Farm animals neglected at boarding ranch
Half Moon Bay, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 27, 2006
County: San Mateo
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Not Charged
Case Images: 1 files available
Person of Interest: Janet Wherry
Case Updates: 8 update(s) available
After receiving multiple anonymous reports of animal cruelty, the Peninsula Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began an investigation that led to the seizure of 11 farm animals from Triple Springs Ranch in Half Moon Bay.
On July 27, the Peninsula Humane Society seized two horses, one pony, three goats, four sheep and one pig after finding that they were being starved, not receiving proper veterinary care and living in filthy conditions.
The animals have since been placed in foster care outside the county, according to the humane society.
The humane society also worked with the San Mateo District Attorney's office to file animal cruelty charges against the ranch owner, Janet Wherry.
Triple Springs Ranch, located at 11650 San Mateo Road, is a boarding facility for farm animals. Wherry has had a long history of mistreating animals in her care, according to the humane society.
Animal cruelty charges were first filed against Wherry in February 1994. The Peninsula Humane Society filed three counts of animal cruelty charges against Wherry after they found a number of violations, including not maintaining a proper fence to keep animals off the highway, not providing adequate food, water, shelter or care and keeping animals in unhealthy conditions.
In August 2005, the Peninsula Humane Society again filed charges against Wherry when a sheep in her care had to be euthanized after it was found infested with maggots.
Also in August 2005, Wherry was ordered to provide proper care and feeding to animals after a number of underfed animals were found living in unhealthy conditions.
In July, a sick goat that Wherry had claimed to have euthanized a year earlier was found alive, but starving and suffering from lice, an untreated eye injury and grossly overgrown hooves. The goat is now under the care of the Peninsula Humane Society and has gained back 10 pounds.
Case UpdatesOn August 8, 2007, Janet Wherry pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. The convictions stem from two of three incidents dating back two years.
On August 13, 2005, officers discovered a sick sheep at Wherry's Triple Springs Ranch. "Luther" had to be euthanized after veterinarians discovered the sheep was filled with maggots.
Later that month, PHS received a report on a sick goat at the ranch. Officers reportedly contacted Wherry, who explained that the goat had since been euthanized. Nearly a year later, the shelter received an anonymous tip that the goat was actually never euthanized. The goat, Vidia, was discovered and seized by PHS officers on July 7, 2006. According to reports, Vidia was very thin and had what appeared to be an old eye injury, as well as severely overgrown hooves.
On July 27, 2006, PHS seized two horses, one pony, three goats, four sheep and one pig, after multiple boarders at the ranch complained about the condition of Wherry's animals. However, no charges were ever filed as a result of the July 27, 2006 incident. | Source: San Mateo County Court Case # SM346146A
Update posted on Aug 9, 2007 - 3:20PM |
A 63-year-old Half Moon Bay woman accused of neglecting animals on her ranch received a plea bargain offer from prosecutors Thursday, the latest in a drawn-out case stemming from allegations of animal abuse from two years ago.
Janet Wherry, owner of Triple Springs Ranch in Half Moon Bay, is facing four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and one count of forging a receipt. The charges were prompted by a Peninsula Humane Society investigation in August 2005, launched after an anonymous tip, in which sheep with open wounds under Wherry's care were found with maggots.
There have been several delays in court proceedings, partly because Wherry has gone through three different attorneys. On Thursday, prosecutors formally offered a deal of 20 days in jail, but Wherry has yet to decide whether she will take it before her scheduled July 2 trial date.
"We're ready to get this off the ground," Deputy District Attorney Sean Dabel said.
The district attorney initially filed two misdemeanor counts in July last year, but court proceedings were delayed after Wherry fired her attorney in December. In May, her court-appointed attorney was replaced by yet another attorney. On May 31, prosecutors added three more charges related to an alleged starved goat, seized by the PHS late last year, and an alleged forged receipt for the purchase of animal feed.
"The goat was thin, with an eye injury, with overgrown hooves and was pretty much in bad shape," Dabel said.
Wherry's problematic past with the PHS goes as far back as far as 1994, when the agency accused her of not fencing horses properly. PHS also claims the horses were starved and covered in their own feces. | | Update posted on Jun 25, 2007 - 5:53PM |
| Janet Wherry appeared in court for a pre-trial conference yesterday. Wherry faces multiple animal cruelty charges for allegedly neglecting animals at her Triple Springs Ranch on at least two separate occasions in the past two years. The jury trial set for April 2 was vacated and reset for May 14, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in San Mateo County Superior Court. | | Update posted on Feb 23, 2007 - 6:57PM |
Janet Wherry, believed to be neglecting animals on her farm for years, is still facing charges for animal cruelty and is due back in court next month.
In August 2005, the Peninsula Humane Society filed charges against Wherry when a sheep in her care had to be euthanized after it was found infested with maggots. She is due to appear in court next for a pre-trial conference on February 22, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in the San Mateo County Hall of Justice, located at 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. A jury trial is set for April 2, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.
