POLK COUNTY CAT COALITION & Nancy Pfund - Winter Haven

Rescue Hoarder

NEWS STORIES

Polk woman on trial for cat-hoarding allegations

February 18, 2015

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2015/2/18/nancy_pfund_trial.html

Nancy Pfund is standing trial on 32 charges of not providing clean water, food and shelter for the dozens of cats in her home.

BARTOW -- A Polk County woman is on trial on 32 charges of not providing clean water, food and shelter for the dozens of cats in her home.

Nancy Pfund started a non-profit organization called "Polk County Cat Coalition." Authorities were called to her home last April while she was in the hospital.

Family friend Brian Corta testified Wednesday that Pfund had asked him to care for her cats while she was in hospital. When he arrived at her Winter Haven home he said he was greeted by strong odors.

"I was immediately hit by the overwhelming odor of cat urine and feces," he said.

Corta called Pfund's son, who then called Animal Services. A sheriff's office deputy testified that there were old and new cat feces inside most of the home and that cat food was strewn on the floor with the cat feces. He also testified about an overwhelming smell and many bugs.

Officials removed 91 cats and several other animals from the home. Ultimately, 32 of the cats were euthanized.

In opening statements Pfund's defense attorney Jami Millhouse told the jury that the cats were well taken care of and loved.

"They were loved. Each cat had a name and Ms. Pfund can tell you that cat's name," said Millhouse.

Millhouse also told jurors that while Pfund was in the hospital, another person failed to feed and water the cats.

The trial will continue Thursday.

Polk woman disputes cat-hoarding allegations

Feb 18, 2015

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/28139718/polk-woman-disputes-cat-hoarding-allegations

WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - A Polk County woman is facing potential prison time because of the way she took care of her cats. When investigators raided Nancy Pfund's home last year, they seized 90 cats, two dogs and a pig.

Thirty two of the cats were eventually euthanized; the rest of the cats were adopted out.

On Wednesday, Pfund went on trial. During opening arguments, Assistant State Attorney Amy Smith painted a dismal picture of Pfund's house.

"Feces layering the entire floor. Not just one room, not piled up in a corner, the entire house," Smith said.

Smith said urine stained the carpets and the walls. The stench was so strong, law enforcement had to wear masks to breath.

The defense says that the cats were well fed, properly watered and cared for medically.

"They were loved. Each one of those cats had a name and Miss Pfund can tell you that name," said defense attorney Jami Millhouse. "Nancy Pfund did nothing wrong."

The case broke last April when Pfund was in the hospital. She asked a neighbor to check on the cats. When he entered the house and saw the conditions, he called Pfund's son. Her son was overwhelmed and called authorities.

Pfund was offered a plea deal but did not accept it. The state wanted to limit Pfund to owning only five cats. Pfund said no. Instead, she opted to go to court.

Now Pfund faces criminal charges and potentially up to nine years in prison. The trial continues Thursday.

NO MORE HOMELESS PETS; FAIRY DOGMOTHER RESCUE & Claire J. Cornish - Ft. Lauderdale

https://www.facebook.com/NoMoreHomelessPetsRescueFtLaud/info

https://www.facebook.com/thefairydogmotherpage?fref=ts

Irresponsible and Illegal rescue

JHONY

Feb 16, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/nicole.fletcher.754/posts/10206249928837544?comment_id=10206251350073074&notif_t=comment_mention

ANONYMOUS: A trail of unpaid boarding bills, 40 - 60 animals in boarding.

We transported a good run for her, she played fast and loose with the HC, I called her bluff and pulled the dog over for a lengthy and very expensive vet visit in the middle of FL - $185 for HC - she paid, but reports flooded in about the hoarding mentality just that they are all at other ppl's places. If she wasn't $10K in the hole to boarding, she might be a decent rescue. No theme - any dog, any time.

Help Jhony! Used as Target & Shot! Heart Worms! Tumor!

http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/help-jhony-used-as-target-shot-heart-worms-tumor-/308039

There is no way for me to type this without bawling for poor Jhony. When I saw his X-Rays and medical report, I curled up on my chair and just cried. I could not believe it. The pain and abuse he has endured throughout his life is unimaginable and I am hurt, angry, DISGUSTED with humanity. How can you look at this sweet dog and want to inflict pain on him?! Only a monster is capable of this.

