8-Year-Old Child and 139 Animals Taken Into Protective Custody in Idaho
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office media release by: Lieutenant Stu Miller
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has removed an eight year old child and numerous animals from a residence in the Athol area.
On January 14, 2014, the Sheriff’s Office received information that an eight year old girl was living in conditions that were both unsanitary and unhealthy. The caller, whom wished to remain anonymous, told the Sheriff’s Office that the home located in the 17000 block of E. Pend Oreille Divide Road, near Athol, Idaho had no running water or electricity.
Deputies responded to the residence and found that the conditions described by the caller were very accurate; the house also didn’t have any sewer or functioning septic system and was filled with animal feces, rotting food and garbage.
The deputies took the child into protective custody and requested charges against the parents for Injury to a Child.
While at the scene, deputies also found concern for the numerous domestic and farm animals. They requested that the KCSO Animal Control respond for a welfare check on the animals.
On January 15th, Animal Control Officers responded to the residence and found the family had in excess of 140 dogs, cats, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens and horses. All but the dogs and cats were confined into pens and cages that had no water and most of them were in areas with mounds of feces.
On January 16th, Animal Control Officers along with deputies, the State Veterinarian and the Department of Agriculture’s District Livestock Investigator returned to the residence with a search warrant. Based on the conditions of the animals, their respective lack of suitable living conditions, as well as no financial means to improve them, the Sheriff’s Office seized 139 animals. They include 83 rabbits, 38 guinea pigs, 9 goats, 4 miniature horses, 1 full- sized horse, 3 chickens and 1 goose. The animals were transported to the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and are currently being tended to by Fairgrounds staff and volunteers.
Because charges are still pending in both the child abuse and animal abuse cases, their names are not being released at this time.
