Seattle is a progressive city, and we love our furry family members. But that doesn't mean we don't see cases of animal cruelty. In fact, there are hundreds of cruelty and neglect cases are reported every year. Some of these cases are egregious.
Case #1: Mr 222
Deplorable Conditions In October 2020, a Seattle man was arrested on charges of animal cruelty. He ran an animal transporting business. Animal Control Officers found:
218 animals were living in unsanitary conditions
215 had insufficient space
197 had no access to food
115 had no access to water
75 skeletons, some amongst live animals
In total, 222 live animals, primarily guinea pigs & rabbits, were confiscated. These animals were transferred to Seattle Animal Shelter for care.
Many of these animals were not owned by the defendant. Local media reported the arrest, but the public story ended there.
Only 17 Charges? Multiple animals confiscated in this case were pregnant and, in total, over 300 animals have required rescue and care in this case. Given the number of animals, dead and alive, involved in this case, the formal criminal charges seem light:
7 counts of first-degree felony animal cruelty
10 counts of second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty
Seattle referred the case to the King County Prosecutor’s Office and bail was set at $7,500. The charges may seem light now, and remember: charges filed don't always equal charges prosecuted.
Minimal Consequences
Criminal resolution for this case wasn't reached until April 2022 and the consequences were underwhelming. Only 2 (of 17) charges of animal cruelty stuck. The defendant was required to:
pay $500 in court fees
continue mental health treatment
adhere to a 2 year probation period
attend a restitution hearing, and pay any resulting fees
not own any animals in the future.
The defendant moved to a coastal city in 2022 and within a month of residence was already under investigation for possession of animals and breaking probation.
Restitution
In addition to the $500 court fees, restitution was requested in the amount of $449,793.41:
$405,760 for pre-defined fees agreed to by the defendant for basic care and boarding of the animals
$44,033.41 for additional supplies & medical expenses
However, the court only ordered restitution in the amounts of:
$500 for court fees
$29,118 in restitution to cover boarding, care, feeding, supplies and medical fees for hundreds animals.
The City of Seattle, and its taxpayers, were responsible for absorbing 93% of the costs incurred for animal care, despite the defendant agreeing to boarding costs ahead of time.