Clallam County deputies first seized two donkeys, two sheep and four goats from Dashti’s property at 21 Serenity Lane off River Road on June 24 due to low levels of sanitation.
Deputies later reported to Dashti’s property on June 29 to investigate a dead, 100-pound pig, that was later found to be fed and watered.
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| Sequim resident John Dashti, 61, faces two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in the second degree.— image credit: Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash |
However, deputies obtained another search warrant and seized the rest of Dashti’s animals including a dog, quail, pigs and rabbits except for a few free-range chickens they were unable to capture.
The animals now reside at Chimacum’s Central Valley Animal Rescue.
Prior to seizing the animals, Dashti was given multiple warnings by Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas regarding animal care in the past month.
Attention to Dashti’s property heightened following an anonymous online post showing photos of carcasses on Dashti’s property.
Dashti told the Sequim Gazette in a previous interview that he wasn’t hiding anything and that some of his animals were killed when tree branches fell on them during last winter’s storm that flooded his property.
Dashti said he kept some carcasses because a Seattle company buys them for $60-$80 each.
However, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said Dashti also told law enforcement he’s kept the carcasses as collections and for research, too.
Dashti must pay a $250 bail bond by Aug. 7 or face jail time.
His readiness hearing tentatively is set for Sept. 8.
His misdemeanor charges could lead Dashti to pay up to $5,000 per charge or up to 364 days in jail per charge.
Animal cruelty in the second degree means a “person knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.”
Dashti’s landlord filed to evict Dashti but he had not been evicted from the property as of Aug. 4.
(Sequim Gazette - Aug 5, 2015)
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