When animals are in danger, people are in danger.

We know that there is a direct link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence, which is the driving force behind mandatory reporting laws. This is not just for cases of violence but also of neglect.

Our guest Rachel Batten, Humane Officer at the Medina County SPCA in Ohio, shares her experience with a case of animal hoarding that revealed child neglect. Thanks to her efforts both the animals and the child were removed from the situation.

Listen to the story of how it unfolded and the end result.

Help us spread the word by liking, rating, and sharing the podcast. Together we can make a difference in the life of animals and in communities everywhere.

Mentioned in this episode:

Keep it Humane Podcast Network

The Animal Welfare Junction is part of the Keep It Humane Podcast Network. Visit keepithumane.com/podcastnetwork to find us and our amazing animal welfare podcast partners.

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Use keyword keepithumane at checkout at livetrap.com

Hi and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction.

2

This is your host Dr.

3

G and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

4

Today we are going to be discussing

a case that involves the link

5

between animal cruelty and

interpersonal cruelty or neglect.

6

So joining us from Medina

SPCA is Rachel Batten.

7

Thank you and welcome to the Junction.

8

Rachel Batten: Thanks for having me.

9

I'm happy to be here.

10

DrG: I'm really glad that you're

joining us because this is a really

11

important case as far as how the

importance of cross reporting and the

12

importance of animal cruelty cases being

investigated in order to help people.

13

So, how about you start by, letting

us know what your position is, like

14

how you got to where you're at, what

brought you to being a humane officer?

15

Rachel Batten: Sure.

16

So, I have loved animals all my life.

17

They've, that's always been something

I've been interested in every summer

18

day consisted of looking for toads

twice a day, going out on our patrol.

19

Um, my sister and I

always did that together.

20

So when I got to college, I was interested

in maybe going towards more of the

21

animal control aspect of a career.

22

And I wasn't sure if

I was going to get it.

23

I wasn't sure if I even needed the degree,

but I went ahead and did it anyway.

24

So I ended up with an associates

in law enforcement and a bachelor's

25

in criminal justice studies.

26

And, um, I graduated and I started

working at a halfway house because

27

nothing was really available.

28

So I was just a caseworker there and I

did not enjoy it, not enjoy it whatsoever.

29

So, um, I was just looking on Indeed one

day and a position for a humane officer

30

came up and I was like, I'll never

get this, but I'll just apply for fun.

31

And to my surprise, They called

me back, I had my interview, and

32

I, by some miracle, I got in.

33

DrG: Well, I'm glad you did because,

I mean, so far, we've worked together,

34

I think, in three cases, so far.

35

Yes.

36

And you're doing a really

great job, so I commend you for

37

everything that you're doing.

38

You're doing really, really well.

39

Rachel Batten: Thank you so much.

40

DrG: Oh, no worries.

41

So, um, how about you let our

listeners know about this case?

42

Basically, we're looking at a

case that started back in August

43

of last year, August of 23, when

you received a complaint about a

44

person suspected of animal hoarding.

45

Rachel Batten: Yes.

46

So the complaint started with a woman

who is a coworker of the suspect's,

47

Tina Robertson, they work together at

Hardees and she, they all work together

48

with Tina Robertson's daughter as well.

49

So all three of them work together

and the complainant's best friend

50

is also next door neighbors with

Tina Robertson and her daughter.

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So it was a weird web of things,

but she was concerned because she's

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noticed over the time that she's worked

with them that they obtain a lot of

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animals in short periods of time.

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She knows they live in a small trailer

because her best friend lives next

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door, um, and it's a trailer park.

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It's a very well known trailer

park to law enforcement.

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It's constantly a hot spot for all

kinds of crimes, unfortunately.

58

So she was concerned because

the, um, the suspect Tina and

59

her daughter always came to work

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smelling like animal feces.

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She said you could see the rings of dirt

around their arms and on their body.

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And the daughter had actually brought

one of the kittens into work one day.

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Um, I think it was the day before

that she had given me this call and

64

she said, the kitten, you could just,

even from afar, see the fleas crawling

65

all over it, and they were talking

about how their cat had a litter of

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kittens, and all the kittens died.

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And then she started telling me that

her best friend who lives next door

68

was concerned because they don't

believe there's been running water

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in the trailer for over a year.

70

So her best friend had actually

offered the mom and daughter if

71

they needed to shower or wash their

clothes at her trailer, they were

72

more than welcome to because she

didn't know what was going on and they

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always said, no, we don't need that.

74

Turn her down.

75

Um, so that's kind of where

the complaint came from.

76

And she, the complainant also knew that

they had recently lost a dog and she

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said the dog was almost completely bald.