Each day, I read rescue stories that touch my heart… but Jhony has crushed my soul. He never deserved any of this. Why. Just- WHY?!

I am furious because I wish nothing more than to find the monster responsible for shooting Jhony with a BB gun multiple times and abusing him. But the reality is… I will never find out and the injustice continues.

I am hurt because poor Jhony has lived a terrible life and the pain he is and has been in is unbearable. I am hurt because he is still incredibly sweet and trusting of the species that hurt him.

With that said, I am happy to ensure Jhony gets the best Medical treatment possible and will do anything I can to provide him with something he has likely never experienced; LOVE.

Rescue is difficult and incredibly painful… Yes… We rescuers often have tears on our face, anger in our mind, empty wallets, and a heart full of love. This is why I rescue. Jhony is why I rescue.

Jhony has multiple BB pellets lodged throughout his body, severe heart worms, gum disease, a tumor and possibly cancer.

Truth is, Jhony was taken out of Miami Dade Kill shelter by a different rescue and sat in a foster home (thank you Stephanie- he knows love because of YOU!) since DECEMBER without receiving ANY treatment for ANYTHING. He was taken to the Vet once and they only did a fecal.  Upon learning that he still sat without medical attention, I reached out to the rescue, asked to take him into ours, and provide him with treatment ASAP- to which the person agreed. I’m not here to bash anyone or any rescue, I also will not post their information because it is irrelevant at this point. Simply providing background information as to how we took Jhony on.

Jhony started heart worm treatment on 2/14/2015 and will go back to our Vet soon for further assessment/additional treatment. I am asking all our supporters for help. We are doing all we can for Jhony (and all others too) -but we need donations. Please find it in your heart to help us help Jhony live a happy life.

We do not have the funds to take on any other animals – but how could we turn our backs on Jhony?

Claudia Alfaro Post

2015-02-23

This is Jhony. He was pulled by Claire C with NO MORE HOMELESS PETS of Ft Lauderdale in December. Sat in foster all this time without ANY treatment or tests at all. He is heart worm positive, has gum disease, BB pellets lodged throughout his body, and a cancerous tumor in his shoulder.

I found out he was left in the foster home without any treatment so I reached out and took him into my rescue - We Let The Dogs Out Rescue, Inc. I fostered for Claire once before and I had to pay for Dexter's Medical treatment out of pocket. She has done this before. This is unacceptable. She should not be pulling anymore dogs.

Mange Puppy

April 22, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/jane.ziemba.5/posts/633608660107279

Okay I have bit my tongue too long on the individual that allowed this to happen to this puppy back in December because she continually denies medical care to animals she gets yet today another one came to light from a so called foster trying to get medical care for a dog that she can never get ahold of her because she only texts & won't answer how many others will suffer before she is stopped she was terminated from Broward Animal Services because of all the complaints & is now trying to pull out of Dade her name is Claire Cornish with NO MORE HOMELESS PETS Ft Laud she IS NOT A RESCUE & IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY I will not sit idly by while she continues to call herself an animal activist yet allows animals to suffer IT WILL STOP.

Charges

Broward County

https://www.browardclerk.org//Web2/ 

Case Number	Date	Case Style	Case Status
COSO15005784	10-06-2015	Crystal Lake Animal Hospital LLC vs. Claire Cornish	$7,227
CACE16004569	03-14-2016	Bow Wow Resorts LLC vs. Claire Cornish	$25,754

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DNA Florida

The contents of this file has been taken from public sources and first-hand accounts and is for informational purposes only; and not to be considered a legal document.

PETER PAM’S PET SITTING & Pam Morgan - Bradenton

Neglect (leading to death)

Nokomis couple whose dog died after boarding stay tells story

February 05, 2016

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2016/2/5/couple_whose_dog_was.html?cid=rss

BRADENTON -- A couple who says their dog died while in the care of pet sitters hopes their story will save other dogs.

Linda and Jim Dwyer of Nokomis recently left their two dogs, K'lah and Gracie, in the care of Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting and Boarding in Bradenton. The couple boarded their dogs because they were going on a cruise.

Upon their return, the Dwyers were informed that K'lah had died after being attacked by two larger dogs at the pet sitter.

The Dwyers insist they researched Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting thoroughly. They say they were also told that K'lah and Gracie would not be near any larger dogs.

