The Humane Society of Cowlitz County filed the infraction notices against Russell Shroyer. Keenan Harvey, Humane Society director, said Monday he’s unsure whether the Shroyer will pay the fines or contest them.
Shroyer did not return a phone call for comment Monday.
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| Some of the recovered alpacas |
Harvey said pet owners who can’t afford to take care of their animals can contact the Humane Society for help.
“This problem didn’t happen overnight,” Harvey said. “Sometimes people have to swallow their pride and contact us, and we’re going to work with them to stop the problem. Ultimately, we would have loved if he would have contacted us months ago. ... We would have helped him.”
Five of the alpacas housed on the Woodland farm were brought to the local animal shelter in July after Harvey received a call from Shroyer. Within a couple of days, one of the alpacas died, prompting Harvey to call Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue officials, who determined they were starving.
Soon after, Humane Society officers and Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue officials returned to the Woodland farm to bring two female alpacas to the shelter. The animals were “in very rough shape,” and one died, Harvey said in an August interview. The other female was taken to Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue, where her health improved significantly.
Eventually, all the remaining alpacas were removed from the farm and nursed back to health by the Humane Society. All have been adopted out to new owners.
Harvey said that at one point, the Woodland-area alpaca farm was “a good operation.” He said he never had any suspicion the farm wasn’t being properly run. However, Shari Bond, co-founder of Cross Creek Alpaca Rescue, said she believes the farm has been operating poorly “for a very long time — a lot longer than anyone realized.”
Harvey said Monday he’s happy with the way the case has been handled, noting that it was a mutual agreement between himself and Shroyer. He said animal control officials did not have grounds to file the more serious charge of animal cruelty.
“We couldn’t really prove the elements of cruelty because we couldn’t prove intent.”
What are the laws for animal cruelty in Washington state?
RCW 16.52.205
Animal cruelty in the first degree.
(1) A person is guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree when, except as authorized in law, he or she intentionally (a) inflicts substantial pain on, (b) causes physical injury to, or (c) kills an animal by a means causing undue suffering or while manifesting an extreme indifference to life, or forces a minor to inflict unnecessary pain, injury, or death on an animal.
(2) A person is guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree when, except as authorized by law, he or she, with criminal negligence, starves, dehydrates, or suffocates an animal and as a result causes: (a) Substantial and unjustifiable physical pain that extends for a period sufficient to cause considerable suffering; or (b) death.
Animal cruelty in the second degree.
(1) A person is guilty of animal cruelty in the second degree if, under circumstances not amounting to first degree animal cruelty, the person knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.
(2) An owner of an animal is guilty of animal cruelty in the second degree if, under circumstances not amounting to first degree animal cruelty, the owner knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence:
(a) Fails to provide the animal with necessary shelter, rest, sanitation, space, or medical attention and the animal suffers unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain as a result of the failure;
According to the law, you have to prove INTENT with 1st degree animal cruelty. However, with 2nd degree animal cruelty, you only have to prove that he "knowingly, recklessly, OR with criminal negligence" starved the alpacas. If the owner bought the "wrong food", he knowingly chose not to replace it with food that alpacas would and could eat. It is reasonable that a person understands that when something or someone is not provided with food, they will get skinnier and skinnier until they die of starvation.
Also, Shroyer and his wife run Maple Creek Alpaca Ranch. Their website says they breed Havanese and Miniature Schnauzers. You're telling me they "didn't know" their animals were starving?
Also, Shroyer and his wife run Maple Creek Alpaca Ranch. Their website says they breed Havanese and Miniature Schnauzers. You're telling me they "didn't know" their animals were starving?
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