Ohio: Caroline's Kids owners Judie Brown and Tom Brown testify in animal cruelty trial. Cats that should have been euthanized were forced to suffer with illnesses at their 'no kill' shelter

OHIO -- Four employees of a private Concord Township cat animal shelter took the stand in their own defense Aug. 4 on the third day of their animal cruelty trial in Painesville Municipal Court.

Caroline’s Kids Pet Rescue owners Tom Brown and Judie Brown and workers Ellen Distler and Virginia Wolford-Lee are each charged with 24 counts.

Lake Humane Society seized 161 cats from the shelter last winter after receiving a complaint about the conditions of multiple animals.

Defense attorney Gregory Sasse is arguing that the four co-defendants’ only crime is wanting to help sick, unwanted and dying cats.

“We take basically death-row cats, for a variety of reasons,” said Judie Brown, a 76-year-old Mayfield Heights resident. “This is what we are called to do. The cats need us. God put us here to be good to these creatures.”

Her husband, 78-year-old Tom Brown, told the jury it costs them up to $20,000 a month to run the no-kill sanctuary.

The couple opened Caroline’s Kids using money from Tom Brown’s 401(k) account from his real estate job, plus lots of fundraisers.

“It costs a lot of money to do what we do,” he said. “But the cats have a home at our sanctuary for life.”

Distler, a 65-year-old Chagrin Falls resident, has worked at Caroline’s Kids for 11 years and currently manages the nonprofit facility.

She cried while describing the events leading up to one of three raids.

“I’ll never be the same. Ever,” Distler said.

 

 

Distler testified that it was a lot of work to constantly feed and clean up after the animals, but that she had a close bond with all the cats.

“They deserve to know what love is and have a home,” she said. “It’s better to have a home and know love for a short while than be immediately put down or live in solitary confinement in a cage.”

Wolford-Lee, 65, of Mentor, has worked at Caroline’s Kids for five years.

“I would clean and care for the cats,” she said. “I sang to the feral cats and taught them tricks.”

These cats who have sick snot clogging their sinuses? Were you teaching them tricks? The cats with crusted over eyes and ears and noses, were you singing to them while they were wishing for death?

Painesville veterinarian Dr. Mark Wolfe also testified for the defense.

Wolfe said Caroline’s Kids owed him more than $30,000, but he still kept caring for the cats they brought to him to treat a variety of health conditions.

“Caroline’s Kids brought pets to me many times, multiple times a week,” he said. “Sometimes they came in multiple times a day.”

 

 

Special Prosecutor J. Jeffrey Holland is arguing that the defendants, who have no criminal convictions, had good intentions but let conditions at the sanctuary get out of hand to the point of neglect.

The case is being heard before visiting Judge David L. Fuhry. The state and defense have both rested Aug. 4 and closing arguments will be the morning of Aug. 5.

 

 

The Browns do not fall into this category

(News-Herald.com - August 4, 2017)

Earlier:

• Ohio: No-kill cat sanctuary, "Caroline's Kids" run by Judie Brown, under investigation for animal cruelty
• Ohio: Judie Brown, owner of Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue files lawsuit to prevent criminal prosecution

Virginia: Nancy Jinkins, 52, was hoarding animals inside her condemned home while telling everyone she was running a non-profit rescue called Ardellen Animal Abode. She's been charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty.

VIRGINIA -- A New Market woman has been formally charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty after authorities accused her of keeping more than 60 pets in poor conditions.

Nancy Ellen Jinkins, 52, is also the director of Ardellen Animal Abode, a registered nonprofit animal rescue that lists its main address as Jinkins’ New Market home at 9531 South Congress Street. Her nonprofit was registered by the IRS in November 2016, and has no reported finances yet.

 

 

The criminal complaint alleges that on June 29 Jinkins’ home had to be condemned by the Shenandoah County fire marshal because the residence had “extremely high” levels of ammonia – a statement from the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office reported ammonia levels at 100 parts per million.

