Woman who kept cats locked in filth sentenced
One of Lawson's cats is seen in June when animal control officers took them from the home. By KOMO Staff
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A woman responsible for a case of animal abuse that investigators described as one of the worst they'd ever seen was sentenced Monday to time served and ordered to pay $15,000 in fines.
Judith Ann Lawson, 64, was arrested in June after animal control officers found 22 purebred Persian cats locked in cages in her garage and living in filth. Feces covered the cats' bodies. In some cases, the weight of the hardened waste had caused their heavily-matted fur to tear right off of their bodies. One of the cats was found covered with open and infected sores, a broken tail and suffering from severe respiratory problems. The cats lived in wire cages, and food was thrown in atop the feces. The hair of two of the cats was so intertwined that everyone thought the matted being was just one cat, until they saw two heads. "When I asked her how long the cats have been in the room, she said about six years," Erika Ellenbecker with animal control said when the animals were seized. "This is the worst I've seen." Rescue workers had to wear respirators to enter the property and, once inside, they saw that even fleas were trying flee. "There were flies and fleas pounding at the window, trying to get out," said animal control officer Susanne Beauregard. Prosecutors said Lawson, a former cat breeder, kept the blinds to her house closed and the garage door sealed. Such measures kept the strong smell of cat urine from escaping the garage and alerting the others living nearby. Investigators were notified when a contractor working inside Lawson's home discovered the cats stuffed into crates stacked in the unventilated garage. He took photos and called police. Two of the cats died, and the rest were treated at a local veterinary clinic and adopted out to new owners. Lawson pleaded guilty in October to 22 counts of second-degree animal cruelty, and prosecutors agreed not to seek jail time beyond the eight days she already served. Lawson's attorney, James Dixon, said his client suffers from depression and didn't mean to harm the animals. He said Lawson is an agoraphobic and didn't want to leave her house. As part of the terms of her agreement, Lawson will have to undergo mental health treatment and will not be allowed to own any cats. The agreement does not prohibit her from owning other animals, however. In Thurston County Superior Court on Monday, Lawson was in tears and could barely get out the word "no," when the judge asked her if she had anything to say. If she violates any of the terms of her plea agreement, Lawson could be forced to serve an 82-day jail sentence for each of the 22 cats that were in her care. |
Weather & TrafficWeather & Traffic
Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV. Stay ConnectedYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
Most Popular
Viewer Poll |
KATU, 2153 N.E. Sandy Blvd.,
