Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Hoarding - 83 cats, 79 dogs, more

Hoarding - 83 cats, 79 dogs, more
Stanton, IA (US)

Incident Date: Friday, May 12, 2006
County: Montgomery
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted

Abusers/Suspects:
» Linda Ann Lillie
» Cheryl A. Lillie
» Robert Eirhart

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 8578

Classification: Hoarding, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull), other companion animal, chicken, rabbit (pet)

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Child or elder neglect

Police discovered dozens of animals in deplorable living conditions and arrested three people in an animal cruelty raid in rural Stanton Friday morning. Police have charged Linda Lillie, Cheryl Lillie and Robert Eirhart with 176 simple misdemeanor counts of animal neglect after raiding a house and finding 83 cats and 79 dogs, hamsters, rabbits, chickens and one guinea pig in neglect. They also took an elderly woman who lived at the house, Beverly Lillie, into protective custody and placed her in a senior care facility.

According to a news release, Sheriff Tony Updegrove found the house in disgusting condition.
He described walking on a carpet of fresh and old fecal matter, with urine soiling on all furniture and ground surfaces. The combined smell of urine and feces was so overwhelming, according to the release, that rescue workers had to wear air filtered masks to gather photographic evidence and rescue the animals. The windows to the house were closed, and flies "were on everything."

According to the release, the same address in rural Stanton had been raided in Feb. 2001, when approximately 136 cats, dogs, goats and rabbits were seized. Linda Lillie, Cheryl Lillie and Eirhart remain in jail in place of $57,200 each for the 176 misdemeanor counts against them.

Case Updates

Yesterday in Red Oak, Iowa (Montgomery County) Linda Lillie, Cheryl Lillie and Robert Eirhart each pled guilty to 100 counts of animal neglect. Their sentence is 3000 days in jail suspended, meaning they are on probation for 8.2 years. During this time they are not to own, harbor or possess any animal, wild or domestic including fish and ant farms. The Montgomery County Sheriff has open rights of inspection. Beverly Lillie who is under protective custody suffers from Dementia and is now in good health.

Update posted on Jun 16, 2006 - 10:49AM

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This was just unbelieveable. I've never smelled anything that bad in my entire career," said Montgomery County Sheriff Tony Updegrove. Linda Lillie, Cheryl Lillie and Robert Eirhart each face 176 counts of animal neglect.

"I stopped and looked around and I just burst out bawling. You can even fathom what these animals have gone through," said Tina Updegrove, an animal cruelty investigator. Authorities said that several of the animals found had to be euthanized they were disease-ridden and gravely sick. "These guys had it rough. They really went through an ordeal. They are really skinny and sick," said Josh Colvin of the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines. Colvin was one of several animal rescue experts called in from surrounding cities to help in the case. The cats had it worse, many were kept in cages inside the rural Stanton home, without food, water or a litterbox. "I've been doing this for 13, 14 years and this is about the worst I've seen -- a lot of animals," Colvin said.

The animals that survived are being put up for adoption through the Montgomery County Animal Rescue League. "A lot of the animals were isolated. I'm not sure how much one-on-on contact with the owners that they had. So, there's a lot of problems, but they can be adopted," he said. The animals will stay in Red Oak in a shelter at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds while they are assessed. More may be put down. The rest will go to the Nebraska Humane Society's shelter in Omaha, Neb.

Authorities said that this is not the first time officers have rescued animals from the home. Authorities said that five years ago, investigators raided the same rural Stanton home. At that time, neighbors complained of a horrible odor. Deputies said they found a makeshift animal cemetery where it appeared more than 200 animals had been buried. Authorities said that the same three people were involved, but no charges were ever filed.

Donations can be sent to:

The Heritage Foundation - Animal Rescue
P.O. Box 468
Red Oak, Iowa 51566

Source: KETV News - May 15, 2006
Update posted on May 15, 2006 - 9:14PM

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References

	WCF Courier - May 14, 2006
	- May 14, 2006
	DesMoines Register - May 15, 2006
	Radio Iowa - May 15, 2006
	KCCI News - May 15, 2006

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Hoarding - 83 cats, 79 dogs, moreStanton, IA (US)

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Hoarding - 83 cats, 79 dogs, more
Stanton, IA (US)