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And they have another one in there

who's kind of on the way of being

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bald, and they just got a puppy.

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They just got some kittens.

81

So they're just very quickly accumulating

animals faster than they're going out.

82

Um, and there's inconsiderate fleas.

83

DrG: And really quick, how old

is the daughter at this point?

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Rachel Batten: She's a minor.

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I believe she is 16.

86

So I had attempted to

perform a welfare check.

87

It was the daughter who answered the

door and I was, without trying to

88

ask her too many questions because

she's a minor, I was just asking her

89

how I could get in touch with her

mom, if she could call her for me.

90

And she just really avoided the question.

91

She said, no, she won't pick up or

no, I don't know when she'll be home.

92

So I left her with my card and just

requested that she give it to her.

93

And, Tina Robertson, returned my call

a few hours later, just screaming

94

profanities that, um, I was absolutely

not allowed to come do a welfare check.

95

Yes, her kittens died, but, and

yes, her animals have fleas,

96

but they're being treated.

97

So it's none of my business.

98

Go away.

99

Um, So that was good.

100

I will add to I could not see inside

when the daughter had opened the

101

door when I was there and I couldn't

smell anything crazy from outside.

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But when she opened the door and the

wind was blowing, I could kind of

103

get some wafts of the fecal odor.

104

And just in such a small space,

it's already not looking good.

105

So I went back kind of back to square

one and the next day I said, you know,

106

that's a minor, no running water,

potential fleas and feces inside.

107

I should call child services.

108

So, I called them and hoped that they

could be my way in the door as well.

109

Um, and I was in contact with

child services over a few days.

110

She had also attempted two welfare

checks and both were ignored.

111

Tina made excuses as to why she missed

them, why she couldn't come that

112

day, so she kind of hit rock bottom.

113

So then we were kind of just in this lull

for about a week, and then I thought we

114

were just doomed to never find out what

was happening or how we could help, but

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it was seemingly out of nowhere, but a

week later I got a call from a school

116

counselor, and she had called me to

report the daughter of Tina Robertson.

117

She said that she had received some

complaints from staff members about

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her smelling like animal fecal odor.

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And so she pulled her into her office

and she asked her what was going on.

120

The daughter told her that They have,

they just got, um, a puppy and two

121

kittens and two rabbits over the weekend

and that she told her that her mom

122

couldn't afford to pay for food for them.

123

And she said that they

just have a lot going on.

124

And she did tell her about the litter

of kittens that all of them died.

125

Um, but the school counselor, as she

was saying this, she also mentioned that

126

this isn't the first time staff members

have come to her about this child with

127

this same complaint of animal fecal odor.

128

She said that this has been going on

since this child was in middle school.

129

So, it has been years, at least, at

least four, that they, that someone

130

has been trying to say something and

no one either took it seriously or

131

it didn't get to the right people.

132

But finally, with that tidbit, I

was able to get a search warrant.

133

DrG: Yeah, that's, it's really

disheartening to know that this, this

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minor, you know, she's like 16 at

this point, but then in middle school,

135

you know, we're talking about 10, 12

years old living in this situation.

136

For all these years and and the people

say the responsible adults in her life

137

are noticing that there's a problem, but

not being able to do anything about it.

138

So that's that's really

sad and disheartening.

139

But then, uh, because of the

information that you obtained, then

140

you were able to file for a warrant.

141

Is that right?

142

Rachel Batten: Correct.

143

Yes.

144

And I arranged it.

145

We had a police assist, um,

scheduled and I was also able

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to bring child services with me.

147

So we got a whole group ready.

148

And we went out, um, the daughter

was home when we were there.

149

And unfortunately, so were

two even younger kids.

150

I believe they were the

grandchildren of Tina.

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They were age five and nine.

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The daughter answered the door

and she said, you know, no, mom's

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not here, we had to tell her, I'm

sorry, but we have a search warrant.

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We have to come in.

155

She said, Oh, well,

there's children in here.

156

You can't.

157

And I said, that's even more

reason that we need to go in.

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So, um, The cops had them step out

and off to the side, the poor little

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kids were just barefoot and dirty.

160

And they all just kind of went to sit over

in this little central community center.

161

Um, so they were out there and we

entered in, um, the, I feel bad.

162

The, um, child services workers,

they gagged as we came in.

163

Um, it was, it was pretty rough.

164

Um, it, this one was an odd one for

me though, because, um, On top of

165

the animal urine and fecal odor.

166

It was also largely human.

167

Um, especially urine.

168

It just, it smelled human, which is

not something that I always encounter.

169

Um, so we went through,

there's trash everywhere.

170

There's, you know, The

countertops are covered.

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There's trash overflowing out

of the trash I saw one large dog

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and one puppy in the living room.

