Case Details

Hoarding - 200 cats and dogs
Fontana, KS (US)

Date: Nov 30, 2005
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged Abuser: Sheila M. Jones

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 6373
Classification: Hoarding
Animal: dog (non pit-bull), cat
View more cases in KS (US)
Suspect was in animal welfare field
Login to Watch this Case

Kansas authorities found at least 200 dying, malnourished cats and dogs, some believed to have been rescued after Hurricane Katrina, when executing a search warrant Wednesday at an animal shelter in rural Kansas.

Sheila Jones, a Paola resident who operated the Miami County Humane Society out of her dilapidated home, held several hundred cats and dogs in extremely unsafe and unhealthy conditions, said Debra Duncan, director of the Animal Facilities Inspection Program with the Kansas Animal Health Department.

"She was running a humane society with a self-bestowed title and without any official sanction at all," said David Leffingwell, an attorney for the Kansas Animal Health Department. "Her facility may have been adequate for 20 dogs, but it wasn't for 200 animals."

Wednesday morning, a team of veterinarians, inspectors and law enforcement officials entered the fenced-off property to find scores of skinny, wounded collies, Labradors and Chihuahuas in feces-filled pens in the front yard.

Authorities said Jones took some of those dogs from a now-defunct rescue operation in Gamaliel, Ark., that offered shelter to hundreds of dogs rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The owners of that operation, Tammy and William Hanson - acquaintances of Jones - were arrested and charged with animal cruelty in October.

Leffingwell said inspectors had concerns about Jones' operation, which she opened in 2001, but could not get past her gate. Armed with a search warrant, the team walked onto the property Wednesday morning, where they met an angry, defiant Jones.

"She was not happy to see us," Duncan said. "There was one room where there were a couple of dead cats. She said more cats would come back when she gave them water. So we watched about 15 or 20 cats surround the water dish and several of them drank for at least 10 minutes."

Authorities said the house was crawling with about 75 skinny, sick cats, many of which were purebred, and a room with a child's wading pool stuffed with feces. Outside were at least 120 undernourished dogs, many bruised and bloodied from fighting, Duncan said. Others were penned in crates so small they could not stand up, she said.

The conditions did not surprise neighbors, who said they had complained to local authorities for years, but received little attention.

"I couldn't sit on my deck without hearing dogs, and I couldn't walk in my yard without them barking at me," said Larry Carter, who lives across the street from the property. "The front door would be wide open and the animals would just go in and out at their leisure. I think her heart was bigger than her brain."

Authorities said Jones allowed the state to assume custody of most of the animals under the condition that civil charges would not be filed. While Jones had a permit to operate a shelter, she may still be subject to criminal animal cruelty charges from the county, Duncan said.

Duncan said most of the animals were being taken to rescue groups and shelters in Wichita, Lawrence and the Kansas City area.

Case Updates

Posted on Dec 20, 2005 - 5:29PM
Approximately 100 cats and dogs have been removed from a Kansas animal shelter where 15 dogs from Gamaliel animal sanctuary EDNAH (Every Dog Needs A Home) were sent. Another 20 dogs identified as coming from EDNAH and three other dogs reported stolen in Kansas were seized in Greene County, Mo., according to the Baxter County Sheriff's Office.

Kansas City, Mo., television station KMBC reported that animal control officers removed 100 of approximately 200 animals November 30, 2005 from Sheila Jones' Paola, Kans., shelter � the Humane Society of Miami County in Kansas. It is not known if any of the 15 EDNAH dogs were seized by Kansas authorities. A KMBC reporter said most of the animals appeared to be healthy, but some dead cats were found on the property. A court order Nov. 21, 2005 from Baxter County District Judge Van Gearhart authorized Jones to take 37 dogs from EDNAH, which she claimed had come from her shelter originally.

Tammy Hawley with the Humane Society of the United States said after Jones left with the dogs last week, she returned 22 of them. She said Jones cited feeling threatened by EDNAH owners William and Tammy Hanson as the reason for giving the dogs back. Hawley said Jones did leave for Kansas with 15 dogs from EDNAH. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery appointed the HSUS to coordinate placement of the dogs. Hawley said she did not inspect Jones' property, but did request records that showed Jones failed several inspections. She said she was concerned about letting Jones take the dogs, but the court order forced her to release them. "I had spoken with her (Jones), and she said she had intentions to partner with other agencies to reduce the number of animals she had," Hawley said.

Baxter County Prosecutor Ron Kincade said Gearhart already had issued his order before HSUS representatives said they were not comfortable giving the dogs to Jones. "It was too late to go back and redo the order," he said. Kincade said no efforts would be made by the county to get the 15 dogs back from Kansas. Kansas authorities are reviewing the case to decide if animal cruelty charges will be filed against Jones.

In the Greene County incident, Baxter County Sheriff's Investigator Brad Lewis reported he received information November 29, 2005 that 17 dogs from EDNAH were at a residence owned by Helen Wheeler in Greene County, Mo. The BCSO asked the Greene County Sheriff's Department to check the residence. Greene County authorities notified the BCSO a three-legged black dog, matching the description of one of the missing canines, was seen at the residence. Greene County investigators went to the residence and weren't allowed to search the residence and kennels.

According to Lewis, he, Lt. Terry Johnson and Sandy Wheeler with the Humane Society left Mountain Home to meet with Greene County investigators and got a search warrant for the residence. They found 20 dogs identified as coming from EDNAH and three reported stolen in Kansas, Lewis stated. All 23 dogs were seized and taken by the Humane Society of Missouri. Helen Wheeler, owner of the residence, stated Tammy Hanson had dropped the dogs off, according to Lewis.

In October 2005, Baxter County authorities discovered approximately 477 dogs living in what they called deplorable conditions at EDNAH. Hawley said six dogs remained at the now-defunct Gamaliel shelter as of December 1, 2005. Four are to be adopted by volunteers who have been working on the property. Two other dogs will be placed with a local agency
Source: Ozark Dog News - December 2, 2005 

References

KMBC - Nov 31, 2005
Kansas City Star - Dec 1, 2005

« Back to Search Results



Send this page to a friend
© Copyright 2001-2005 Pet-Abuse.Com. All rights reserved. Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy