Prosecutors wants dogs forfeited in cruelty case: Petition includes seven puppies born Saturday
By Tara Becker tbecker@svnmail.com 800-798-4085, ext. 570
DIXON – Prosecutors are seeking to force an Amboy dog breeder charged with felony animal cruelty to forfeit two dogs and three puppies to Lee County Animal Control.
One of the dogs, a Siberian husky, gave birth to seven puppies Saturday. Prosecutors also want them handed over to Animal Control, which is caring for all the dogs.
The dogs were seized last month at Sheri Thompson’s 10-acre property at 1062 Inlet Road. A dead puppy also was found.
A hearing on the forfeiture will be held Nov. 30, the same day as Thompson’s preliminary hearing on two felony counts of cruel treatment to animals and five misdemeanor counts of violation of owner’s duties and operating a kennel without a license.
Prosecutors also want the judge to require Thompson to reimburse the county for the costs of caring for the animals, which Animal Control Superintendent Bonnie Baxter said topped $1,600 even before the new litter was born.
Thompson, 45, posted $500 and was released Oct. 23. She faces up to 3 years in prison on each felony count if convicted.
Lee County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Gerken said his office made the request before trial to make sure the animals are in good hands.
Click here to view a copy of the petition Lee County prosecutors filed Wednesday (PDF).
“We feel that this is just not a safe environment for those animals right now, and our priority is to keep them healthy and safe,” said Lee County State’s Attorney Brian Gerken.
Lee County Animal Control and the Lee County Sheriff’s Department searched Thompson’s property Oct. 16 after receiving complaints that she was mistreating the dogs.
According to the prosecutors’ petition, two puppies were found in a wire cage resting on concrete blocks, while the third was in a pull-trailer. None had food or water.
The pregnant husky was in a fenced kennel without clean water or appropriate bedding, the petition said.
Baxter said she couldn’t comment on the condition of the animals because of the litigation, but all are doing well.
In 2006, Thompson pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and operating a kennel without a license, all misdemeanors, and was given a year’s probation.
Several months later, the American Kennel Club suspended Thompson’s privileges for 10 years and imposed a $2,000 fine.
Nearly a decade before that, the AKC banned Thompson from breeding cocker spaniels and collies for 10 years after she refused to allow an inspection of her records and practices.
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