Jo Ann and Bernardo Garcia were arrested July 26 and charged with 56 counts of second-degree animal cruelty each.
The Sheriff’s Office has seized 60 animals living at the Burbank Creek Road property south of Ellensburg.
By Monday, both suspects had been released from the Kittitas County Jail, where they were being held on $3,000 bail.
Each animal cruelty charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and up to $5,000 in fines.
Personnel from the sheriff’s office, the Ellensburg Police Department and the Ellensburg Animal Shelter took 49 seized animals from the Burbank Creek Road home to the Ellensburg Animal Shelter on July 24.
Those animals included three blue heeler puppies, two cats, 19 chihuahuas, 16 doves, five chickens, one Doberman, a lovebird, a parakeet and a beta fish. Two birds were found dead in an aviary at the home.
By Friday, the animal shelter was housing 60 animals from the property after setting live animal traps.
A status update posted on the animal shelter’s Facebook page Monday afternoon reported that the shelter has found homes for all but six of the dogs.
The shelter still has five chihuahuas and one adult heeler.
Animal shelter officials were not available for comment Monday, but as of July 27 the lovebird, the parakeet and the beta fish also had been adopted.
The large influx of animals from the seizure presented a challenge to the shelter at first. The facility is only set up to deal with cats and dogs, said Ellensburg Animal Shelter Manager Paula Hake. It has 16 dog kennels and 14 cat cages, and about nine dogs and 15 cats at the facility before last week’s seizures. While many dogs have been adopted, the shelter has many cats and kittens that need homes, according to the Facebook post.
Hake said animals trapped at the property last week were entering the shelter dehydrated and in a general state of ill health. The cats have been extremely thin, and cats and dogs found at the property tend to be full of parasites. Many of the animals needed dental work, and most of the dogs needed surgery for hernias.
The Garcias voluntarily relinquished their interest in the animals July 26, allowing them to be put up for adoption. In written statements filed with Kittitas County District Court, Jo Ann Garcia said the couple had done their best to care for the animals and hopes the animals find good homes.
(Daily Record - July 31, 2012)