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The large dog, like they had started

to say, had many spots of hair loss

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and just balding on the back of the

neck and some spots on the side.

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Just the kind of random areas, but

the dog was not happy to see us.

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He was just kind of growling and snarling.

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I looked over because as soon as you walk

in you can see mostly everything because

178

it's a trailer, but, there were some bowls

out for food and water, and there were

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some, there was some food, some hard food

in the bowls, but there was no water.

180

It was actually just dried

over a mix of water and feces.

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It was all stained with feces, including

the placemats and the bowls and the

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containers that had the food in it.

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Um, but I walked further

into the living room.

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Which was also serving as a

bedroom, I believe, for Tina.

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The air conditioning unit was

completely covered in this brown dust.

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The carpet was so worn down

and stained that it was.

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almost hard, like when it's

just super, super worn down.

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It was covered in urine

stains and some fecal stains.

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There was some vomit on it

from an animal, I believe.

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But it was, it was very,

very worn down, very hard.

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So I looked further and I see a rocking

chair and then I see the saddest thing of

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There's an iPad that's playing and there's

a tiny little kitten curled up on top of

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it with its head down just on the iPad.

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Now, I went over to the kitten

and I picked it up and this

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poor thing was just limp.

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It couldn't even open its eyes.

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They were so crusted shut with mucus

and there were fleas everywhere,

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but when I picked it up too, I saw

blood on the inner thighs and back

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legs , and that was from the fleas.

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So I knew it was important to get

help for that one really quick.

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And then a few moments later,

I found his little brother.

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He was under a table and

he looked about the same.

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He was a little bit bigger and a little

bit, less congested looking, he could

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actually open his eyes at that moment.

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They were still full of mucus, but he

could open them, both covered in fleas.

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And I very briefly saw two cats,

but they booked it as soon as I

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stepped further into the room.

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Um, so I continued my walk in the trailer.

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There was no running water.

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They did have a large amount of,

bottled water that was just kind

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of lining the floor of the kitchen.

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Just, probably like 50

jugs, just sitting there.

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There was some really odd looking

staining and substances on the stove.

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It just old food.

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Um, and the washing room.

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It was just completely covered in clothes.

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The bathroom is probably the worst.

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It was the human bathroom, but it

was also the animal bathroom for

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the cats , and there were just

like, you could see splatters where

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the feces had gone on the walls.

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And the puppy was also using

the hallway as his bathroom.

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Not potty trained, but it seemed

like all of the animals were kind

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of just going where they could.

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Um, where was the cleanest spot that

they could even if it was on a shelf,

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just anywhere that they could find.

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But, the human bathroom, I mean, no

running water, but the bathtub, the

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back half was black with mildew,

it was, it had hair in it, it was

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a very odd sight, but the toilet,

unfortunately, was leaking a little bit,

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and we lifted up the lid, and it was

completely full to the lid of feces.

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We don't know if it's human or animal, but

we closed that as quickly as we opened it.

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And walked back out.

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Um, but then it was time to go

to the daughter's room and I've

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never encountered this before then.

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And since then, but I hit what

felt like a wall of fruit flies.

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They were just swarming her doorway,

just kind of near her trash.

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But I had to physically swat them away, or

I thought I was going to breathe them in.

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They were just so congregated.

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I've never seen anything like it.

239

Um, but then I found the two rabbits

in there and the rabbits were

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actually in the best shape of all.

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They were.

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the most cared for, and it's

probably because it was solely the

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daughter responsible for these.

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She had a nice little hutch for them,

she had a little bit of food, but no

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water, and unfortunately they were

still breathing the same air as everyone

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else in there, which was uncomfortable

for us, the people in there, and

247

those animals have even greater senses

of smell and taste, and that's just

248

infinite times more

uncomfortable for them.

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So, we walked out myself and child

services and they made the determination

250

that they wanted to remove the daughter

from the home , and I told them that I was

251

planning to remove the animals as well.

252

So they said, okay, let's call Tina.

253

Um, and she was at work at

this moment and we called her.

254

We put her on speaker phone, we

tried to explain everything, and

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it was, it was just profanities.

256

There weren't real sentences.

257

Um, and we asked, you

know, do you wanna be here?

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Do you want to come?

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She said, no, my son has my car.

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I can't leave work.

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So we offered for an officer to pick

her up and bring her back so she

262

could be here for this and no, nope.

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Did not want that.

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Did not wanna be a part of that.

265

So.

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Thankfully,

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DrG: I'm thinking about the fact that

that her daughter is being taken away.

268

Right?

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Like, not just the fact that that

you guys are going into her house and

270

removing the animals and, you know,

just going into her personal stuff,

271

but her child is there and strangers

are getting ready to take this child.

