband Michael Hanson were charged in August with six counts of animal cruelty and hundreds of other animal-related misdemeanors.
With their criminal trial pending, the county had arranged to have a veterinarian examine the animals to determine which ones could be adopted.
When the couple dropped their lawyers and refused to cooperate with the county earlier this month, the neighbors decided to take action, filing suit Tuesday.
"We've waited six years for something to be done," said neighbor Linda Metzger. "I was encouraged by the county's efforts initially, but now... I just think we citizens have to step in."
Polejewski has run an animal refuge at 77 Wexford Lane since buying land in the county in 1998.
Soon after, her neighbors began writing letters - first to Polejewski and then the sheriff - complaining that her dogs' barking was keeping them up at night.
What started as a neighbor dispute erupted Aug. 10, when the Sheriff's Office was called to check out unwatered horses.
In their investigation, deputies counted 17 cats, two goats, seven pigs, 16 chickens, two turkeys, two guinea pigs, six parakeets, two ducks, 18 horses and 138 dogs.
A hearing was set to outline what would happen to the animals, but before a judge stepped in, the couple agreed to cooperate.
A veterinarian and two expert dog trainers were to evaluate all of the dogs, looking for behavioral problems that would make them unadoptable.
Polejewski and Hanson agreed to pay to treat any medical conditions that would prevent the pets from being adopted.
A lame horse was to be put down.
Cascade County Civil Deputy Attorney Greg Bonilla said the horse was euthanized, but Polejewski has not cooperated since.
A Sept. 26 deadline to have the animals examined passed and the county sent another notice to set a hearing and have the couple appear in court.
The hearing date should be set before the end of the month, Bonilla said.
A judge will have to determine what will happen to the dogs and how many animals the couple may keep. But that won't likely happen at the first hearing, as the judge doesn't have needed information from the vet and dog trainers.
Veterinarians who have examined the animals said that roughly 90 percent of them are unsocialized.
The neighbors' suit gives Polejewski and Hanson 20 days to respond or a judge will execute the neighbors' demands.
It asks a judge to label Polejewski and Hanson animal hoarders and order them to pay damages to the 17 neighbors in the complaint.
The civil actions are intended to quickly resolve the issue of caring for the animals because criminal charges can take months. However, Bonilla said the civil efforts are now so tangled that the issue may be decided when Polejewski and Hanson go to trial on the criminal charges.Their trial is set for Nov. 23 before Justice of the Peace Sam Harris.
Polejewski faces 130 counts of failing to vaccinate, 138 counts of not having ID tags for her dogs, and six counts of animal cruelty, in which investigators allege she had sick and underfed horses, cats and pigs.
Hanson is charged with five counts of animal cruelty. All the charges are misdemeanors, but his maximum fines are $5,000 and her fines could be as high as $140,000.
Prosecutors contend that two people cannot care for that many animals.
Court documents allege the cats had respiratory problems, with one cat even bleeding from the nose during the examination.
Horses were fed moldy hay and had no water, despite the fact that sheriff's deputies had previously ordered the couple feed and water them, according to court documents.
A barbed wire fence separated a horse and her foal, an injured horse wasn't given proper vet care and downed barbed wire fence endangered a blind horse, court records allege. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Oct 13, 2005
Update posted on Oct 13, 2005 - 8:02AM |
Cascade County commissioners are carving $250,000 out of this year's budget to care for and find homes for 200 dogs, horses, cats and other animals owned by a Great Falls area couple charged with animal cruelty.
Pamela Polejewski and her husband, Michael Hanson, agreed to set aside at least $300 a month to repay the county, but commissioners estimate that money won't come close to covering the costs.
Since responding to a call about horses without water on Aug. 10, the sheriff's office has spent $14,000 to pay a deputy overtime to man the couple's property west of Great Falls at 77 Wexford Lane.
The deputy left last week when he was no longer needed to preserve evidence.
Commissioner Joe Briggs said immunizing the 130 dogs and puppies on the property would cost $40,000 - something that would have to be done before they could be adopted.
