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Two Women Convicted of Animal Abuse in Mojave, CA

June 02, 2009, 3:4PM MT
By Cheri Moon
Hundreds of animals in desperate need of help

Hundreds of animals in desperate need of help

by Roni Raczkowski, Network Volunteer

It was the kind of stench that brings tears to your eyes and permeates your every pore. Walking through the wreckage with caution, rescuers thought they had seen the worst. Until they went a little further onto the property.

The scene at the Mojave Desert, CA compound was like something out of a horror movie. Two women accused of hoarding, Cindy Bemis and Cynthia Trapani, accumulated approximately 220 dogs and 25 cats, most of them unaltered.

Outside about 60 dogs were kenneled and another 100 or so roamed free. Inside the house were smaller dogs and cats, many of which have never seen the light of day.

Conviction Long Time Coming
A call to action came about on Monday, May 18th when the jury in the Bemis/ Trapani trial returned a guilty verdict on all charges of animal cruelty against the two women—14 felony counts for Bemis, six felony counts for Trapani. Each could face prison sentences of as long as nine years.

Judge Kenneth Twisselman ordered both directly to jail without bail until the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for June 17th.

This case has lasted over three years, and has been followed closely by Helen Storey with the Wuffington Wag.

“Although this is the news we have all been waiting for, the direct result of this victory is that more than 200 dogs have been left behind on the Mojave compound, with a care taker who can barely take care of himself,” according to Storey.

Rescue Community Joining Forces
The rescue community, led by Last Chance for Animals (LCA), is trying to move the dogs out as quickly as possible.” In addition to LCA and Wuffington Wag, Brittany Foundation and Animal Alliance have joined forces in this massive rescue operation. “I have seen a lot in my years of rescue but never anything like this,” explains Ellen Lavinthal with Animal Alliance.

“What I witnessed was beyond description in terms of filth and overcrowding, the stench was unimaginable. I personally observed dogs and cats crammed into rooms in the trailer; dogs living in sweltering heat in rows of outdoor runs piled high with feces and drinking fetid water, dogs roaming the property in packs trying to find shade and dogs in underground dens. There are pregnant dogs and dogs full of milk without puppies. We kept finding litters of puppies around the property. Dogs were fighting over communal food bowls and are clearly hungry.”

LCA has posted video of the rescue on YouTube.

Many Animals Still Need Rescuing
There are about 80 dogs and several cats left at the Mojave compound. Many individual rescuers and rescue groups have come forward to help or take dogs, but so much more assistance is needed.

On two separate occasions locals have dumped dogs at the site while rescuers were pulling dogs off the property.

“Every day that we go onto the property, another litter of puppies has been born. Yesterday I buried many that did not make it,” says Kim Sill with LCA.

At the end of the day, as rescuers try to wash away the horrible stench and the gruesome images, they realize their work is not done. A collective prayer goes out to those animals still at the compound in the dessert, those still living the nightmare. Justice was served, but the innocent victims of this hoarding crime will continue to suffer without your support.

How You Can Help
• Donations are critical to help pay for vet care, sterilizations, boarding and food, and should be sent to Last Chance for Animals.

• To sponsor a rescued dog visit Brittany Foundation website.

• To sponsor a rescued cat visit Animal Alliance website.

• For other ways you can help, contact LCA at 310-271-6096 ext 27.

• They are in desperate need of help in placing cats in foster homes or rescue groups.

Groups who have taken dogs or donated food

Animal Alliance
The Brittany Foundation
Pets Delight Covina
Pet Adoption Fund
Heigl Hounds of Hope
Beagles and Buddies
Pooch Haven
Riverside Humane
All Breed Dog Rescue
Adopt a Chow
SEAACA in Downey
Karma Rescue
Alive Animal Rescue Foundation
Wuffington Wag
Kris Kelly Foundation
Strangest Angels
Wendy Gali
Elise Duran
Lance Kettler
Isabel Csaki

Posted by Cheri Moon, Best Friends network editor
Photos courtesy of Wuffington Wag and LCA
Comments
Posted June 05, 2009, 3:28PM by Kelly4cats
They probably started with a small number of animals and when they didn't fix them all the numbers just continued to grow. I'm sure locals were dumping their unwanted animals there too.

Are these hoarders or rescue people who got totally overwhelmed and couldn't find help? I'm not taking blame away from these people but times are very hard for people in rescue. If you don't have the volunteers and people helping you fundraise you are going to get yourself in deep trouble and end up with a lot of animals who won't get the food, attention and vet care they need. I hear rescue people say all the time they are in desparate need of donations and volunteers. It's not like they are sitting on their behinds either waiting for it to come to them. They do food drives and are constantly seeking volunteers but people are not donating enough or wanting to volunteer. Some groups have better luck or maybe they are in areas that aren't hit as hard by the recession. But it's tough out there, just look at all the people on the forums here begging for help. It looks like most of them go unanswered.
Posted June 05, 2009, 5:25PM by babs1171
My heart is broken to see these images. I will donate what I can to try and help the rescue efforts. My prayers are with all of these poor babies (dogs and cats) and I hope they find a good home where they will get the love and care they deserve. Sad, sad, sad.
Posted June 05, 2009, 6:29PM by Kelly4cats
If people don't read the link with the article the remaining animals have until June 17th then they will most likely be killed by animal control.

For all they've been through, they deserve a happy ending so please forward this story to your local rescue groups and ask if they can make room for one more.
Posted June 10, 2009, 12:48PM by dlyamanoha
I am trying to understand hoarders. I think they started out with big hearts wanting to help the animals they took in, but a rational person knows when they are in over their head and I assume would try to find help anyway they can. When it goes to this extreme, something is terribly wrong. I need more education on hoarding, it is something I cannot understand.

I have a comment relating to Kelly4cats talking about rescues getting into financial trouble. I have come across some rescue groups, that I feel screen potential animal owners too strictly. If one question on the application sends up a "red flag" so to speak, that candidate's application is trashed. Can rescues afford to be this picky? Are people really sending in application after application on a particular animal? I understand that rescues are looking for the "right" match and I commend them for what they do to help homeless animals, but if you have someone willing to provide a home, shouldn't you make the effort to interview someone who may not be the "perfect" candidate but one who will give care and love to the animal. That animal will have a home and the rescue will have a space for another needy animal.
I've had friends and co-workers comment that trying to adopt a dog is like adopting a child, there are endless hoops to jump through. Maybe if rescues would ease up a little on their requirements, more animals would get adopted and rescues wouldn't be so challenged.
Posted June 07, 2009, 4:50PM by dionie
These women face a bleak future but the innocent animals face an even bleaker one. The women may be in jail for awhile but they will have food and shelter whereas the animals will not. Many of the seniors will die. What were they thinking. How sad for all involved in the rescue. Best Friends keep us up-dated on how this is going. I am sure that BF will do as much as they can for these unfortunate animals.

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