Hoarding - 31 animals seized Evansville, IN (US) Incident Date: Monday, Feb 13, 2006 County: Vanderburgh Local Map: available Disposition: Not Charged Person of Interest: Wilma Caldemeyer

Case ID: 7581 Classification: Hoarding Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), bird (pet), rabbit (pet) View more cases in IN (US) Login to Watch this Case

Charges of animal cruelty will not be filed against Wilma Caldemeyer, who had 31 animals removed from her East Missouri Street home on Feb. 13, including 11 adult dogs, six puppies, five cats, four birds and a rabbit.

Deputy Vanderburgh County prosecutor Jonathan Parkhurst said no charges will be filed because of an agreement Caldemeyer made with Evansville Animal Care and Control.

The agreement relinquishes all of Caldemeyer's rights to the animals - except an English bulldog named Aggie. Caldemeyer, 63, also is not allowed to have any other animals for the next five years, and every three months, her home will be inspected.

She said she will uphold the agreement, but feels the whole situation is an "injustice."

"It's a hard pill to swallow. I'm very sad over it all," she said. "I'm 63 years old; I may not be living in five years."

In 2000, Caldemeyer was convicted of animal cruelty after 35 animals were removed from her home under similar circumstances. The animals suffered from malnutrition, skin diseases and fleas.

As part of her probation, a judge barred her from adopting any more animals. She received counseling, and one year later, the judge ended her probation.

Animal Care and Control Superintendent Tom Hayden said many of the animals taken from Caldemeyer's home on Feb. 13 had to be euthanized because they were too sick.

The shelter still has three of the animals, while others have been adopted or are with foster families, he said, "and we feel good about that." Hayden said the city ordinance, which allows "six animals" in a residence but doesn't specify a total of six, is being amended to clearly state how many animals are allowed in a home.

"We feel (six) is a good number that people can take care of," he said. "The public is responsible, as pet owners, to know the laws and ordinances. (You should) be aware if you're going to take that responsibility."

Kendall Paul, executive director of the Vanderburgh Humane Society, was involved in Caldemeyer's case in 2000. The 35 animals taken from her home were kept at the agency for two years until the case was resolved.

Caldemeyer's agreement, she said, is "bittersweet." And while she's glad the animals have been taken care of, she wishes some counseling was a requirement, too.

"It's pretty evident it will happen again if it's not watched or monitored," she said. "I encourage the checks to be random. I just think they have to stay on top of it." Paul said there needs be a protocol for similar situations in the future.

"This is not something that's going to go away," she said. "I'm sure she's not the only one."

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References

Courier Press - Feb 24, 2006

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