“I thought the person we left them with had a real good knowledge of dogs and behavior,” Linda Dwyer said. “Obviously, if she put our two little dogs with two 90-pound dogs, you’re asking for trouble.”

According to Don Pinaud, an attorney representing the owners of Peter Pam's, the owner feels the Dwyers' loss but disputes some of their claims about what happened.

“Obviously, they lost their dog, and [the owners] are very sorry,” Pinaud said. “It was a sad situation, and they’re very sad it happened.”

Pinaud said the owner told the Dwyers she watches both larger and smaller dogs interact together.

According to Pinaud, for the first four days of K'lah and Gracie's stay, everything went fine. Then, a larger dog bit K'lah once. K'lah was taken to an emergency pet clinic for care, and it was there that a Dwyer family member decided it would be best that K'lah be put down.

The Dwyers plan to take no legal action against Peter Pam's Puppies Pet Sitting.

Their other dog, Gracie, was not injured during her stay.

Illegal doggy daycare closed in Bradenton

Feb 10, 2016

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-sarasota-manatee/illegal-doggy-daycare-closed-in-bradenton

Code enforcement has shut down an illegal doggy daycare run out of a Bradenton home.

   

A 90-pound dog killed a 6-pound terrier on Jan. 30 at Peter Pam's Sitting and Boarding in Bradenton.

   

“Go away, she said, she’s in pain,” a friend of Pamela Morgan said.

   

Manatee County issued Morgan a notice of violation Wednesday for running a kennel out of her home in a residential area. One website she used to advertise, DogVacay.com, removed Morgan as well.

   

"It's a remedy for destruction really," neighbor Aaron Cornelius said.

   

Cornelius said he has always known the business was in his neighborhood. He said noisy dogs are often a problem. He heard about the small dog mauled to death right across the street from him.

   

"It was surprising but then it wasn't, you know? I was expecting something to happen. It was just a matter of time," Cornelius said.

   

Code enforcement said to have a dog daycare, you need to be zoned for that type of business. That's one question the owner of Petville in Citrus Park said you should ask before using a facility.

   

"You want to ask to do a tour, you want to definitely check out the facility," Victoria Dibbs said.

   

Dibbs said you need to make sure large and small dogs are separated, something that didn't happen at Morgan's house.

   

"That could have easily been prevented not just for the biting but also trampling over the pet. A smaller pet is much more fragile," Dibbs said.

   

Find out what experience, licensing and insurance any business has and make sure your pet is vaccinated, along with others in the facility.

   

With Internet ads, it's more important than ever to do your homework. Code enforcement said they don't usually know a home dog daycare exists until neighbors complain.

Pet sitting business in Bradenton shut down after dog death

Feb 11, 2016

http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/pet-sitting-business-in-bradenton-shut-down-after-dog-death/article_333ba06c-d0f9-11e5-9954-c3a7cbc65b1c.html

BRADENTON - A pet sitting business in Bradenton has been shut down.

Peter Pam's Pet Sitting has been served with a cease and desist order by Manatee County Code Enforcement officers.

   

The shut down comes after a family's dog was attached by a bigger dog at Peter Pam's last month.

The dog later died.

The county has given the business until Monday to take its advertisements off the internet.

Linda and Jim Dwyer of Nokomis never expected anything to happen to their small dog K'Lah when they dropped her off at Peter Pam's Pet Sitting service in Bradenton.

They had used the service a few times before with no issue, but this time was different.

"I lost my baby," said Linda Dwyer. "She was such a big part of our lives and our kids are grown up and gone, so we dote on them."

"I feel that we've been cheated," said her husband Jim Dwyer.

"Cheated" because their 4-year old tri-colored Yorkie K'Lah was attacked by a much larger dog also under the care of the pet sitter.

"It brought me to my knees," said Linda of the moment she heard the news. "My dog is dead? What do you mean my dog is dead? How could that be? How could that even be?"

According to the medical report, when K'Lah arrived at the vet she had "severe trauma to the abdomen" and "contaminated wounds." The report also indicates that K'Lah was unstable and likely would not survive anesthesia, let alone surgery. With that information, the Dwyers' daughter made the decision to put K'Lah down.

The Dwyers say they were told the larger dogs wouldn't be mixed with smaller dogs and say they wouldn't have left their dogs in the sitter's care had they known.

"It was clear in my mind that they were separate," said Jim Dwyer. "There was some division line saying, "You're a big dog you're out here. You're not a big dog you're in here.""

