Posted April 17, 2012 by Sunny Subramanian
A measure of justice has been served in South Carolina, where, following PETA’s undercover investigation, the woman who fatally neglected cats at the now-thankfully defunct Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary (SVAS) outside Myrtle Beach was convicted of violating a county animal-care ordinance this morning before Magistrate Marge Bellamy Livingston. Elizabeth Owen, who didn’t even bother to show up but instead submitted her plea in writing, was fined $500 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, but both were suspended.
In March 2011, a Horry County judge ordered the seizure of a dog and approximately 240 cats from Owen—many of whom were suffering from painful conditions, such as anal maggots, herpes, tumors, seizures, abdominal abscesses, and severe gum disease. Nearly half of the animals had to be euthanized to alleviate their suffering.
County officials returned the dog and 30 cats to Owen. And then it got worse: county officials did not make good on promises to check on those animals’ welfare. Meanwhile, Owen left the state—in violation of her bond, according to a prosecutor—and evidently took those animals with her. Although PETA’s investigatory evidence was passed between four attorneys in the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, none of them filed state cruelty-to-animals charges against Owen. No other jurisdiction has ever failed to file charges based on PETA’s evidence against a hoarder still in possession of animals.
As with many so-called “no-kill” operations, SVAS was merely a cover for an animal hoarder. Owen knowingly deprived suffering cats of veterinary care—even refusing offers of free emergency treatment for dying cats—and stated that she would rather let the cats die at the facility than have them taken by officials.
In a disturbing twist, just before most of her animals were seized, Owen sent approximately 25 cats to Caboodle Ranch, another horrific “no-kill” cat “sanctuary,” in Florida. Based on evidence gathered in a separate PETA investigation, officials there seized nearly 700 cats and arrested and charged Caboodle’s founder and operator, Craig Grant, with felony cruelty to animals.
The recidivism rate for animal hoarders like Owen is virtually 100 percent. The failure of Owen’s sentence to prevent her from causing more animals to suffer and die exposes a critical weakness in South Carolina law, which lacks a commonsense provision—found in most other states’ laws—prohibiting convicted cruelty offenders from owning or possessing any animals.
Please join PETA in calling for legislation that would enable all South Carolina courts to bar those convicted of cruelty from having animals.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
376 days ago
0
There needs to be more distinction between no-kill shelters and those which operate a no destruct policy. Those who operate a no destruct policy, such as the local shelter that I volunteer for will not put an animal to sleep just because they are difficult to rehome but don’t refuse to euthanise an animal if they are seriously ill or deemed serious a danger to others. We also have a limit to the number of animals that we can take on so that we can ensure that we can provide them with the care that they need. I know that in terms of pure figures it is deemed more effecient to put animals to sleep if they are difficult to rehome, but I have found from personal experience that shelters that have such policies don’t have the same attachment to the animals in their care and therefore revert to seeing them as just numbers rather than individuals which actually perpetuates the issue of objectifying animals. This ia a very complex issue and I think PETA (as amazing as you are) are perhaps making it a little bit too black and white. The only clear thing associated with this issue is the solution … for people to stop breeding and buying animals and only adopt animal companions from genuine rescue shelters.
400 days ago
0
She needs more than what she got.