Episode 62

full
Published on:

28th May 2024

The Link - Animal and Child Neglect: Medina Co. v Tina Robertson with guest Rachel Batten

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

Transcript
DrG:

Hi and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction.

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This is your host Dr.

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G and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

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Today we are going to be discussing

a case that involves the link

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between animal cruelty and

interpersonal cruelty or neglect.

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So joining us from Medina

SPCA is Rachel Batten.

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Thank you and welcome to the Junction.

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Rachel Batten: Thanks for having me.

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I'm happy to be here.

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DrG: I'm really glad that you're

joining us because this is a really

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important case as far as how the

importance of cross reporting and the

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importance of animal cruelty cases being

investigated in order to help people.

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So, how about you start by, letting

us know what your position is, like

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how you got to where you're at, what

brought you to being a humane officer?

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Rachel Batten: Sure.

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So, I have loved animals all my life.

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They've, that's always been something

I've been interested in every summer

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day consisted of looking for toads

twice a day, going out on our patrol.

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Um, my sister and I

always did that together.

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So when I got to college, I was interested

in maybe going towards more of the

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animal control aspect of a career.

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And I wasn't sure if

I was going to get it.

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

but I went ahead and did it anyway.

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So I ended up with an associates

in law enforcement and a bachelor's

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in criminal justice studies.

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And, um, I graduated and I started

working at a halfway house because

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nothing was really available.

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So I was just a caseworker there and I

did not enjoy it, not enjoy it whatsoever.

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So, um, I was just looking on Indeed one

day and a position for a humane officer

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came up and I was like, I'll never

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

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And to my surprise, They called

me back, I had my interview, and

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I, by some miracle, I got in.

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

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

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I think, in three cases, so far.

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Yes.

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And you're doing a really

great job, so I commend you for

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everything that you're doing.

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You're doing really, really well.

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Rachel Batten: Thank you so much.

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DrG: Oh, no worries.

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So, um, how about you let our

listeners know about this case?

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Basically, we're looking at a

case that started back in August

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of last year, August of 23, when

you received a complaint about a

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person suspected of animal hoarding.

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Rachel Batten: Yes.

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So the complaint started with a woman

who is a coworker of the suspect's,

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Tina Robertson, they work together at

Hardees and she, they all work together

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with Tina Robertson's daughter as well.

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So all three of them work together

and the complainant's best friend

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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.

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So she was concerned because

the, um, the suspect Tina and

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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

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she said, the kitten, you could just,

even from afar, see the fleas crawling

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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

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was concerned because they don't

believe there's been running water

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in the trailer for over a year.

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So her best friend had actually

offered the mom and daughter if

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they needed to shower or wash their

clothes at her trailer, they were

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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.

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Turn her down.

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Um, so that's kind of where

the complaint came from.

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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.

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So they're just very quickly accumulating

animals faster than they're going out.

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Um, and there's inconsiderate fleas.

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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.

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So I had attempted to

perform a welfare check.

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It was the daughter who answered the

door and I was, without trying to

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ask her too many questions because

she's a minor, I was just asking her

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how I could get in touch with her

mom, if she could call her for me.

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And she just really avoided the question.

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

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

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So I left her with my card and just

requested that she give it to her.

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And, Tina Robertson, returned my call

a few hours later, just screaming

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profanities that, um, I was absolutely

not allowed to come do a welfare check.

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Yes, her kittens died, but, and

yes, her animals have fleas,

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but they're being treated.

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So it's none of my business.

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Go away.

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Um, So that was good.

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I will add to I could not see inside

when the daughter had opened the

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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

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get some wafts of the fecal odor.

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And just in such a small space,

it's already not looking good.

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So I went back kind of back to square

one and the next day I said, you know,

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that's a minor, no running water,

potential fleas and feces inside.

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I should call child services.

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So, I called them and hoped that they

could be my way in the door as well.

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Um, and I was in contact with

child services over a few days.

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She had also attempted two welfare

checks and both were ignored.

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Tina made excuses as to why she missed

them, why she couldn't come that

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day, so she kind of hit rock bottom.

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So then we were kind of just in this lull

for about a week, and then I thought we

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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

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counselor, and she had called me to

report the daughter of Tina Robertson.

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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.

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The daughter told her that They have,

they just got, um, a puppy and two

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kittens and two rabbits over the weekend

and that she told her that her mom

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couldn't afford to pay for food for them.

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And she said that they

just have a lot going on.

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And she did tell her about the litter

of kittens that all of them died.

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Um, but the school counselor, as she

was saying this, she also mentioned that

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this isn't the first time staff members

have come to her about this child with

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this same complaint of animal fecal odor.

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She said that this has been going on

since this child was in middle school.

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So, it has been years, at least, at

least four, that they, that someone

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has been trying to say something and

no one either took it seriously or

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it didn't get to the right people.

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But finally, with that tidbit, I

was able to get a search warrant.

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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,

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you know, we're talking about 10, 12

years old living in this situation.

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For all these years and and the people

say the responsible adults in her life

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are noticing that there's a problem, but

not being able to do anything about it.

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So that's that's really

sad and disheartening.

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But then, uh, because of the

information that you obtained, then

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you were able to file for a warrant.

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Is that right?

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Rachel Batten: Correct.

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Yes.

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And I arranged it.

