Animal neglect - 7 dogs, endangered reptile
Felton, CA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005
County: Santa Cruz
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Rusty Hartman
On aproximately December 20th, 2005, an endangered Axolotl salamander, was taken by Animal Services officers from a home in the Santa Cruz Mountains, along with three turtles, 28 chickens and seven Labrador retrievers that had been used for breeding.
The dogs were found in a pen without available drinking water, as were the chickens. The property owner, a 67-year-old Felton man, had been hospitalized and was unable to care for the animals. County officials say the dogs have been kept and bred without necessary permits, and that the property owner has been cited for numerous zoning and animal services violations.
Involvement in the current case in Felton came as a result of an anonymous phone call. Rusty Hartman, owner of the Labs, the salamander, and the rest of the recently confiscated Felton menagerie, "didn't make any arrangement for the care of his animals when he went to the hospital," said Mike McFarland, Animal Services Director of the Santa Cruz County SPCA. "That's why we had to take them."
Hartman has until Jan. 4 to pay fines and penalties charged by the county, and to reclaim his animals before they become the county's property and are put up for adoption.
As for the salamander, Fish and Game spokesman Steve Martarano said it belongs to a species that is restricted in California. It will be turned over to a licensed handler of such exotic species, McFarland said. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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