Bills for veterinarians to examine the animals and medicines to make the animals healthy enough to adopt continue to roll in.
"It's unfortunate that this wasn't something that was taken care of before all this happened," Briggs said. "Now we just have to do something to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Commissioners met Monday to discuss how much money was needed to care for the animals in the coming weeks and months.
"We have to step up and do that," Commissioner Lance Olson said. "It's an expenditure the county has never had before, we have to figure out where the money is coming from."
On the chopping block are training, an employee incentive program and capital improvements like new cars for sheriff's deputies.
Polejewski has run an animal refuge since buying land in the county in 1998.
In their investigation, deputies counted 17 cats, two goats, seven pigs, 16 chickens, two turkeys, two guinea hens, six parakeets, two ducks, 18 horses and 138 dogs.
Prosecutors contend that two people cannot care for that many animals. Court documents allege the cats had respiratory problems, with one cat even bleeding from the nose during the examination.
Horses were fed moldy hay and had no water, despite the fact that the couple had been ordered to feed and water them, according to court documents. A barbed wire fence separated a horse and her foal, an injured horse wasn't given proper vet care, and downed barbed-wire fence endangered a blind horse, court records allege.
Polejewski faces 130 counts of failing to vaccinate, 138 counts of not having ID tags for her dogs, and six counts of animal cruelty, in which investigators allege she had sick and underfed horses, cats and pigs.
Hanson is charged with five counts of animal cruelty. All the charges are misdemeanors, but his maximum fines are $5,000 and her fines could be as high as $140,000.
Before a judge stepped in, the couple agreed to a process that outlines what will happen to the animals in the coming months.
A veterinarian and two expert dog trainers will evaluate all of the dogs, hopefully by the end of the month.
They will look for behavioral problems that would make them unadoptable. A judge will have to determine what will happen to those dogs and how many animals the couple may keep.
Veterinarians who have examined the animals said that roughly 90 percent of them are unsocial.
Polejewski and Hanson agreed to pay to treat any medical conditions that would prevent the pets from being adopted.
Cascade County Humane Society Director Chuck Tourtillott contacted rescue agencies for Australian Shepherds, Rottweilers and Karelian bear dogs, looking for help placing the dogs.
Tourtillott said because of Hurricane Katrina resources to place dogs are stretched thin.
"The rescue groups know the breeds behavior and can work to socialize them and find them homes," he said.
Briggs hopes that the adoptable dogs will find homes immediately, to relieve costs to the county. However, evaluating the dogs is expected to take the rest of the month.
In their agreement, the couple will euthanize a lame horse and find a suitable home for a blind horse.
On Sept. 26, the county will meet with the vets and dog trainers to decide the next steps.
In the meantime, Polejewski and Hanson will continue to care for the animals. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Sept 13, 2005
Update posted on Sep 13, 2005 - 9:00AM |
Cascade County is asking a district judge to step in and decide what to do with more than 200 animals owned by a Great Falls-area woman facing animal cruelty charges.
Within the next 10 days, veterinarians will debate whether Pamela Polejewski and her husband, Michael Hanson, can care for and keep the 200 horses, pigs, cats and dogs on her land west of Great Falls at 77 Wexford Lane.
A judge can order that the animals be seized and order Polejewski to pay for their care. The judge also can order that the animals be euthanized.
Until then, the animals remain at Polejewski's property under round-the-clock watch by a sheriff's deputy. The Equine Protection League is caring for 18 horses.
Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said deciding what to do with the 138 dogs is the trickiest issue. To prevent disease, dogs can't be kept in a place with a dirt floor, and many of Polejewski's dogs don't know how to interact with strangers.
"This isn't like Camp Collie where four of the dogs were unsocialized," added prosecutor Steve Bolstad.
In fact, as many as 90 percent of the dogs don't interact with anyone other than Polejewski, said County Animal Control Officer Lynlee VanWicklin.
Though people may want to volunteer or adopt the dogs as they did with Camp Collie, only people trained to work with dogs can help.
