By Cathy Ingalls
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 12:00 am
Health reports will provide evidence on whether the animals were mistreated
The North Albany woman charged with 86 counts of animal neglect in connection with dogs and puppies seized from her Spring Hill Drive property on Monday could face additional charges of animal abuse.
Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson said this morning he is waiting for the health reports on the animals that were taken to Heartland Humane Society in Corvallis. He expects to know later this week whether additional charges will be filed.
"If you have a crime of animal neglect, that speaks to the condition the dogs or puppies are living in," he said. "If you are talking about something that is done to a dog that causes physical injury, death or an abnormality, that is animal abuse."
Anyone who adopted a dog from Carol Brower at 4156 Spring Hill Road that may have a problem is asked to contact Lt. Greg Ridler of the Benton County Sheriff's Office at 766-6858.
Authorities along with workers and volunteers from Heartland Humane Society rescued papillon, Yorkshire terriers and mixes of those breeds at Brower's property shortly after noon on Monday. She was cited on the neglect charges following the rescue, Haroldson said.
Kerry Mullin, executive director of the shelter who helped with the rescue, said the dogs were living in deplorable conditions.
"Yesterday was insane," Mullin said this morning. "We even had board members down here just directing people coming in to foster and they were bringing in food, toys and donations. The outpouring from the community is amazing."
People from all over the West Coast are contacting the shelter, she said.
"We received 97,000 hits on our Web site between midnight Monday and midnight Tuesday," Mullin said. "People are trying to learn more about the case and how they can get involved."
For the most part, she said, "the dogs are doing quite well. Some of the dogs were quite thin, and we are finding some look older than they actually are."
To help, go to the shelter's Web site, www.heartland
humane.org, or call 757-9000. The shelter is at 398 S.W. Twin Oaks Circle in south Corvallis.