Jinkins’ home is listed as being 1,305 square feet in size. There were 31 dogs and 32 cats found inside the home, and 12 of those dogs and one cat had to be euthanized at the scene. The remaining animals were taken to the Humane Society of Shenandoah County and the Shenandoah County Animal Shelter for care.

“Most of these animals were living in small crates inside the residence covered in urine and feces,” the criminal complaint states.

One of the rescued kittens

Jinkins was released on a summons, and the conditions of her release require her to avoid using her nonprofit in any way except to dissolve it if she chooses to. She is also forbidden from owning, taking custody of, or possessing a pet in any way.

The 10 counts of animal cruelty stem from 10 animals found inside Jinkins’ home: Cheyanne, Cassie, Callie, Roscoe, BJ, and Chili, all pit bull mix dogs; Thunder, a boxer mix; Roscoe, a pointer mix; and Devin and Kitty, both orange cats.

A preliminary hearing in this case is set for July 21 in Shenandoah County General District Court. Each animal cruelty charge Jinkins is facing carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Officials condemned the home. When it was listed for sale in 2014, even though it was being sold in "As Is" condition, it was very cute looking. It's tiny, as houses in the 1930s were, but looks like it just needed some updates. I imagine now the 'original hardwood floors' that have survived 80+ years will now need to be torn out as they're saturated with urine. Looking at the photos when it was empty and for sale, I imagine what it must look like after 60+ suffering dogs and cats were stuffed inside by Nancy Jinkins who was touting her animal rescue and going to board meetings at the humane society.

From the realty ad: Custom built brick home built in 1936 situation within town limits, 8x12 covered porch, level back yard, original hardwood floors, replacement windows throughout, fireplace. Home being sold in 'As Is' condition. New roof in October 2012. Three bedrooms, 1.5 bath, large, level .29 acre lot. MLS# SH7835927. Sold 07-11-2014 for $85,000

 · Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office Facebook post June 30, 2017 · 

On 6/29/2017 at approximately 1:00 pm the SCSO responded to the 9500 block of South Congress Street, New Market, VA for a welfare check on animals. The call was reported by a concerned citizen. Deputies arrived and identified a 52 year old female at the residence.

During the course of the investigation Deputies from the SCSO Animal Control division found 31 dogs and 32 cats inside of the residence.

Several of the animals were found to be in very poor health and the conditions that they were in were found to be inadequate. Twelve dogs and one cat had to be euthanized at the scene by a Veterinarian. 

The Shenandoah County Fire Marshal's office assisted with the incident and determined that the ammonia level reading inside the residence was over 100 parts per million, which lead to the Fire Marshal condemning the residence.

Deputies had to use protective clothing and breathing apparatus to safely enter the residence to remove the animals. The remaining animals were transported to the Shenandoah County Animal Shelter and Humane Society of Shenandoah County. Deputies were on the scene for approximately 11 hours processing the area and safely capturing the animals so they could be transported to safe locations for care.

The owner of the animals is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

The SCSO was also assisted by the New Market Police Department.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Humane Society Board of Directors
President:  Melisa Miller-Piselli
Vice President:  Vacant
Treasurer:  Tammy Willingham
Secretary:  Millie Murphy

Board Members:
Jane Blair
Kim Ashby
Gerry Langland
Nancy Jinkins

To contact the Humane Society Board of Directors, call 540-984-7101 or email info@hsscva.org

The Board would like to thank all of the HSSC volunteers who give willingly of their time and talents to help the families and animals of Shenandoah County!

(Northern Virginia Daily - July 6, 2017)

Montana: Two dozen horses seized from Tricia Ingram and her rescue called Rockin M.T. Horse Rescue

MONTANA -- Two dozen horses were seized by authorities from a Carbon County property following reports of animal cruelty, according to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office in a press release on Friday.