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We had a police assist, um,

scheduled and I was also able

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to bring child services with me.

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So we got a whole group ready.

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And we went out, um, the daughter

was home when we were there.

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And unfortunately, so were

two even younger kids.

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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.

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She said, Oh, well,

there's children in here.

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You can't.

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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.

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And they all just kind of went to sit over

in this little central community center.

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Um, so they were out there and we

entered in, um, the, I feel bad.

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The, um, child services workers,

they gagged as we came in.

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Um, it was, it was pretty rough.

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Um, it, this one was an odd one for

me though, because, um, On top of

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the animal urine and fecal odor.

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It was also largely human.

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Um, especially urine.

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It just, it smelled human, which is

not something that I always encounter.

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Um, so we went through,

there's trash everywhere.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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those animals have even greater senses

of smell and taste, and that's just

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infinite times more

uncomfortable for them.

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So, we walked out myself and child

services and they made the determination

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that they wanted to remove the daughter

from the home , and I told them that I was

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planning to remove the animals as well.

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

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Um, and she was at work at

this moment and we called her.

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We put her on speaker phone, we

tried to explain everything, and

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it was, it was just profanities.

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There weren't real sentences.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Right?

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Like, not just the fact that that

you guys are going into her house and

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removing the animals and, you know,

just going into her personal stuff,

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but her child is there and strangers

are getting ready to take this child.

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And then she's just like, nah.

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Rachel Batten: Yeah, couldn't be bothered.

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

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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

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was going to be removing the animals.

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And I tried to tell her about our

probable cause hearing process, which

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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

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we seize an animal, we have to

do a notice of impound and that

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entails saying what animals we took.

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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

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is your chance to fight for that.

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If you're telling me what I did was wrong

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

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with it, this is your chance to say that.

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This is when you want to come and

present your case and I'm going

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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

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the way that the house was so filthy

and the animals were not taken care of?

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Rachel Batten: Oh, it was super fun.

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So she didn't get to that

until she called me back later

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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

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of impound, and she said that she

can't get two days off work and

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she's not going, this is ridiculous.

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She can't afford this.

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She doesn't have the time.

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She can't get this off.

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She can't make that time.

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But, further in the conversation when

I was asking her, who I used to look

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like this, she just kept saying, I

didn't have time to clean this week.

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Or I've been really busy this week.

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I mean, it's actually alarming

that she really felt that this

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was a short term issue or buildup.

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I mean, ammonia with more animals in a

small space builds up quicker, but that

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was just, that was drenched, I mean, the

walls, the wallpaper was peeling, there

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were stains everywhere, there were mice,

I opened a cupboard and a ton of shavings

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and mouse droppings came out, um, I mean,

that's just been a very long time in

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

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

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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.

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I learnedd from the daughter too, when

I was there that, um, six of the eight

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animals we took have come into their

house in just the last seven months.

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And four of them were

just in the last 13 days.

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I mean, they are just bringing them in.

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And I asked her why they did

that, where they got them from.

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And they just, They have friends who

breed or get things and change their

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minds and don't want them anymore.

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So they just decide to

accept them, take them in.

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I think only the dog who was balding

was, like, an actual adoption that

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they went out of their way to do.

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The rest they just take

in and hope for the best.

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Um, but

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it's just It's alarming to see

that that wasn't even a thought at

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all about the amount that was in

there, what she was actually able to

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provide for and manage, and she just

Thought it was just a week's problem.

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DrG: Yeah.

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And you know, this, this goes to

show as far as how animal hoarding

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is a mental health disease, right?

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Because these are people that do

not realize what the state in which

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they're living, they don't realize

the harm that they're causing, to

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the daughter, to the animals, like.

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I don't necessarily think that

she was doing this on purpose,

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that she was harming the animals

and the daughter on purpose.

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I really think that she's just

oblivious to what she's doing.

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And then she fits kind of in the category

of that rescue hoarder, somebody that

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wants to take animals in and wants to,

you know, feels that they're taking really

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good care of them and that they're the

only ones that can take care of them.

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Because realistically,

somebody in her position.

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

of these kittens and she takes them, then

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somebody in there in the right state of

mind is going to go to the Humane Society

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or call somebody and maybe say, you know,

I'll foster them for a few days, but

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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.

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DrG: Well, thank you again so very much

for being part of this, of this episode

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and for sharing your information.

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And for everybody who's

listening, thank you for listening

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and thank you for caring.

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About the Podcast

The Animal Welfare Junction
Veterinary Forensics
The Animal Welfare Junction is a podcast developed to bring awareness to different topics in animal welfare. The host, Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) is a veterinarian who provides affordable veterinary care in the State of Ohio, and also a Forensic Veterinarian helping with the investigation and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
The topics presented are based on the experiences of Dr. G and our guests and include discussions about real cases, humane projects, and legal issues that affect animals and the community. Due to the nature of the discussion, listener discretion is advised as some topics may be too strong for some listeners.

About your host

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Alba Gonzalez

Michelle González (DrG) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her passion growing up was to become a veterinarian. She obtained a B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University, followed by a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2006 she founded the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic offering accesible and affordable sterilization, and wellness services throughout the State of Ohio.
Dr. G is involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect.
DrG completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. She assists Humane organizations and animal control officers in the investigation, evaluation, and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.