1,250 days. That’s how long it took for us to get justice for Fred, Baby, Buddy and Pearl. But we never gave up hope! In May of 2018, our Investigations & Rescue Team responded to a horrific case of animal abuse and neglect. Three dogs and a cat were found suffering in the home of their abuser, along with many other animals including doves, turtles and a horse – all extremely malnourished and emaciated. Two of the dogs were confined in small crates, and the other animals were living among piles of trash, feces, and urine. The animals were barely alive.
Fred was in such critical condition he was unable to open his eyes and had to be carried out on a stretcher. Baby’s fur was stained yellow from sitting in her own urine and feces for months. And they were suffering from severe open pressure wounds caused by their emaciation. We were able to get each animal to safety working with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office as well as United Angels and Pony Up. Fred, Baby, Buddy and Pearl were rushed to an emergency vet who initially recommended euthanasia based on their dire condition. But we weren’t ready to give up yet. They spent several days in emergency care before being transferred to our Healing Barn, where their road to recovery began.
Our team provided medical care for the many health challenges these animals faced. In addition to starvation, they were suffering from open wounds, infections, parasites, inflamed skin and hair loss, and chronic GI issues. We worked hard with each survivor to heal their physical and emotional trauma from the long-term abuse they endured. After months in our care, Fred, Baby, Buddy and Pearl healed enough to find their forever homes. They were finally given a second chance at life.
Through all of this, our uniquely qualified team fought hard to bring their abusers to justice. We kept evidence logs, provided investigative reports and gave continuous support to the prosecutor’s office on this case. Despite the offenders trying repeatedly to get the case dismissed, after over three years of hard work we finally got the conviction we were hoping for – 4 counts of first-degree felony animal cruelty and one count of second-degree animal cruelty.
This hard-won conviction matters. It reaffirms that as a society, we will not stand for animals being abused.
Thank you for making this comprehensive work possible!