The 24 horses were seized from the property located south of Belfry on Thursday.

 

 

The owner of the horses was not identified and it’s unclear if any charges have been filed.

See below. She self-identified herself: Tricia Ingram who runs a horse rescue called Rockin M.T. Horse Rescue

The animals are now in the care of the sheriff’s office, which will be working with the Beartooth Humane Alliance to care for the horses.

The Department of Livestock Inspectors, a BLM Ranger and the Montana Highway Patrol assisted in the execution of the search warrant.

Anyone interested in making monetary donations or donating grass hay to aid in this horse rescue is asked to contact BHA at (406) 446-3500 or email info@beartoothhumane.org.

Although the article didn't say who the owner of the horses was, Tricia Ingram who runs a horse rescue called Rockin M.T. Horse Rescue went to the rescue's Facebook page and started complaining. 

The rescue caring for Ingram's seized horses issued a statement saying they had nothing to do with the animals being seized, that they are not law enforcement, that they are merely a holding facility for the seized animals. 

(KTVQ - June 2, 2017)

Alabama: Lori Wolting charged with 3 counts of animal cruelty; says she's trying to get donations to start her own exotic animal rescue

Full name: Lori Anne Wolting
Race: White
Sex: Female
Year of birth: 1961
Arrest date: 04/14/2017
Arrest location: Mobile County, Alabama
Charges:
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
DRIVE W/SUSPENDED LIC

Article published less than a month before Lori Wolting was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

Former Mobile Zoo employee plans to open animal sanctuary

ALABAMA -- A former Mobile Zoo employee is hoping to take the zoo’s bleak past and turn it into a beautiful animal sanctuary. Lori Wolting lives in Theodore (which is in Mobile County which is the county Lori Wolting was arrested in) and has worked with exotic animals for the past 30 years. Most recently, she worked at the Mobile Zoo.

 

 

She says she left the zoo after an argument with the former owner over the animal’s conditions.

“I worked out at Mobile Zoo for almost a year and me and John had a falling out. He kicked me off the property,” she said.

Shortly after Lori Wolting left the zoo the Mobile Zoo closed and the former owner was arrested. John Hightower was arrested and charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty this month. 

Wolting was able to rescue one monkey and two lemurs. She said this is her chance to open a safe place in the Mobile County for exotic creatures.

“I just love them,” she said. “I want to educate people with the exotics. It’s going to be sort of like a sanctuary/education facility. I want to open it up and reach out to the kids”.

She’s currently filed for non-profit status, she’s building large enclosures for animals, and she’s looking at different locations for the sanctuary. Right now, she's calling her project "The Helping Hands" Sanctuary.

How can she be building large enclosures when she doesn't have the property yet???

"I love all animals," she said, "inner-city kids should be able to have a chance to come out and view these beautiful animals. That's what I want".

(WEARTV - March 26, 2017)

Earlier:

• Alabama: Mobile Zoo owner Mark Hightower arrested, charged on 28 counts of animal cruelty

New York: "Friends of Freddie" rescue group run by Barbara Sanelli being investigated for selling sick puppies

NEW YORK -- It's a pet owner's nightmare: you bring home a new puppy only to find out your new pet is very sick.

It's a problem in one Suffolk County community.

The Suffolk County SPCA and the Attorney General's office both confirm they are investigating Friends of Freddie.

Kristen Addiss was thrilled when she adopted puppy Leila from Friends of Freddie Pet Rescue in Middle Island.

"We noticed she was shaking when we were in the store. We thought, new parents, new everything, we thought she was scared. When we got her home she started coughing," Addiss said.

Turns out it was pneumonia and distemper.

Leila had to be hospitalized.

"We would visit her every day on our lunch break and after work, and it was so hard seeing her get worse and worse," Addiss said.

In the end, Leila had to be put down.

Eyewitness News spoke exclusively with Addiss and three other people who adopted puppies recently through Friends of Freddie.

