An agreement was made with the owners Joshua R. Underhill and Melissa Underhill (aka Michelle Stephens, Michelle Underhill) prior to the hearing, and now all of the their 53 pets are in the custody of an animal welfare group: 36 dogs, 10 cats, 3 roosters, 2 ducks, a rabbit and a hen.
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| Melissa Underhill (Michelle Underhill) and Joshua Underhill |
"The animals were found living in urine-soaked, feces encrusted pens and wire crates around the property and inside the house on the property. Some animals found inside the residence were living in crates while others ran loose. The animals appear to have varying health issues, including flea infestation, hair loss, extremely long nails and severe eye issues, and a few are underweight." -- SPCA of Texas statement
But if the former owners' home clears inspection, they will get to have just one of their dogs back.
"She's one of the only people around here that rescues animals other people thought should be euthanized and she'd rehab them and adopt them out," the owner's sister, Amanda Stephens, said.
"They spent every dime they could spare on these animals," Tommie Kirksmith said, who is one of the owner's friends.
This is a problem, Tommie Kirksmith. NO ONE should be spending every spare dime on animals. You have to have a balance in your life because you can't save them all. No one can.
DELUSIONAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS MAKE EXCUSES FOR INHUMANE CONDITIONS
Family and friends of Josh Underhill and Michelle Underhill said it's all a misunderstanding.
They said the couple works tirelessly to rescue animals, but the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas tells a different story. They said the animals were living in 'cruel confinement,' and in waste-covered crates.
Kirksmith said when the seizure happened, Josh Underhill was out of town, and Melissa was trying to clean the cages.
"If they didn't have food and water, they couldn't have had the messy cages, and the animals were in a holding area while she was cleaning another area."
But the judge agreed with the SPCA of Texas.
"It's an emotional situation for everyone," Grayson County Lieutenant Sarah Bigham said. "What we're trying to do is make sure that the animals are being taken care of."
"The SPCA is a big company and they can take care of them well, but it just seems unfair, because they were taking good care of them too," Stephens said about her sister.
TOMMIE KIRKSMITH, WHO RUNS HER OWN "RESCUE", KNEW OF THE CONDITIONS - AND DID NOTHING
Kirksmith founded another animal rescue group, the Red River SPCA. She's worked with the Underhills for the last four years.
"If I were concerned on how things were, I would not have helped them."
On top of the rescue animals, the Underhill's had 12 of their own pets, including six dogs. The judge said one could come back home.
"You want to hold out hope for one of your kids to come home," Stephens said. "It's heartbreaking that they had to choose which one."
And they said in the week since the raid, they didn't have enough time to find a lawyer.
"It's saddening to be accused of what they're being accused of, let alone everything being taken from them," Stephens said. "That's like their whole life."
"But it happened," Kirksmith said. "It all passed and we'll go from here."
The Underhills said they will work with the SPCA to make sure the animals all find a good home.
WHY ARE THEY CALLING THEMSELVES A NON-PROFIT?
Melissa Underhill goes by the name Michelle Underhill and is married to Josh Underhill. They run a rescue called Texoma Pawfia Animal Rescue.
TEXOMA PAWFIA was founded on 2014-01-13 and has its registered office in . The organisation's status is listed as "Franchise tax involuntarily ended". Texoma Pawfia is a business registered in United State of America (USA) with Texas Secretary of State.
On the rescue Facebook page, they call themselves a non-profit (501c3). I have been unable to confirm this and I believe it is illegal to collect donations, calling yourself a non-profit when you are not.
Company Name: TEXOMA PAWFIA
Company Number: USTX0801916179
Date formed: 10/13/2014
Michelle R. Underhill, Director
Joshua R. Underhill, Director
Janeth J. Stevens, Director
CompanyStatus: Franchise tax involuntarily ended
Legal Registered Office:
MICHELLE R. UNDERHILL, 1504 S. CROCKETT STREET SHERMAN, TX 75090
Mailing Address:
313 HARRIS LN WHITEWRIGHT, TX 75491-5944
Janeth Stevens is currently listed as the "Previous Director for Texoma Pawfia" and is listed as now living in Independence, Missouri (10400 E Norledge Ave Independence, MO 64053).
What is a Rescue Hoarder?
▶ The most common animal hoarder type that leads to criminal intervention
▶ Has strong sense of mission to save animals which leads to unavoidable compulsion
- Michelle Underhill's sister confirms this by saying "It's their whole life"
- The "no kill" movement is largely responsible for this. They believe as long as the animal is still breathing - no matter the living conditions or health of animal - it's better than death
- "She's one of the only people around here that rescues animals other people thought should be euthanized and she'd rehab them and adopt them out," the owner's sister, Amanda Stephens, said.
▶ Acquires animals actively rather than passively
- Rather than working with a legitimate rescue and being involved in fostering, etc., they start their own rescue so they can start collecting.
▶ Sees oneself as an expert and/or possesses martyr tendencies
- Saying they spend all their money and time saving animals that otherwise would've been euthanized, that saving animals "is their life"... there is only a concern that the animal is alive and is only alive because of them. They have blinders on to the crowded conditions, lack of veterinary care, etc.
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| Cats seized from Michelle and Josh Underhill |
▶ Numbers of animals gradually surpasses financial and physical ability to provide adequate care
- As Kirksmith said, they spend every spare dime on animals. Yet as "overwhelmed" as they were, how many new animals had they acquired in the last month?
▶ Finds it hard to refuse requests to take more animals
▶ Avoids authorities and/or impedes their access
▶ Is not necessarily socially isolated; may work with an extensive network of enablers and be more engaged in society, therefore less amenable to intervention via social services
- The Underhills have a network of people in their inner circle who make excuses for them and enable them to continue to neglect and hoard animals
(KXII - Nov 2, 2016)
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