Hoarding - 58 animals seized
Aurora, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 12, 1998
County: Arapahoe
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Candace C. Biggs
Candace Biggs, 29, had 58 animals taken from her home two weeks ago when animal control officials said her pets were living in unhealthy conditions.
Biggs pleaded not guilty to numerous charges on Wednesday. The charges range from licensing and tag violations to inadequate care of a sick or injured animals.
Biggs said, "I am not ashamed of anything I have done. I love every single one of them. They are like family."
If convicted, she faces a maximum one-year jail sentence and up to $1,000 in fines.
Animal control said Biggs kept 32 dogs, 21 cats and five rabbits in cruel living conditions. Some of the animals were kept in small crates which were stacked in three rows in her garage. There were some animals that didn't have any water and some were covered in excrement when animal control checked her home.
Judge Steven Fisher ruled on Wednesday that Biggs can keep nine dogs and four cats. She can also give four dogs and one cat to her sister, who lives out of state.
The rest of the animals will stay in the Aurora animal control agency which is where they've been sheltered since Aug 12. Further details of the animals' fate will be decided at a hearing next week.
"The cats have been pretty well brushed and cleaned up. The bunnies are in good shape."
Some of the dogs have received treatment for ear and eye infections. Three of them will required eye surgery for a genetic eye disorder.
The dogs are poorly socialized and are afraid of everything. "We asked her, 'What is wrong with these dogs?'" Biggs said, "They've never seen the sun before or been outside ..."
Some of the cats were kept in small cages and some lived in a dresser.
The bill so far for impounding, boarding and veterinary fees is more than $4,000. It was not determined if Biggs would have to pay the bill.
The cats are all purebred Persians and can be sold by breeders for hundreds of dollars. The Dalmatians also can be bred and sold for a lot of money.
Biggs wouldn't respond to where she got all the animals, but did say she had been trying to sell them.
Biggs was described as an animal collector or someone who has more animals than they can care for.
In addition to the cats, dogs and rabbits that were in the house there were also 14 birds and five fish aquariums that animal control left in the home.
References« CO State Animal Cruelty Map
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