LEWISTON – Debra Karen Groseclose, representing herself, was given a fine of 750, court fees, and workers compensation fines, as well as, 120 hours of community service on Tuesday, October 4 by honorable Judge Karin Seubert with a courtroom of community members and loving, new owners of the rescued poodles.
Groseclose was charged with one count of Animal Protection – Cruelty, Killing or Mistreating Animals after the Animal Cruelty Unit uncovered she was hoarding 22 toy poodles in July.
She first plead not guilty to the charge that same month, however, she changed her plea to guilty on August 16.
Now, all 22 poodles are in loving homes and spend their days recovering from the trauma with endless belly scratches, room to run around, and so much more.
Original Story:
This case first came to the attention of the Lewiston Animal Cruelty Unit the week of July 4. Janie, one of the community’s outstanding code enforcement officers came at this case with full force with the intent to save every life. In total, 22 poodles were rescued.
Photos of the poodles broke the hearts of many showing the mats so tight around their skin, movement was restricted. There was so much filth and feces clumped in their fur, it could drag on the ground.
“This is the kind of stuff they are dealing with,” Idaho Animal Rescue Network said in a Facebook post. “It’s not just a matter of shaving these dogs and giving them a bath. There’s so much more veterinary care involved. And the amount of compassion involved is immeasurable.”
Both Helping Hands and Idaho Animal Rescue Network took to social media searching for help, and the community came through faster than the rescues could have expected.
“We are absolutely amazed at the outpouring of support from our community for the 22 poodles from the local breeder/hoarder,” Helping Hands said in a Facebook post. “We are able to pay most of the vet bill from the donations! We received monetary donations, food, toys, beds. Anything that these dogs could need! We want to thank everyone who offered to foster and adopt! We have at least 55 adoption applications to plow through to find them their perfect homes.”
Before and after photos of the sweet faces hidden under the pain-filled matting warmed community members’ hearts seeing a bright future ahead for each poodle.