272

And then she's just like, nah.

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Rachel Batten: Yeah, couldn't be bothered.

274

Didn't want the cops to come to her work.

275

So, um, she was just screaming at us.

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And, so I told her on the phone call,

I kind of threw it in there that I

277

was going to be removing the animals.

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And I tried to tell her about our

probable cause hearing process, which

279

is a mouthful to explain, especially to

people who aren't even trying to listen.

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And I don't know if every agency

is like this, but for us, whenever

281

we seize an animal, we have to

do a notice of impound and that

282

entails saying what animals we took.

283

And then it says at the bottom that there

will be a hearing scheduled in one of two

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courts, depending on the jurisdiction,

um, in 10 days or as close to that as

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possible to determine if there was enough

probable cause to remove the animals.

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So I try to tell every person that

sees that notice, you know, this

287

is your chance to fight for that.

288

If you're telling me what I did was wrong

and didn't make sense and you don't agree

289

with it, this is your chance to say that.

290

This is when you want to come and

present your case and I'm going

291

to do the same thing and the

magistrate is going to decide.

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So I tried to explain that to her.

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She didn't want to hear it.

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So I left the notice and

we removed the animals.

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It took us a minute because one of the

cats dashed out the door and we had

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to catch her outside, but we got her.

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And then we took them right to the vet.

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DrG: And what was the, what was the

reasoning that she gave for the, for

299

the way that the house was so filthy

and the animals were not taken care of?

300

Rachel Batten: Oh, it was super fun.

301

So she didn't get to that

until she called me back later

302

to tell me I ruined her life.

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We had that call a few times.

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And she told me that she started

the call after seeing the notice

305

of impound, and she said that she

can't get two days off work and

306

she's not going, this is ridiculous.

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She can't afford this.

308

She doesn't have the time.

309

She can't get this off.

310

She can't make that time.

311

But, further in the conversation when

I was asking her, who I used to look

312

like this, she just kept saying, I

didn't have time to clean this week.

313

Or I've been really busy this week.

314

I mean, it's actually alarming

that she really felt that this

315

was a short term issue or buildup.

316

I mean, ammonia with more animals in a

small space builds up quicker, but that

317

was just, that was drenched, I mean, the

walls, the wallpaper was peeling, there

318

were stains everywhere, there were mice,

I opened a cupboard and a ton of shavings

319

and mouse droppings came out, um, I mean,

that's just been a very long time in

320

the works, and she just kept saying, I'm

sorry, I'm not the perfect mom, I'm not a

321

maid, I work every day, I didn't have time

to clean this week, I didn't clean up, and

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it's, it's just, Just not in touch with

reality of what actually is happening.

323

I learnedd from the daughter too, when

I was there that, um, six of the eight

324

animals we took have come into their

house in just the last seven months.

325

And four of them were

just in the last 13 days.

326

I mean, they are just bringing them in.

327

And I asked her why they did

that, where they got them from.

328

And they just, They have friends who

breed or get things and change their

329

minds and don't want them anymore.

330

So they just decide to

accept them, take them in.

331

I think only the dog who was balding

was, like, an actual adoption that

332

they went out of their way to do.

333

The rest they just take

in and hope for the best.

334

Um, but

335

it's just It's alarming to see

that that wasn't even a thought at

336

all about the amount that was in

there, what she was actually able to

337

provide for and manage, and she just

Thought it was just a week's problem.

338

DrG: Yeah.

339

And you know, this, this goes to

show as far as how animal hoarding

340

is a mental health disease, right?

341

Because these are people that do

not realize what the state in which

342

they're living, they don't realize

the harm that they're causing, to

343

the daughter, to the animals, like.

344

I don't necessarily think that

she was doing this on purpose,

345

that she was harming the animals

and the daughter on purpose.

346

I really think that she's just

oblivious to what she's doing.

347

And then she fits kind of in the category

of that rescue hoarder, somebody that

348

wants to take animals in and wants to,

you know, feels that they're taking really

349

good care of them and that they're the

only ones that can take care of them.

350

Because realistically,

somebody in her position.

351

If somebody says, Hey, I can't take care

of these kittens and she takes them, then

352

somebody in there in the right state of

mind is going to go to the Humane Society

353

or call somebody and maybe say, you know,

I'll foster them for a few days, but

354

then I can't have them because clearly

I'm not in a situation where I can care

355

for these animals, but to To get to that

point where you're living in so much filth

356

and you're just don't care to the point

that you show up to work and you smell

357

like that and you don't smell it on you

and you don't smell it on your child.

358

That's like, that's really bad.

359

Rachel Batten: It's, it's actually

very crazy how quickly and

360

intensely people can go nose blind

to that when they live in that.