In July 2006, a sick goat that Wherry had claimed to have euthanized a year earlier was found alive, but starving and suffering from lice, an untreated eye injury and grossly overgrown hooves. On July 27 of last year, the Peninsula Humane Society seized two horses, one pony, three goats, four sheep and one pig after finding that they were being starved, not receiving proper veterinary care and living in filthy conditions. Charges are still pending on these incidents.
Animal cruelty charges were first filed against Janet Wherry in February 1994. These charges resulted in a "civil compromise", sparing her from a criminal record. | Source: Docket # SM346146A
Update posted on Jan 25, 2007 - 5:10PM |
The jury trial for Janet Wherry, 63, of Half Moon Bay, who stands accused of abusing farm animals at the boarding facility she owns, was postponed this morning while Wherry seeks a new lawyer. She faces misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.
Wherry is next scheduled to appear in San Mateo County Superior Court on Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. to set a new trial date.
In July investigators seized nearly a dozen sheep, horses, goats, a pig and a pony. The animals were starving and living in filthy conditions, according to the charges.
Since then, the animals have been held in foster care outside San Mateo County.
An animal cruelty case against Wherry 12 years ago ended in a civil settlement. | Source: NBC 11 - Dec 18, 2006
Update posted on Dec 18, 2006 - 2:09PM |
| Janet Wherry is scheduled to appear in court for a jury trial on December 18, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. in San Mateo County Superior Court. | Source: San Mateo County Superior Court
Update posted on Nov 29, 2006 - 5:37PM |
A Half Moon Bay ranch owner already facing trial for misdemeanor animal cruelty could be hit with more charges based on new information forwarded to the District Attorney's Office.
A video of an abused goat was sent to prosecutors Wednesday and a report on a number of other animals from Janet Wherry's property will arrive Monday, said Peninsula Humane Society Investigator Debi DeNardi.
Either or both new batches of evidence could add more charges to Wherry's case. DeNardi hopes for at least two counts of felony animal cruelty but said she unsuccessfully pushed for the more severe charge on Wherry's current case.
The initial case was deemed a misdemeanor because it involved one animal and appeared to be significant neglect rather than intentional harm, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Wherry could receive up to one year in jail on the single misdemeanor charge stemming from a sheep allegedly neglected while in her care. She is scheduled for jury trial Nov. 6 and is out of custody on her own recognizance.
A felony charge, or more counts, could bring prison time and stiffer fines. Prosecutors and DeNardi maintained since Wherry's arrest that horses, goats and a pig at her ranch were also mistreated but charges could not be filed without all the evidence.
Complicated cases like Wherry's usually take about 60 days to get ready, DeNardi said.
The District Attorney's Office will review DeNardi's reports before deciding how to proceed, Wagstaffe said.
PHS investigated Wherry after receiving an anonymous complaint about the conditions of her Triple Springs Ranch. PHS reported finding an ill sheep with maggot-filled wounds. Horses on Wherry's property also allegedly wallowed in their own waste while stalled during winter months and all the animals were malnourished.
On July 27, PHS seized two horses, one pony, three goats, four sheep and one pig. All but one goat was placed in foster care. Wherry does not have a current stable permit to run a commercial boarding facility.
"She doesn't provide basic care or things you'd do for your cat or dog. These animals have gone weeks without proper food, sometimes days without food at all," DeNardi said.
In 1994, she faced similar neglect charges for failing to properly fence horses from State Route 92 and not giving animals proper food and shelter.
A civil compromise settled the case in January 1995 with Wherry ordered to comply with codes. | Source: San Mateo Daily Journal - Sept 29, 2006
Update posted on Oct 8, 2006 - 9:52PM |
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals today sent a letter to San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, urging him to prosecute Triple Springs Ranch owner Janet Wherry to the full extent of the law.
Wherry has been charged with one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty after officials seized 11 animals from her ranch east of Half Moon Bay last month, Wagstaffe said. She faces up to a year in jail if convicted. She is set to appear for a pre-trial conference on Sept. 21.
Debi De Nardi, captain of Field Services and Humane Investigations for the Peninsula Humane Society, said she expects to file two additional charges against Wherry within a week.
"Wherry appears to be either unable or unwilling to provide even the most basic care to animals," PETA researcher Dan Paden said in the letter.
One of the largest cases involving animal cruelty in recent San Mateo County history began to unfold late last month as a yearlong investigation by the PHS led to the seizure of two horses, seven goats, a pig, and a pony.
Wherry's attorney, Joseph Johnson, said that all of the charges against his client were false and that he was confident Wherry would prevail in court. | Source: Half Moon Bay Review - Aug 30, 2006
Update posted on Aug 30, 2006 - 1:53PM |
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