Submitted by Fox First at Ten on December 1st
**From SCRAPS**
SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. - SCRAPS Animal Protection Officers charged Wilma L Turner, age 63, of Newman Lake, WA on Friday with three violations of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW):
RCW 16.52.207 (2) (a) Animal Cruelty in the Second Degree– Fails to provide the animal with necessary medical attention RCW 16.52.310 (2) (V) (ii) Dog Breeding – Required Conditions- Pens must be kept clean to prevent accumulation and disease hazards RCW 16.52.310 (2)(d) Food and water receptacles must be regularly cleaned and sanitized.
Violations of these statues are gross misdemeanors which carries a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
SCRAPS Animal Protection Officers were investigating a complaint of a dehydrated and emaciated puppy that was purchased from Iron Horse Kennel in the Newman Lake area. The puppy was diagnosed with giardia. Their investigation lead them to an inspection of Iron Horse Kennel which is owned and operated by Turner. During the inspection they discovered dogs being kept in unsanitary conditions. Dogs at the commercial kennel were being kept in muddy kennel runs that were littered with feces and smelled strongly of urine. Additionally, water buckets had scum, algae and contained dirty water.
Turner was also charged in July, 2010, when SCRAPS executed a search warrant at the Iron Horse Kennel. During that warrant SCRAPS Animal Protection Officers seized 39 dogs. At the time the search warrant was issued, Turner was charged with a number of violations of the Revised Code of Washington for animal cruelty, unsafe confinement, dog breeding conditions. Turner is currently on probation for the 2010 violations.
