Sheriff’s deputies raid house after animal cruelty complaint
BY JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:12 PM PST
FRUITLAND ” A Fruitland-area woman faces a number of charges involving animal cruelty after 11 horses, 18 dogs and three cats were seized from a residence Friday.
Crystal Whitehead, 26, faces several charges through the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office, including cruelty to animals, failure to obtain a kennel license, failure to license pit bull terriers, importing animals without a permit, pertaining to the horses, and child endangerment, according to a Payette County Sheriff’s Office press release.
The Payette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence, 6525 U.S. Highway 95, Fruitland, Friday, and the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the Idaho Humane Society removed the animals. A 3-year-old boy at the residence was taken into custody of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Another person living at the residence, Casey Armstrong, 23, Whitehead’s boyfriend, is not facing charges, Payette County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Toby Hauntz said. Hauntz said the boy is Whitehead’s son from a previous relationship.
According to the press release, all the animals were “severely undernourished” and in poor health, and the living quarters were “filthy and completely in disarray.” The press release also said Whitehead and Armstrong moved to the area recently from Bannock County.
The search warrant and seizure followed an investigation that began a month ago after the sheriff’s office received an anonymous complaint about the welfare of the horses, Hauntz said. Once sheriff’s officers determined the complaint was legitimate, they notified the Idaho Department of Agriculture for the state veterinarian to evaluate the health of the horses and the other animals later discovered at the residence, Hauntz said. He said a state veterinarian evaluation is necessary for the Prosecutor’s Office to move forward with charging. Prior to Friday, Hauntz said, state officials have been working with Whitehead regarding the health and welfare of the animals to give her a chance to improve their conditions and show progress.
“They were working with her probably for a couple of weeks,” Hauntz said. While animal cruelty complaints, usually pertaining to horses or livestock, are common in Payette County, Hauntz said this recent case stands out.
“We get animal neglect complaints all the time, but for that many types of animals, I guess I would say is pretty unusual, and the amount of animals,” Hauntz said.