361

I mean, for normal people

who don't live in that.

362

It's such a dramatic change going

from outside to in an environment

363

like that and vice versa and

they don't seem to notice it.

364

Like, they're just so used to it that

it doesn't affect them, like, honestly.

365

Their eyes don't water, their throats

don't burn, their nose doesn't burn.

366

It doesn't give them a sore throat the

next day or a migraine in that moment.

367

They just have totally

built up a resistance to it.

368

DrG: And one of the problems, though,

is that that that level of ammonia,

369

it's like they don't they don't

sense it and it doesn't affect them

370

as much, but it does, I say, to a

deeper sense, it does affect them

371

like it affects the respiratory tract.

372

It can even affect their mental state, you

know, and make them not not quite right.

373

So that can also add to the

to the mental health issues

374

that that they're experiencing.

375

Rachel Batten: Absolutely, absolutely.

376

DrG: So how many animals do you

end up taking from the house?

377

Rachel Batten: So we took eight.

378

There were two cats, two kittens,

two dogs, and two rabbits.

379

The rabbits, again,

they were best of care.

380

I mean, she just got them days ago.

381

, so they were just two little black rexes.

382

And they were brothers, and thankfully,

I mean, they didn't even, the fleas

383

hadn't even reached them yet, which

was very good because everything

384

else was completely infested.

385

So, um, that was good for them.

386

So, we just did the little flea

treatment for them and they were great.

387

The kittens, I wholeheartedly believe

that those would have been deceased within

388

another 24 hours if we hadn't gotten

to them, I mean, they needed fluids,

389

they needed antibiotics, they needed

vitamin, vitamin B, um, supplements.

390

And, you know, Respiratory

supplements needed baths because

391

they had diarrhea and their own blood

running down the back of their legs.

392

The one was completely

anemic and he needed fluids.

393

Um, but after a couple days of really

intense intervention with them,

394

they completely changed around.

395

Um, it, they could actually, their,

you know, Were a normal weight,

396

they were a normal color, they

just kind of really plumped up

397

like kittens are supposed to be.

398

The puppy, he was in pretty good shape.

399

He had a few bald patches where the

fleas were really going to town on him

400

that he, he was also one of the newest,

so he was, he was in pretty good shape.

401

The white cat pixie, he was interesting

to see, I mean, she was drooling

402

when we got her, and she was, she's a

beautiful, completely white cat, and

403

you can just see all these black and

brown fleas on her body, which just

404

looked so out of place, because she's

so white, um, and she was pregnant,

405

so the doctor was able to tell that.

406

She was early along, but she was pregnant.

407

And the calico, at first, we thought

was, um, Really, really good.

408

She had some bald spots.

409

She had some scabbing from the flea

dermatitis, but she looked okay otherwise.

410

That ended up not being the case.

411

She actually ended up having FIP and

that was really upsetting to hear.

412

She really came out of her shell with us

by the time we figured out what was wrong

413

after running fecals and diarrhea samples.

414

They all ended up having tapeworms.

415

Um, so we treated them all for that

and then she wasn't really improving.

416

So we had to obtain the testing for that.

417

And by the time we found out everyone

was just so in love with her, they

418

were devastated, but we're really

lucky in Ohio because they have

419

something called the FIP warriors and

420

we were able to get in touch with them

and they agreed to take her on for a

421

six month treatment and foster and she

ended up getting adopted through that.

422

DrG: That is amazing.

423

Yeah, I guess I mean, just not changing

the subject completely, but FIP up to

424

not too too long ago, it was deadly,

like it was just a death sentence.

425

And now there's there's FIP

treatment available and it's

426

a game changer for cats.

427

And I am so glad that you guys took

the time to, to care for her and to

428

test her and to figure out what was

wrong with her and then to go ahead

429

and treat her because not everybody,

you know, would have done that.

430

Some people would have given up on her.

431

So, so thank you for that.

432

Rachel Batten: Of course.

433

We, I mean, she just, it was.

434

It was, it's devastating to see

such an incredible growth of a

435

personality to just be for nothing.

436

I mean, not for nothing, but

just to end in a way like that.

437

No one, no one could do it.

438

No one wanted to do it.

439

And we, we knew FIP treatment isn't always

a hundred percent, but It can be tried.

440

And if she's at least comfortable

because she was acting completely

441

normal, despite her symptoms, she

just seemed to have a good quality

442

of life, a good, happy personality.

443

So we figured we'd try it.

444

And I think she did really well.

445

DrG: So at the 10 day bond hearing

that what happened, did she

446

show up or did she not come in?

447

Rachel Batten: I am very surprised to,

still surprised, that she did show up.

448

She came in very last minute in

sweatpants and a hoodie and tennis shoes.

