Lisa and Dennis Garcia were arrested on 21 counts of felony animal cruelty and neglect on Saturday, July 2, after deputies, assisted by volunteers from two animal alliances, discovered more than 20 dogs, including nine 8-week-old puppies, in various stages of health on their property.
On Tuesday, July 5, the Garcias appeared in Delaware County District Court, where bond was set.
Formal charges have been increased to 44 counts of animal cruelty and neglect, according to Delaware County Sheriff Harlan Moore, to reflect all of the animals found on the property, both dead and alive.
Bond for both Garcias has been set at $2,500 per count or $110,000 per person.
“We will not tolerate this here in Delaware County,” Moore said. “I’m thankful that these people [the volunteers] came out to help us with it. This is horrible.
“It’s not only bad for the dogs, but horrible living conditions for the humans.”
Members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s office took Lisa Garcia into custody at the scene, while officers with the West Siloam Springs Police Department arrested Dennis Garcia at a West Siloam Springs flea market.
Authorities believe Dennis Garcia has been selling dogs at flea markets, however he did not have any dogs in possession on Saturday at the time of his arrest.
Both Garcias were transported to the Delaware County Jail. As of press time they remained incarcerated and bond had not yet been established.
Delaware County District Attorney Kenny Wright said the investigation is ongoing.
“When it is complete, we will take a look at everything and do what justice requires,” Wright said. “I cannot relate to a state of mind that causes a person to intentionally harm an animal. I am afraid that it is a manifestation of deeper, more frightening psychological problems. “
Moore said the Garcias voluntarily relinquished custody of their dogs to volunteers with the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals. The dogs were later transported to the Horizon Animal Hospital in Bixby for further care.
About the Search
Deputies went to the scene on Friday afternoon, after receiving a tip that up to 50 dogs were living at the property. After questioning Dennis Garcia on Friday, Deputy Sean Meador, along with Deputy Travis Baker, returned on Saturday with a search warrant.
Volunteers from the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals and the Miami Animal Alliance, along with veterinarians from the Horizon Animal Hospital, Bixby, assisted the deputies with the dogs, assessing and treating them at the scene.
The team included Dr. Cari McDonald, owner of Horizon Animal Hospital, who helped the deputies secure dogs within the home.
McDonald said the home was filled with feces, urine and trash.
“Everything was decayed,” McDonald said. “You could hardly walk through it. The stench is of death.”
Ruth Steinberger, a volunteer with the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals and a certified law enforcement instructor, said Oklahoma has strong laws when it comes to animal cruelty and neglect – but it takes law enforcement to enforce those laws.
“Oklahomans do not intend to stand for this,” said Steinberger, “and Sheriff Moore has made it clear he does not stand for this.”
Steinberger said the dogs were “in poor shape,” and that it appeared that the dogs exhibited evidence of “long-term cruelty.”
Moore said this is only the second case involving animals of this magnitude since he became sheriff in 2013.
“We’ve never had this kind of support,” Moore said, regarding the assistance offered to his deputies by the two animal rescue organizations.
During the search, an 8-foot by 10-foot freshly dug hole was discovered. Law enforcement personnel brought in a backhoe to excavate what Moore said was later determined to hold the remains of 18 dogs, one cat and three rabbits.
Bones from the animals found in the mass grave were transported to a lab in Stillwater for additional testing.
More about the Garcias
Lisa Garcia was the only one home when deputies executed the search warrant.
Lisa Garcia said her stepson called in a complaint to the sheriff’s office, “because of a disagreement related to property.”
She told deputies when they arrived the couple had 14 big dogs and nine 8-week-old puppies on the premises.
As volunteers brought dogs out of the home, and placed them in pens to be treated, Lisa Garcia sat on the ground, cradling one of the older dogs.
“This has never happened before,” Lisa Garcia said, adding that the family had been struggling financially after she lost her job of 11 years at McKee Foods in Gentry, Arkansas.
Lisa Garcia said the couple moved to the rural Colcord home 16 years ago, and they have been caring for dogs since. Lisa Garcia said many of the dogs were rescued, having been dumped by their owners.
Treating the animals
McDonald, along with members of her staff and volunteers from the two animal rescue agencies assessed and treated the dogs on the scene.
As the day’s heat progressed, volunteers used wet towels to cool the dogs. One dog in distress required an intravenous transfusion.
Dogs were given a general exam, which for the puppies also included tests for Parvovirus. It was later determined the pups did not have the Parvovirus, but further tests were being conducted on one of the female dogs.
McDonald said most of the dogs appeared to be the product of inbreeding.
Animal Hoarding
Joleen Hansen, with the Horizon Animal Hospital, said this is one of the worst cases of animal hoarding that she has experienced, or personally witnessed.
“They were probably trying to do something really good, and it just got out of hand,” Hansen said.
Jamee Suarez, president of the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, said she has seen several cases of animal hoarding within the Tulsa metro area in recent months.
Um, no they were selling them at flea markets and inbreeding them. That is NOT rescue. How many animals in the last 16 years found themselves rotting in that mass grave?
She said it often occurs when people take in multiple animals without being able to provide them with basic necessities.
Under Oklahoma law, pet owners are required to provide four basic items for their animals - food, water, shelter and veterinarian care.
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| Volunteers look for animals in the mass grave |
“Many get in over their head,” Suarez said. “[The dogs] over run the house. It’s a sickness.”
Suarez said like people who hoard other items, people who hoard dogs are often using the animals to fill a void in their lives.
“They felt that they were rescuing dogs,” Suarez said. “In their minds, they think they are doing the right thing. People who hoard … they will go back to it. The percentage of those who go back to it is [100% without mental health intervention].”
(Grand Lake News - July 4, 2016)
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