They say within days or even hours of purchase their pets were gravely ill.

"It's not fair that I thought I was getting a healthy dog and she wasn't healthy from the time I got her," said Kim Kondak, a Shirley resident. "I've had her for a month. She's been sick the whole time."

Amanda Stein says they immediately had to bring Lucy to the vet.

"He discovered she had eight different parasites, kennel cough, upper respiratory infection," Stein said.

Then there's puppy Jax.

His owner tells Eyewitness News that the day after he was adopted he ended up in an animal hospital and died a month later from distemper.

Kenneth Harsch, Jr. showed Eyewitness News a video of his puppy Kody coughing right after he adopted him from Friends of Freddie.

Kody had advanced pneumonia and ended up in the ICU for nearly five days.

"How much money did Kody's treatment cost you?" Eyewitness News asked.

"Overall, about $6,200," Harsch Jr. said.

Friends of Freddie says on its Facebook page that it's a non-profit pet rescue dedicated to finding homes for unwanted dogs and puppies.

Eyewitness News tried to speak at the store with owner Barbara Sanelli.

But the pet owners say they're not going to stop until Friends of Freddie is shut down.

"I've reached out to several other people and we're doing as much we can to make sure this doesn't happen to anybody else," Harsch Jr. said.

The Suffolk SPCA is asking anyone who purchased a sick dog through Friends of Freddie to call them at 631-382-7722.

In 2016, Brookhaven town officials shut down what they called an "illegal shelter" that had nearly 150 dogs and cats. The news report stated it was cited for several hazards, including blocked exits, non-working fire alarms and mold.

(ABC7NY - April 10, 2017)

Massachusetts: Greyhound Friends director Louise Coleman ordered to stay away from shelter

MASSACHUSETTS -- With tears welling in his eyes, Guy Leger says he can't imagine what would lead investigators to charge Greyhound Friends Director Louise Coleman with animal cruelty, let alone a Framingham district court judge ordering her to stay away from the shelter she founded in 1983.

"It's absurd," said Leger, after Coleman's arraignment on an animal cruelty charge Wednesday morning. "Louise has taken care of dogs for 30 years."

He's adopted three greyhounds - Bunny, Flash and Suzy - from the shelter over the past 20 years. On Jan. 23, Hopkinton animal control suspended the Greyhound Friends' license after the state issued a cease-and-desist order for the shelter to stop taking in new out-of-state dogs because of needed repairs at the Saddle Hill Road facility .

Leger was joined by about 60 other supporters who packed the standing-room only Framingham District courtroom wearing Greyhound Friends T-shirts and gray ribbons on their arms for the six-minute court hearing. Coleman, 72, pleaded not guilty on the felony animal cruelty charge. She resigned from the board of directors and is taking a leave from her role as executive director of the nonprofit.

Lt. Alan Borgal of the Animal Rescue League of Boston filed the felony charge on March 1, according to court documents. Animal cruelty can be for either abuse or neglect, according to the organization's website.

"During my investigation, I found that the defendant has charge or custody of the dogs, and did unnecessarily fail to provide those dogs with proper sanitary environments," he wrote in the complaint application. If convicted, Coleman faces a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.

She appeared overwhelmed, but remained stoic as she faced Judge David Cunis.

At the request of prosecutor Wendi Safran, Cunis ordered Coleman to stay away from the shelter and not seek a kennel license for her North Main Street home in Sherborn. Cunis released Coleman without bail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 12.

Safran said the charge is based on complaints from between 2015 and 2017 with conditions deteriorating to the point of putting dogs in harm's way. Inspectors compiled a list of 10 specific dogs of concern based on multiple inspections, she said.

Inspection reports revealed poor shelter conditions and sick dogs not being diagnosed or treated for infectious and contagious diseases, such as hookworm and Giardia, a parasite that lives in the intestines of dogs and can spread to humans.