The owner of Peter Pam's, Pam Morgan, told us over the phone that the Dwyers were well aware, referencing her website, which shows pictures of larger and smaller dogs together.

Morgan didn't want to go on camera, but in a statement, her attorney expressed sympathy adding: "After carefully watching the dogs at issue for four days and observing no red flags to suggest the larger dog would attack this or any dog, Ms. Morgan was as surprised and upset as the owner to see that the large dog attacked the smaller one. Animals are unpredictable and we are very sorry this event occurred."

PET NETWORK & Mary Taaffe - Morriston

http://www.petnetworkflorida.com/

15450 S.E. 60TH ST. MORRISTON, FL 32668 | (352) 528-0270

Hoarding

2015-02-05

LEVY COUNTY- HOARDING SITUATION-Dogs- Yesterday I received a call about this situation and if we could take a couple of small Seniors. There is 60+ on this property, Levy County is aware of this home and is checking on them every 2 weeks to see if they have enough food and seized 15 ,But nothing more,I'm under the impression nothing more is being done and they have a court date for the 15 that have been seized,The property is overwrought with feces and urine,its hard to breath. There is anything from 5lbs to 105lbs and some puppys (if they survive in these hazardous conditions) I’m waiting on the address,but if any of you can help one or 2 pups that would be extremely appreciated. . yes this hoarder (so called rescue) is releasing SOME and is working with these ladies,Its a delicate situation as you all could imagine. If you can assist please contact Megan at 1-352-457-7353 .. Please do not call her just to ask questions, time and energy needs to be focused helping to get some of them out of there ..thank you..Will update when I know more ..

20 dogs in Levy County cruelty case in need of homes

April 28th, 2015

http://www.wcjb.com/local-news/2015/04/20-dogs-levy-county-cruelty-case-need-homes

LEVY COUNTY, Fla-- An animal hoarding case in Levy County involving more than 50 animals resurfaces. The woman who had all of those animals is appealing the case, meaning the dogs she used to care for could be locked in a local shelter while the appeal goes through the courts.  Animal advocates are now looking for a more permanent home for the animals.

Moe, Hannah, and Willie are some of the dogs that have been taken from Mary Taafe by the county. She's the woman behind Pet Network, Inc. in Levy County. Just a week and a half ago, even more dogs were taken from Pet Networks, Inc. "A lot of them had ear infections, skin infections, I mean they came from such a horrific place," said Jody Heflin from Second Chance Rescue.

Some of these dogs have been at the Levy County Animal Services since last May.

Sylvia King has worked with UF’s Animal Science Department for 17 years; as a true animal lover she has been following the case closely. King said, "[The dogs] had to be held there as part of evidence for the court case, and it has taken almost a year—a year next month for the court proceedings to run its course."

These dogs became available for adoption on April 17. A number of volunteers started working together to give these pups a better future. Things, however, can change now that Taaffe is appealing this court case. "Her appeals case will begin May 1 and any of her animals that will still be in the care of the county could possibly become part of her appeals case and could possibly and be ordered to be held indefinitely," King said.

Some Levy County residents are questioning whether the conditions at animal services are any better than what these furry animals had experienced before. King decided to foster Bear, one of the dogs affected by this cruelty case. But by the time she took him in, not much could be done. "One in particular that I pulled had to be humanely euthanized that same day per the advice of the attending emergency vet of the hospital that I took him to," she added.

King says the shelter had the dog listed as a female when in reality it was a male. Others, however, disagree saying that while animal services' resources are limited, the dogs are better off now than they were before. Heflin said, "They're walked, they're fed, they're given fresh food and water. Their kennels are kept clean. Dr. Esler is overseeing them to make sure they need any medication."

In February, Levy County Animal Services hired full-time veterinarian Dr. Darling Esler, but for some that's not enough. "They desperately need out, most of them are young, healthy, socialized, loving, fun pets and they need to be adopted by the end of April 30," King said.

The journey leading to forever homes is an emotional plea these animal advocates are hoping can be heard.

The executive director for Animal Services, David Weatherford said he could not let us in their facility. He also wouldn't comment on the matter and directed all questions to Levy County attorney, Anne Brown. Brown was unavailable to talk to us. We also reached out to Mary Taaffe. However, she would not talk to us on the record due to pending litigation. 

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