449

And my prosecutor, uh, he greeted her

and he asked her if he, if she'd like

450

to discuss beforehand, anything, if

they want to work things out, talk

451

about a surrender, whatever it is.

452

Passed this hearing and he

just screamed, no, very loud.

453

Um, and that was, that was it.

454

That's all she wanted to say.

455

So when it was our turn for the,

hearing the judge, or the, I

456

believe it was the magistrate.

457

He came up, asked me what happened.

458

I told my story , and then he asked Tina

Robertson if she had anything to say, like

459

her side of the story, her explanation.

460

And she just sat back, like

she wouldn't look at anyone.

461

And she just said, no.

462

So we just kept going.

463

And, um, as typical part of the probable

cause hearing one way, even if, even if

464

we win or even if they lose, they still

have an opportunity sometimes to continue

465

fighting for ownership of their animals.

466

And it's what's called a care deposit.

467

Um, so you just, Calculate cost of care

for one month of all of the animals,

468

and then you set that for a deadline

that that has to be paid for them to

469

still be in consideration of former

ownership to be determined later.

470

So we set the cost of care, and

the judge, you know, looked at her

471

and asked that, and she just kept

saying, I won't have the money.

472

I won't have the money.

473

I don't have money.

474

And He kept, I don't even remember at

this point what he was trying to get from

475

that communication because I think he just

was asking her if it's okay or something

476

about the deadline but she just kept

screaming that she wouldn't have the money

477

and so he asked her if she just wanted

to surrender it and waive that whole

478

process or if she wanted to try and she

just kept screaming I don't have money.

479

So then he let her do

the care bond anyways.

480

So that postponed things that

we could do for the animals for

481

about a month, just for her to not

pay, which she said she wouldn't.

482

And she, I mean, she stormed out of

there, she was shaking the entire time.

483

I thought she was going to

come after us physically.

484

I was a little bit nervous, but

we, we technically won the probable

485

cause hearing, but they gave her

that month, she didn't pay it.

486

So after that point, then we

filed for ownership and we won

487

total ownership of the animals.

488

DrG: And then at that point, then

you placed them for adoption.

489

Rachel Batten: Yes, it it took

some time, especially with

490

the adult dog who was balding.

491

I mean, his his skin was

very, very hard to work with.

492

He was bleeding from his feet with

yeast infections, and he just had some

493

very intense allergies and as well

as response to the flea dermatitis.

494

So he needed some serious medications.

495

He needed medicated baths.

496

But by the end of when he was adopted,

it didn't feel like as much hair growth

497

as it actually was until I went back

and really looked at the first day,

498

but a lot of his hair grew back in.

499

He was shiny.

500

He was a sweet boy.

501

He, He was very protective at

first, but, um, he ended up really

502

coming out of his shell as well.

503

He was very, very protective.

504

No one could go near his kennel.

505

We had to have a special system of getting

him in and out safely for everyone, and

506

it took a while, but when he finally

came around, that was the greatest.

507

Um, his, his skin took a while, but

eventually we got that, and we found a

508

really, really great adopter for him.

509

And yes, all of the

animals have been adopted.

510

DrG: That's great, because it also

makes you think about the fact

511

that he was, he was protective

and he was, you know, fractious,

512

but he was in so much pain, right?

513

Like his feet were, were sore, were

bleeding, his skin was miserable, so

514

animals, and a lot of people think

that aggression, like dogs are bad.

515

And dogs are not necessarily bad.

516

Dogs usually react to something.

517

And in his case, if he's in so much pain,

anything that, that goes around him, he's

518

going to feel that it's going to hurt.

519

So you guys showing him kindness

and helping control that discomfort.

520

then actually made him be the

dog that he's always been, that

521

he hasn't been able to show.

522

Rachel Batten: Yeah, he was actually

adopted, um, I found out, I found this

523

out from the daughter when she was telling

me where some of the animals came from

524

and he was actually adopted as a stray

from the dog shelter just a county over

525

from us, , and they said that he did

have those skin issues to a certain

526

extent before he left, but they had

gotten much worse since he was infested

527

with fleas, and not being medicated or

given those baths that he very clearly

528

needed when he was living there.

529

So it took some time for the turnaround,

but physically and emotionally he got

530

there, which was really awesome to see.

531

DrG: So ultimately, she is being

charged with animal neglect, animal

532

cruelty and neglect, but then also

child endangerment and neglect, right?

533

Was that the same prosecutor

managing both cases?

534

Rachel Batten: No, it was a

totally different public attorney

535

who was with the child case.

536

Um, I was actually called to that to be a

potential witness that day of the trial.

