We need your help.  It is time for us to speak up for the animals that cannot speak for themselves.  Please use your voice to bring justice for the 84 animals who suffered as they starved to death. (Scroll down to read entire story below.)     

We are so very thankful for the consideration and cooperation we have received from the Whatcom County Sherriff and law enforcement.  Please call or send your respectful & professional comments about this case to Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney David McEachran.   Some talking points may be:

• Abandoning animals, just as one would garbage, and leaving them to starve to death will not be tolerated.

• Inhumane treatment of animals by using them as target practice is unacceptable.

• Mistreatment of animals is not only wrong but is also degrading to humankind.

• Research supports that people that harm animals are more likely to also harm humans.  We do not want these types of people in our communities.

Be sure to thank him for his time and consideration of your comments.

David Mc Eachran
Prosecuting Attorney
Courthouse Suite 201
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Telephones:
(360) 676-6784
TDD: (360) 738-4555

Please help us spread the word so others can be involved to speak up as well.  Copy and paste your comments and send to our local press:

Seattle Times: newstips@seattletimes.com
Bellingham Herald: newsroom@bellinghamherald.com
King 5 New: newstips@king5.com
Komo News: tips@komo4news.com
KOMO 1000 News (KOMO Radio): comments@komo1000news.com
Q13 News: foxfeedback@q13fox.com
KIRO 7

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference for the animals.

Update: 12/29

The Sherriff of Whatcom county has confirmed that a suspect in this case has been located.  That suspect is currently being interviewed by detectives.  The suspect allegedly claims that the purchaser of the land is the one that did not feed the 84 animals that appeared to have starved to death.  We are waiting for the prosecutors decision.

Necropsies were performed on some of the dead animals and some of these animals had bullets in them.  One goose which had fresh apple in his stomach and also contained a bullet in his body cavity.  The vet noted that it appeared that these animals may have been used as target practice, and that someone has most likely used apple to "bait" the animal for target. 

It is legal to kill your own animal in WA state if it is done "humanely".  A "humane" death would be defined as a bullet to the head.  The vet discovered that these animals had multiple shots to the body cavities which would not be considered humane deaths.

On a happier note, the 22 animals which were rescued are still safe and happy in their off-site foster homes.

We will continue to provide updates on this story as we receive them.

Happy to be alive!  4 of the ducks that were rescued from the "House of Horrors"

•  Pasado's Safe Haven rescuers returned to the "House of Horrors" yesterday and were able to rescue 4 more young chickens that had hidden during the first rescue attempt.  This brings the total amount of rescued animals to 22.

• We have received many tips and believe that the person responsible for this horrible act of cruelty has been identified.  We hope that this information will help law enforcement to bring the guilty person to justice.

• The rescued ducks and chickens got to see their first snow at the sanctuary today!  They are sure to see many more beautiful days at Pasado's where they are safe, loved and greatly cared for.  

November 29, 2007

Pasado's Safe Haven was able to rescue 18 chickens and ducks from a true house of horrors in Whatcom County, WA today.  

84 animals were found dead, most of them locked in their sheds and cages where they were only one inch away from rain water. Some were also found laying by their empty food containers where they had died waiting for someone to feed them.  Others were mashed into the ground into the mud and feces.  Rescuers commented that "they didn't know what they were walking on" seeing bones, feathers, and fur at their feet.
 

A trash can was discovered full of bodies as these poor animals had simply been tossed away as garbage.  Amongst the dead were turkeys, chickens, ducks and ducklings.

"They were just throwing them in" said Susan Michaels Founder of Pasado's Safe Haven. "They were just throwing these animals in, just like garbage."  

It appeared that the owners of the house had decided to move and leave behind their animals just as they had done with their many, many piles of garbage.  Pasado's had received a tip from a concerned neighbor who had called three other animal rescue agencies but had not received a call back.  A Google search of "duck rescue"  led her to Pasado's. We agreed to help immediately.

Left, This trash can was filled with dead animals, tossed away as garbage.

Animals lay dead by their empty food and water containers

Pasado's Safe Haven re-wrote an animal cruelty bill, which was signed by Governor Christine Gregoire this year, making animal abandonment on par with child abandonment.  It is one of the toughest animal cruelty laws on the books in the U.S.  and is a very important tool for law enforcement and prosecutors in pursuing animal abandonment charges.  Each count of animal cruelty is now punishable by up to a $1000 fine and/or 90 days in jail. 

Sgt. Scott Huso with the Whatcom County Sherriff's Offices said that the original land owner would be held responsible for this horrible act of cruelty as soon as investigators can track that person down.

"I don't have his exact location at this point we're still doing the investigation," Huso said.
 

Young chicks and ducklings were amongst the dead

"These people just decided apparently to just leave these animals behind like they left behind all the other garbage," Michaels said. "I just can't believe that people, when they decide to leave a property they leave behind their trash just like they leave behind things with beating hearts."

Pasado Rescuer catching one of the frightened chickens.

Pasado's staff and volunteers worked together to catch the 18 living animals. As each chicken was caught it let out a horrifying yell.   "I have never heard a chicken scream like that" said Kim K., Pasado's Volunteer Director.  A neighbor who was watching the rescue said that many animals previously had been slaughtered on the other property.  One can only assume that the chickens felt that this would also be their fate.  

Some of the cages where these animals had been so badly neglected for a very long time, were marked with names in what appeared to be a child's handwriting.  The cage closest to the door of the shed read "Billy & Lilly".  Two little bodies lay dead in the mud outside the door.

Driving away from the house of horrors, many thoughts raced through our minds.  One that was on everyone's mind was all the apparent clues that a child had been part of this family and may have loved and tried to care for these pets.  We all wondered what explanation was given to that child for leaving their animals behind.        

The 18 rescued chickens and ducks have been fed.  They are safe, happy and warm and are enjoying their first night at Pasado's Safe Haven where they will never suffer again.

We will continue to track this story and provide updates as we receive them. 

To view Komo's news report, click here.

Seattle Times, click here.

Bellingham Herald, click here.