With two Hartford residents awaiting their first appearance on animal cruelty charges in Lyon County District Court, the rescue group that helped Lyon County deputies and Animal Control in Hartford says it needs thousands of dollars in donations to offset medical costs for the rescued dogs.
Guardians of the Wolves founder and CEO Lori Wynn says the dogs are now staying at an undisclosed “natural habitat,” but at least some of the dogs are sick with undisclosed illnesses so they have been receiving extra care. She tells KVOE News it will cost at least $20,000 to cover medical bills.
Lyon County deputies allege 17 dogs were kept in substandard conditions after deputies and Lyon County Animal Control served an order from Hartford Municipal Court and then obtained search warrants for 303 East Grand in Hartford on Wednesday.
Wynn says the conditions were “the worst they’ve seen.” She credited deputies, Animal Control, Hartford officials, the Guardians’ Rescue Response team and its fundraising arm, Plan B to Save Wolves, for their work in Wednesday’s incident.
More information is available at guardiansofthewolves.org.
First court appearance dates have not been announced for Thomas and Rhonda Staggs, but both face 14 charges each of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Under state law, misdemeanor animal cruelty can be punished by five days to a year imprisonment and fines from $500 to $2,500. Felony animal cruelty has penalties of 30 days to a year in prison and fines up to $5,000.
Click here for a link to Kansas Statute 21-6412.
2 pm Saturday: Hartford couple charged with animal cruelty after Wednesday arrests
Formal charges have now been lodged against the two Hartford residents who allegedly kept close to 20 dogs in bad conditions before recent arrests.
Thomas Raymond Staggs, 58, and Rhonda Lynette Staggs, 56, now face 14 counts each of animal cruelty after a decision Friday by Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman. Lyon County deputies allege 17 dogs, most of a wolf-dog breed, were kept in substandard conditions after deputies and Lyon County Animal Control served an order from Hartford Municipal Court and then obtained search warrants for 303 East Grand in Hartford on Wednesday. The initial plan was to take most of the dogs after concerns about nuisance issues had been mentioned along with other issues about a potentially unauthorized kennel and the number of dogs that can be allowed in a house. Given the conditions, Guardians of the Wolves says deputies and Animal Control took 14 dogs, including two pups, from the couple.
Hartford partnered with Guardians of the Wolves on the initial animal rescue, with Emporia Veterinary Hospital’s Dr. Richard Mendoza providing care on the scene. Guardians of the Wolves founder and CEO Lori Wynn says the dogs are now staying at an undisclosed “natural habitat,” but at least some of the dogs are sick with undisclosed illnesses so they have been receiving extra care.
Word on a first appearance in Lyon County District Court is pending.
Click here for a link to the Guardians of the Wolves video. The video contains unsettling images of Wednesday’s reported rescue.