537

And again, she showed up in sweatpants and

just a hoodie and the rest of her family

538

was, I was sat in the middle of them and

it was Tina on one side and the rest of

539

her family on the other because thankfully

child services had been able to work it

540

out that she was able, the daughter was

able to stay with the grandmother, um,

541

so she could at least stay with family.

542

And then, that side of the family

was arguing that they wanted to

543

keep custody of her against, um,

Tina, and I believe that was most

544

of the child endangerment case.

545

It was more fighting over custody rather

than the conditions and what happened.

546

Um, and I was just nearby and

before the trial could even start,

547

they were asking Tina, like, do

you understand what's happening?

548

Do you know these processes?

549

And she just kept screaming that her

prosecutor hasn't told her anything.

550

She doesn't know this or this.

551

And, um, so they were trying to

explain things to her and then she

552

just shouted, I don't care, keep her.

553

And, she just essentially waived

the entire trial then and there and

554

said, okay, you guys get custody.

555

And I think that's kind

of where they left it.

556

They just assigned custody to

the other side of the family.

557

And I don't know if she's on any

sort of probation with them at all.

558

I don't know what that entails because

I know usually the goal is to return

559

the child with the parents, but

since another parent was involved,

560

they may have just left it at that.

561

Um, so I'm not really sure where

they landed with the endangerment.

562

It may have just been pled out.

563

DrG: I looked up the docket from

the municipal court as far as

564

the child endangerment part.

565

And what, what I found was that

because she didn't have any prior

566

Uh, history of it, but she didn't

have any prior history because nobody

567

had actually done anything about it.

568

But because she didn't, it was uh,

it was considered a first offender,

569

they gave her pre trial diversion.

570

Which pre trial diversion is basically a

way to avoid court, so they give people

571

the opportunity to go into a diversionary

program, and I believe that she was sent

572

to a place called Alternative Paths,

which is like prevention of problems

573

as far as, like, violence prevention,

and Uh, you know, cruelty and neglect

574

and that kind of stuff, prevention.

575

So the good thing with it, if there

is a good thing, is that at least

576

she was given the, the opportunity to

correct her problems by going into a

577

treatment program, because somebody

like her, you know, fines and jail

578

are not necessarily going to curb her

attitude and and the way that she is.

579

She needs actual help and assistance,

which then actually brings me back

580

to after the child endangerment

piece was taken care of, then the

581

animal neglect stuff was done.

582

So what happened with that one?

583

Rachel Batten: Yes.

584

So she took a plea on our charge as well.

585

And, um, it basically put her on, I

want to say it's a five year probation

586

where she's not allowed to own animals.

587

Um, and she has to seek

mental health treatment.

588

Um, sometimes.

589

You can, in, at these points, uh, agencies

can ask for money or for reimbursement.

590

I know that I typically, if I can

avoid it, I do not ask for that because

591

most of the people we encountered

don't have it to begin with.

592

And that's half of their problem,

um, especially with these overwhelmed

593

caregivers or rescue caregivers.

594

So I just was more concerned about the

mental health treatment and no animals.

595

The only downside of no animals on

probation, um, and something that's been

596

brought up a lot in appeals is that I

can't go out to check on that probation

597

then, only if I have probable cause to

believe that animals are being actually

598

kept in that house when they're not

supposed to be, otherwise it's just a

599

hope that she's going along with it, but

it's So I believe that's about five years.

600

I can't remember if he asked

for an indefinite ban afterwards

601

on animal ownership or not, but

I know he does that sometimes.

602

DrG: Yeah, I know that she was fined like

$150 and she had to pay for court costs.

603

Uh, but yeah, one of the good things

about that five year probation,

604

though, is that it's not just an

ownership ban, but she can also not

605

live in a residence with animals.

606

So it is a complete and total ban.

607

It eliminates the excuse

of, well, it's not my dog.

608

It's my roommate's dog or, you

know, somebody else's dog, and

609

I just happen to live here.

610

So it, you know, if it, it's unfortunate

that it's an unreported probation, that

611

you can't just go in and check in on her.

612

But if there is any evidence

of any animal being in the same

613

residence as her, then that is a

violation of her, of her probation.

614

Rachel Batten: Absolutely.

615

DrG: And with the mental health

counseling, again, it's, it's really

616

nice that she basically got mental

health counseling for both, right?

617

For the neglect, she got treatment

treatment program, but then

618

she was mandated mental health

counseling for the hoarding.

619

So it, if anything, I mean, this is,

this is overall a really good case

620

in that, that again, the, you know,

this child does is being neglected

621

for such a long period of time.

622

Nothing is being done.

623

And it takes a humane officer

to come in and help the child.

624

It brings us back to years and decades

ago, when that was kind of the job of

625

animal control, right, it was taking

care of, of children and, and the

626

public, the community, the society.