Polejewski couldn't provide proof that the dogs have been immunized or have had vet care, making it hazardous for people to examine and work with them, prosecutors said.
"Finding room for 138 dogs is an enormous task," Bonilla said. "We've been looking at what to do and it's a logistical quagmire."
Bonilla estimated that if the animals are seized it could cost $3,000 a month. The judge could order the couple to pay the costs, or at least as much as they can afford.
Cascade County would pay the rest.
The animal welfare hearing is part of a 2003 law created in the wake of Camp Collie. In that case, federal customs officials seized more than 180 mistreated animals during a truck inspection at the U.S.-Canadian border north of Shelby.
The dogs were in limbo for months while criminal proceedings dragged on.
The hearings also aim to make animal owners bear the costs of caring for the animals.
Polejewski and Hanson were formally charged and pleaded innocent in Justice Court on Wednesday.
She faces 130 counts of failing to vaccinate, 138 counts of not having ID tags for her dogs, and six counts of animal cruelty, for allegedly having sick and underfed horses, cats and pigs.
Hanson is charged with five counts of animal cruelty. All the charges are misdemeanors, but his maximum fines are $5,000 and her fines could be as high as $140,000.
Prosecutors contend that two people cannot care for that many animals. Since a report of horses not having water on Aug. 10, deputies, VanWicklin and several veterinarians have been examining the animals.
Court documents allege the cats had respiratory problems, with one cat even bleeding from the nose during the examination.
Horses were fed moldy hay and had no water, despite the fact that the couple had been ordered to feed and water them, according to court documents. A barbed wire fence separated a horse and her foal, an injured horse wasn't given proper vet care, and downed barbed-wire fence endangered a blind horse, court records allege.
A half-dozen neighbors, who wrangled with Polejewski over the barking dogs over the past five years, sat through the couple's appearance Wednesday.
Justice of the Peace Sam Harris set their bails at $1,000 each, knowing that the couple would be asked to pay for the animals' care at the animal welfare hearing.
Along with traditional bail conditions, Harris ordered that neither take any more animals. "I don't want to any new animals coming on that property of any type," he said. | Source: Great Falls Tribune - September 1, 2005
Update posted on Sep 1, 2005 - 1:07PM |
Pamela Polejewski and her husband, Mike Hanson, already face 138 citations for failure to have identification and another 130 citations for not vaccinating all of their dogs.
Prosecutors on Friday added six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty to the list.
Polejewski says her home is a refuge for sick, injured, old and unwanted animals. She says the animals are loved and well cared for.
Authorities, however, say the couple has far more animals than can be properly cared for. Court documents describe many of the dogs as anti-social and claim the cats had respiratory problems and discharge coming from their nose and eyes. One cat had a bloody nose.
Sheriff's deputies said they also found a Chihuahua guarding a dead kitten in a back room of the couple's trailer house west of Great Falls. | Source: The Montana Standard - Aug 29, 2005
Update posted on Aug 29, 2005 - 3:06PM |
Three veterinarians and a state livestock inspector examined the animals Monday. A sheriff's deputy remains on the property 24 hours a day to make sure no animals are removed or brought to the home. Polejewski has been charged with 130 misdemeanors for not vaccinating her dogs
The Equine Protection League is caring for the 17 horses, while Polejewski and her husband continue to feed and care for the dogs, cats, ducks, goats, pigs, rabbit and other creatures.
None of the animals has been seized yet.
"Until we have determined the welfare of the animals - which is time consuming because there are so many - we really can't make any plans," Cascade County Deputy Civil Attorney Greg Bonilla said.
Neighbors have tried to bring law enforcement and the county into the issue since 1999. Most recently, they asked the county planning board to intercede because the land isn't zoned for a kennel.
In 1998, Polejewski bought the track of land at 77 Wexford Lane, roughly 10 miles west of Great Falls, to start an animal refuge for sick and old pets.
"I feel bad I couldn't do more for them," she said Monday. "All the motives and intents were there to do something."