"It is not just those 10 dogs," Safran said, "but the way the kennel was run and additional certain record keeping issues that put the health of so many of those dogs at risk and potentially put other dogs in the area at risk of catching certain diseases and parasites."

She asked for Coleman to be banned from the property as the case proceeds because there are records and paperwork that could potentially be evidence. Daniel Cappetta, Coleman's attorney, objected to insinuation that Coleman would tamper with evidence.

During a Jan. 13 inspection, state Animal Health Inspector Linda Harrod wrote that Coleman tried to mislead inspectors by having a kennel staff member move a dog, Ivan, that Coleman had previously said was adopted.

"As inspectors moved to the kennel area, (a staff member) was observed outside the building moving Ivan from the back kennel and placing him in Director Coleman's car," Harrod wrote.

Representatives of the organization have said that $50,000 has been spent on renovations at the shelter. Coleman declined comment Wednesday morning.

Cappetta told Cunis that Coleman has a 35-year track record of rescuing and adopting out dogs. He said in an interview after the arraignment that Coleman estimates she's rescued close to 10,000 dogs. "She is someone who has devoted her entire life to rescuing animals from cruelty and any suggestions that Louise was ever cruel to any animal is flat out false," he said.

He argued the stay-away order is unnecessary.

"She is occasionally, very occasionally, required to go to the facility to hand off information and responsibilities to other people who are still involved in Greyhound Friends," he told Cunis.

With no dogs in the kennel and other staff members, Cunis disagreed.

"There is no reason for her to be there," he said. "It's an ongoing investigation."

Among the crowd of supporters, Julie Wakstein and Alyse Morrisette took a different view.

Wakstein adopted a one-eyed greyhound mix named Sammi, who lived in the shelter for more than two years. She said a lot of long-stay dogs at Greyhound Friends, who in some cases were there for years, end up being moved to other shelters and were then adopted much more quickly.

"There is a lot of scientific data to support the fact long-term incarceration is mentally and physically detrimental to their health," she said. "Nobody disagrees that Louise has saved a lot of dogs, but she hasn't done it in a responsible and humane way."

Coleman takes on too many dogs and can't care for them in a proper way, Morrisette said.

Gail Reichert, a longtime volunteer who adopted Frannie, a greyhound from the organization, said Coleman takes in dogs that would have no quality of life or would otherwise die if they were not rescued. She said all greyhounds are used to their small kennels at the track and volunteers work to help socialize them as pets.

"It is all about the dogs," she said. "They are suffering because they can't come into the kennel now. She rescues dogs that come from the South that have a lot of issues."

Leger said he's often stopped by the shelter to help walk dogs or drop off food.

"That's why we are shocked," he said. "We would come by unannounced and saw nothing. There was nothing negative done to the dogs."

(Metrowest Daily - March 30, 2017)

Earlier:

• Massachusetts: Greyhound Friends director Louise Coleman charged with animal cruelty

Virginia: Owner of Forever Home Animal Rescue, charged in hoarding case

VIRGINIA -- The owner of an animal rescue group is facing charges in an animal hoarding case.

The Roanoke County Police Department went to Forever Home Animal Rescue in the 3500 block of Chaparral Drive on Monday morning.

They found 15 dogs at the home - [she was 5 times over the limit].

Even though the dogs were all healthy, Roanoke County Code states that it's illegal to have more than three dogs unless you have a dog kennel license.

The Roanoke County Police Department says that while there are several social media posts that claim the conditions of the home are deplorable, police did not find those conditions inside the home on Monday.

The dogs are currently being taken from the home.

Here is the full press release:

March 20, 2017 – The Roanoke County Police Department is aware of social posts regarding an animal hoarding case involving Forever Home Animal Rescue located in the 3500 block of Chaparral Drive.

Police went to the home this morning and found 15 dogs.

All of the dogs are in good body condition and health.

Roanoke County Code states it is unlawful to keep more than three dogs unless you apply and are approved for a dog kennel license.