627

So, you know, it's, it's the

importance of that mandatory reporting.

628

The importance of getting

everybody involved.

629

The importance of you contacting

child protection services

630

so that they can come in.

631

They've been having some, such a hard time

for so many years trying to investigate

632

on this child and it just took you a

few weeks because, you know, you had

633

enough evidence about the animals to

be able to get a warrant And then this

634

this child it sucks that it took so long

for her to get out of that house But

635

hopefully now she's in an at a better

environment where she can you know get

636

help hopefully, you know, she gets help

as well to to be able to move on from

637

this and then you know You know, be, be

a safer, be a safer place for both Tina,

638

the daughter, and animals in general.

639

Rachel Batten: Mm hmm.

640

Yeah,

641

it, it was a very, very

positive outcome of everything.

642

Um, and I believe child services was even

helping to assist with payments so that

643

she could get her water turned back on.

644

Um, I believe they were helping

her with some of the bills in that

645

way, which was very nice of them.

646

DrG: Yeah, absolutely.

647

You know, we need to, to understand the

reasons, like, it's not about excuses,

648

uh, like, I don't excuse any of the things

that she has done, you know, she's an

649

adult, she's made her decisions, and she

was being rude about it, so it's not like

650

she was being welcoming to, to help and

assistance, and she was being oblivious

651

about, about her kid, so I absolutely

do not excuse anything that she's done.

652

But, she is somebody that is going to be

a member of society like it's not like we

653

can say, "okay you did this and we're just

gonna send you to an island to live and

654

we're never gonna see you again", right?

655

It's like she's gonna continue

to be a member of this society.

656

So we need to figure out how to make

her an okay member and, you know,

657

preferably productive but at least an

okay member of this society so that

658

again, this is not happening again

659

Rachel Batten: Yeah, yeah, and that's

why Mental health counseling in this

660

is so important because that's, that's

truly the mindset, the mind is behind

661

all of this, and it's hoarding itself,

it's completely, it'll never stop without

662

some kind of mental health intervention.

663

It has a 100 percent recidivism

rate if it's not addressed.

664

And I'm I'm sure even just the other

blind eye kind of denial positions

665

are probably a part of that as well.

666

DrG: Yeah, I'm glad that the, that the

friend stepped up and the neighbor stepped

667

up and they, you know, they cared enough.

668

You can, you know, I'm sure that Tina

thinks that they were just ratting her out

669

or tattling or whatever, but realistically

they did it because they cared, right?

670

They cared about the whole situation

and she may not see it this way,

671

but they, they actually helped her.

672

They actually made it better.

673

Rachel Batten: Absolutely.

674

She got her water back on and hopefully

she's had the time to clean up so she

675

doesn't have to live in that anymore.

676

There's hopefully no animals creating

more waste in that environment.

677

So once she can kind of get that

out, I mean, it's, I really hope that

678

she does turn it around and stick

with it and then one day she can see

679

that it was a good, good, bad time.

680

DrG: Right..

681

Yes, and that she can get, you know, start

working back on her relationship with

682

her daughter and hopefully mend that,

because, I mean, kids need their parents.

683

Rachel Batten: Yes, absolutely.

684

DrG: Well, thank you so very much for

all the work that you did in this case.

685

Because you did a great job from the

pictures that you took, that you sent, and

686

just the, the work and the time that you

took, the effort that you took in creating

687

the reports and getting the warrants.

688

You know, I, um, I hold you in

really high regards as far as

689

your ability to do your job.

690

So I'm glad that, that life took

you through this path and you

691

ended up as a Humane Officer

in Medina County, Medina SPCA.

692

Um, so yep, I really

appreciate what you're doing.

693

Rachel Batten: No, same to you.

694

I appreciate it.

695

I'm very blessed and lucky to be able

to do my job and I appreciate you did.

696

Unfortunately, not often that you find

vets who are interested and want to

697

be involved in this kind of ordeal.

698

So it's you're a very lucky find.

699

DrG: No worries.

700

I'm glad that I'm glad that I was able

to to help and I'm glad that we're

701

here to be able to share this with

our audience so that you know, there's

702

always somebody out there that may may

have that friend that is in trouble.

703

That may have that family member

and they don't know what to do.

704

They don't know if something can be done.

705

So hopefully this gives them a little bit

of hope that if they look for help, look

706

for assistance, that they may be able to

turn a bad situation into a good outcome.

707

Rachel Batten: If you see

something, say something.

708

It can't hurt.

709

DrG: Well, thank you again so very much

for being part of this, of this episode

710

and for sharing your information.

711

And for everybody who's

listening, thank you for listening

712

and thank you for caring.