Her neighbors don't challenge her intentions, but say she hasn't delivered on promises to reduce the number of animals and build enclosed shelters for the ones she keeps.
Living in the county, most of Linda Metzger's neighbors have dogs. They bark when someone drives by, but then they stop.
A half-mile away, Polejewski's dogs bark for hours at a time.
"It's hard to imagine you can hear it from a half mile away, but the air is a perfect conduit. You can hear them through closed windows," Metzger said. "It's as if it's right in our yard. It's a wall of sound coming at us."
The barking led one neighbor to get central air conditioning so she could keep her windows closed and block out some of the noise in the summer.
It led Metzger and 13 others to write their first letter to Polejewski in 1999. Nine months later, a second letter signed by 22 people was sent, with copies mailed to the county animal control officer.
They regularly called the sheriff's office asking for her to be cited for nuisance noise, but if the deputy didn't hear the barking she couldn't be charged.
In August 2000, police responded to her second home inside the city limits and found 29 pets living in filthy conditions. Days later they inspected her county property, finding 85 dogs.
This time, more than 40 neighbors wrote a letter to the sheriff, County Attorney Brant Light and the Cascade County Humane Society.
"Since she moved in it's been nerve wracking; it's nerve jangling," Metzger said. "We wouldn't know you had 50 or 100 dogs if you were taking care of them. They wouldn't be barking, yelping, if they were being taken care of."
Misdemeanor animal cruelty charges were filed, but only on behalf of the animals living in the city.
In return for charges being dropped, Polejewski agreed to adopt out her pets and not take on more.
But she never paid the Humane Society the $1,500 owed for caring for the animals. While a number of the dogs were adopted dozens remained.
Prosecutors went forward with charges, but Justice of the Peace Sam Harris said the animal boarding facility was exempt from the county ordinance.
Polejewski described taking in sick, blind and injured animals: the old ranch dog no one wanted, or a horse with a piece of gravel in her leg.
One young horse almost lost its foot and had to have its leg soaked twice daily, along with getting regular antibiotics.
Goals of building better shelter - a large barn - were delayed to pay bills of caring for the animals.
Polejewski's husband spends his day caring for the animals, building fence and improving the shelters, she said.
Friends and people who have adopted her animals wrote letters to the court, describing her dedication and love for her animals.
"Thank God we have people in the world like Pam," wrote friend Lori Schurman. "Pam loves and nurtures stray animals that had nobody to love or care for them. She goes out of her way to provide a safe and friendly environment for these little guys."
One said their adopted dog was in excellent health and Polejewski had since called many times to check on the dog, even reminding the new owners when to get shots.
Dell Carpenter described their adopted border collie-blue healer cross puppy as healthy, happy and smart. "She hugged him and cried as if he was a family member."
In December 2004, neighbors convinced the sheriff's office to charge Polejewski with creating a public nuisance.
Days before trial, prosecutors asked the county planning department to step in.
The idea was that if Polejewski was taking money for the animals, even a donation, she was running a kennel and the property should be zoned as a business.
To avoid that, she said she would stop taking donations and would adopt out all but 30 pets.
Her deadline to do so was the end of this month.
But the problem didn't go away soon enough. Deputies responded to a call of malnourished horses Wednesday and have been on the property ever since.
Deputy County Attorney Steve Bolstad said Polejewski faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $500 fine for each of the 130 misdemeanors. The investigation continues to see if the animals' treatment merits animal cruelty charges.
The case captured Gloria LaMott's heart, before the latest charges. The Humane Society board member has been pushing the sheriff's office to get involved for months.
"There is not one person who can care for 200 animals," she said. "It's heart wrenching to hear these animals cry. These are herding breeds and they're locked in a four-by-four kennel.
"She really and truly believes that she's helping these animals. But each time, the animals are the ones paying the price." | Source: Great Falls Tribune - Aug 16, 2005
Update posted on Aug 16, 2005 - 5:52PM |
References« MT State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Cascade County, MT
|