The owner does not have a business license and is no longer able to act as an animal rescue organization in Roanoke County.

The owner was given notice to come into compliance with the Code.

Police charged the owner with one count each of Kennel Violation; No County Tags; No Rabies Vaccination; No Rabies Certificate; Unsanitary Conditions; and Responsible Animal Care.

While many social media posts claim the conditions of the home to be deplorable, police have been inside the entire home and found the only unsanitary conditions are related to the amount of ammonia smell from dog urine.

Build-up of dog urine aka ammonia can be deadly. It can also cause medical issues from being forced to breathe it 24 hours/day.

Police are aware of the photos posted on social media and did not find those types of conditions when the home was searched today.

Police say citizens and organizations have come forward to place the dogs elsewhere and they are being removed from the home.

(Virginia First - March 21, 2017)

This website, thepollinationproject.org, says it gave money to:
Farrah Dudley, Forever Home Animal Rescue
Date grant awarded: October 22, 2016

Forever Home Animal Rescue is a small home based animal rescue In Roanoke. VA. They just bought seven acres of land and their dreams are coming true. They are now ready to have over 100 volunteers help build a barn. Forever Home Animal Rescue is very appreciative of their gratitude and hard work.

Their website is listed as: http://fharva.org/. However, when you click the link, it says account suspended. However, a search of their domain lists the following. So the next questions is, who is Shelly Wingfield? The article doesn't identify the "owner". Another site says Farrah Dudley is the Director. So who's the "owner"?

Domain Name: FHARVA.ORG
Registry Domain ID: D177483936-LROR
Registrar WHOIS Server:
Registrar URL: http://www.omnis.com
Updated Date: 2016-09-23T10:27:05Z
Creation Date: 2015-09-23T17:51:04Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2017-09-23T17:51:04Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date:
Registrar: Omnis Network LLC
Registrar IANA ID: 143
Registrar Abuse Contact Email:
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone:
Reseller:
Domain Status: ok https://icann.org/epp#ok
Registry Registrant ID: C166643453-LROR
Registrant Name: Shelly Wingfield
Registrant Organization: Forever Home Animal Rescue
Registrant Street: 90 Grove Ave
Registrant City: Christiansburg
Registrant State/Province: VA
Registrant Postal Code: 24073
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.5402574400
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: shelly4foreverhome@gmail.com
Registry Admin ID: C166643453-LROR


AdoptAPet listing:
Our Featured Roanoke, VA Partner:
Forever Home Animal Rescue of Roanoke Va
Roanoke, VA 24019

Email:
jmkmpkm@gmail.com

Website:
http://www.fharva.orgAbout

Our Rescue Group:
Forever Home Animal Rescue, is a home based rescue located in Roanoke Va. Our mission is to rescue unwanted animals and place them in the safe, permanent, loving homes that all pets deserve.

Our rescue is run strictly by volunteers. We are a nonprofit home based rescue that uses foster homes to prepare our available pets for adoption into their new loving forever families. We put many hours into making our rescues feel loved and wanted again. We want to educate the general public and our community on how important spaying and neutering is and how it actually saves lives. Every year in our country alone 4 to 5 million healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized simply because there aren't any homes for them. We also focus on the bad reputation the pitbull breed has been unfortunately labeled with and while we focus on all abused, neglected and unwanted animals, the bully breeds are a volunteer favorite here.

Donate to Our Rescue Group...
https://www.paypal.me/Fharorg

Come Meet our Pets:
Email for specific times

Our Adoption Process:
Requirements are specific to the individual animals needs
Adoption fee for Small Dogs=$175
Adoption fee for cats and kittens =$25
Adoption fee for adult dogs=$80
Adoption fee for puppies=$175
http://www.fharva.org/page/available-pets/

Ohio: Judie Brown, owner of Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue files lawsuit to prevent criminal prosecution

OHIO -- Caroline’s Kids owners Tom Brown and Judie Brown have hired attorney Gregory Sasse, who has filed a $5 million federal lawsuit in Cleveland against the Lake Humane Society over the seizure of 161 cats from their animal rescue called "Caroline’s Kids Pet Rescue".

