PETA contacts Judge regarding the treatment and care of animals at Canine Angels by the former owners and calls for an end to animal hoarding.

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For Immediate Release:
August 1, 2006

Contact:
Stephanie Bell 757-622-7382

Elbert County, Ga. - This morning, PETA sent an urgent plea to Northern Judicial Circuit Solicitor-General Gary Aston urging him to appropriately prosecute Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe, the former reported owners of a purported "no-kill" animal sanctuary in Elbert County. They face charges stemming from authorities’ reported discovery on July 20 of 110 abandoned dogs on their former property. According to news sources, 13 of the animals needed medical attention and nine dogs were locked inside a trailer for more than a day without adequate food and water. The floor of the trailer was reportedly covered in urine and feces, requiring rescuers to don respirators in order to enter the premises.

Because Wells and Rowe may be "animal hoarders"—people who obsessively accumulate animals—PETA is requesting that, if convicted, they be prohibited from owning or harboring animals and required to undergo thorough psychological evaluations followed by counseling.

"Facilities that purport to be sanctuaries but cause more suffering than they prevent are all too common," says PETA Cruelty Caseworker Stephanie Bell. "If Ms. Wells and Ms. Rowe’s former property proves to be one of those, it is imperative that they be duly sentenced."

PETA also sent its new report on animal hoarding—available at HelpingAnimals.com—to Solicitor-General Gary Aston. PETA’s letter to Aston follows.

August 1, 2006

The Honorable Gary Aston
Office of the Solicitor-General, Northern Judicial Circuit
8 N. Olivier St.

Elberton, GA 30635

Dear Mr. Aston:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 1.1 million members and supporters dedicated to animal protection. This letter concerns a recent cruelty-to-animals case that your office is handling, involving Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe, who are reportedly the former owners of a purported "no-kill animal sanctuary." They face charges stemming from authorities’ reported July 20 discovery of at least 110 dogs who were abandoned on their former Elbert County property. We understand that at least nine of the animals had evidently been deprived of adequate food and water inside the defendants’ waste-strewn mobile home; the remaining animals were confined outside, according to news sources. Thirteen of the animals were evidently in need of veterinary care.

We believe that the accused may be animal hoarders. It is our understanding that they have a long history of substandard care that dates back as far as 2004, when state officials reportedly asked them to reduce their population of animals to less than 100 in order to improve conditions. In 2005, PETA fielded numerous complaints about Wells and Rowe that were so concerning that we were compelled to pressure the Georgia Department of Agriculture—which licensed the sanctuary—to conduct a thorough investigation and take immediate action in behalf of any animals found to be in distress, if their findings supported such measures. As you may know, the "hoarder syndrome" is not rare (please see enclosure). Experts agree that dementia and other mental health disorders may be at play in such cases. Hoarders’ behavior is akin to that of substance abusers in the following ways: preoccupation with the addiction, repetition of the addictive behavior, alibis for their behavior, neglect of personal and environmental conditions, claims of persecution, the presence of enablers who assist financially, denial that the addiction exists, varying degrees of social isolation, and abuse of animals through neglect. Upon conviction, only carefully considered sentencing and probationary conditions can preclude the otherwise inevitable recurrence of these crimes.

On behalf of our thousands of members and supporters in Georgia, we respectfully ask that, if convicted, Wells and Rowe be required to undergo psychological evaluations followed by mandatory counseling at their own expense—their safety may depend on it. Because repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers—and this is especially true of hoarders—we also ask that your office ensure that the convicted are banned from owning, caring for, or having custody of animals and that any animals currently in their custody are immediately seized. Thank you for your diligence in this matter and for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Bell, Cruelty Caseworker
Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue & Information Department