Wyoming: Authorities seize more than 100 animals from Marci Biesheuvel who operated a "rescue" called Litl' Bit of Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary run by Marci Biesheuvel

WYOMING -- A rural animal rescue facility northwest of here had 93 dogs, 17 cats and several pet rabbits confiscated Wednesday afternoon because officials say they were in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Marci Biesheuvel, 50, after she allegedly refused to allow them into her residence at 4765 County Road 206 on a search warrant.

The warrant was issued in response to a complaint from a prospective customer who visited the non-profit that Biesheuvel operates there, Litl' Bit of Love Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

Rob Shank, shelter manager at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, said there were 45 dogs living inside the manufactured home, and more were living in outdoor kennels.

Officers at the site said the house floor, where Biesheuvel lived, was littered with feces. A foul odor from the house could be detected about 20 feet away.

The dogs, cats and rabbits will be examined at the shelter and kept there in protective custody at least until the case is resolved. Aside from the misdemeanor obstruction charge, other charges have not been proposed yet in connection to the animal case.

Biesheuvel had dozens of dogs of various breeds listed on Petfinder.com as available for adoption Wednesday. There also were several cats, goats and two donkeys.

Several individual entries on the site were checked, and they said the animals were fixed and were up to date on their shots.

The property is about 40 acres with fences, a manufactured home and outbuildings.

Law enforcement officers with the Wyoming Livestock Board also were at the scene to check the dozens of horses and other livestock on the property. They said these animals were adequately fed and watered, so they could stay put.

Jimmy Dean Siler, a livestock law enforcement administrator, was on the property and was familiar with Biesheuvel. He had checked out past complaints about the animals' welfare, as well as reports of their escape. He also has done spot checks on the property.

Siler said he has seen as many as 40 horses kept there, along with emus, llamas, geese, rabbits, donkeys and goats.

"You name it," he said.

He said the state agency had never ended up confiscating her animals, but Wyoming statute is very general about the treatment of livestock, he said.

"Adequate food, adequate water, windbreak — that's it," he said. The law gives no specifics on, say, the type or quality of food.

"(Biesheuvel) does attempt to follow the rules," Siler said.

And she's always been "extremely cooperative," he added.

(Wyoming News - Feb 25, 2010)