In addition, Sasse is seeking to halt criminal prosecution that is already in progress of Ellen Distler and Virginia Lee, volunteer workers at the private Concord Township animal shelter that is devoted exclusively to cats.

“The out-of-control criminal behavior of humane societies is a hidden national problem,” Sasse said in a news release. “Humane societies are privately funded. Their directors and board members often receive generous salaries, and the societies must pay their private police and prosecutors. To get the money they need, humane societies bust pet owners and private rescue shelters, using extortion and threats of arrest and/or prosecution to coerce the surrender of animals and the payment of illegal restitution to the humane society.”

Caroline’s Kids accepts abandoned, feral, ill and dying cats and they are allowed to freely roam the sanctuary. The shelter is funded solely through private donations.

On Nov. 28, Caroline’s Kids was raided by Humane Society officials, who had received a complaint about the conditions of multiple cats.

Humane Society officials claimed more than 60 percent of the cats had untreated medical conditions, many of whom were not sequestered in quarantine areas.

According to the lawsuit:

• Ohio humane societies are not true arms of the state, but rather “self-declared philanthropists” and illegal, corrupt enterprises that allow a private group to hire its own “biased” police and prosecutors.

“The Mafia, at its height, would have envied the illegal enterprise ... and operates under a protective blanket of legal immunity in the name of the state,” Sasse stated. “(Humane Society special prosecutors) have discovered a profitable niche in operating the illegal enterprise and have padded that niche by trampling people who love animals and by tormenting, killing and adopting out pets for profit.”

• Lake County Humane Society officials seized healthy and well-cared for pets and manipulated the press by providing reporters “negative, unpleasant, unrepresentative photographs of animals at a private shelter.” For instance, a photo of a 21-year-old dying cat kept in the Caroline’s Kids hospice unit was given to The News-Herald with the representation that the cat’s condition represented the care given to all animals at the facility.

• Lake Humane Society Executive Director Lee Nesler threatened to call the police if Mentor resident Patricia Nowak continued to visit her “frightened, depressed and suffering seized dog at the Lake Humane shelter.”

• The Humane Society confined seized cats from Caroline’s Kids in small carrier cages for at least three weeks after their seizure.

• The Humane Society attempted to extort the Browns for $48,000 in illegal “restitution” payments.

• The most significant factor in the prosecution of Caroline’s Kids volunteers is that the shelter receives charitable donations that might otherwise go to Lake Humane Society.

• The Humane Society operates an animal “death camp” for unadoptable pets to maximize profits.

 

>>Read the full lawsuit

The Lake Humane Society released a statement after learning of the civil suit.

“There are currently criminal animal cruelty charges pending in the Painesville Municipal Court against four defendants related to the Caroline’s Kids seizure,” Nesler said in the statement. 

“In addition to the lawsuit, the attorney representing the defendants in these cases published a malicious press release containing false, defamatory statements about those named in the lawsuit and other respected area animal welfare organizations across the state. This statement and lawsuit appear to be intended to derail the pending animal cruelty charges.

“... Any claims that LHS pursued this case, or any case for financial gain is false. LHS is committed to ensuring justice for animals that suffer due to neglect and cruelty and has acted in this capacity since 1937. LHS will seek legal representation to protect its good name and ensure continuing justice for all animals in Lake County.

Ultimately, a judge will decide if these defendants are guilty of animal cruelty, but neither LHS, nor the prosecutor, will be intimidated by these tactics.”

(News Herald - Feb 15, 2017)

Earlier:

• Ohio: No-kill cat sanctuary, "Caroline's Kids" run by Judie Brown, under investigation for animal cruelty