VALLEY HEAD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Randolph County woman has been charged with 92 counts of animal cruelty after having been found directly responsible for the deplorable living conditions imposed upon nearly 100 helpless animals.
According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, March 20, 2023, Deputy T.J. Knotts and Cpl. S.D. Kyle were informed of an animal cruelty complaint at 21918 Seneca Trail, Valley Head, WV by Randolph County Humane Officer Ron Gooden.
Humane Officer Gooden advised that he and Jim Cain traveled to the residence in question to investigate the complaint and observed that there was no electricity at the residence. Officers were informed of an overwhelming odor of cat urine emanating from the residence even with all doors and windows closed.
Multiple cats and kittens could be seen through the porch window, the quantity having been described by the Humane Officer as “too many to count.” Cat food was seen scattered throughout the floor mixed with urine and feces which also covered the floor. Several dogs could also be heard barking and could be seen from a side window of the residence “standing in feces that had been there so long it was white in color.”
The Randolph County Assessor’s Office advised that the property is owned by Donna Marie Thompson and her sister. Thompson’s driver’s license was run through Randolph E-911 and the residence was confirmed to be hers. A search warrant was completed and, upon the arrival of deputies at the residence, barking could be heard from a neighboring residence – 21978 Seneca Trail, Valley Head, WV 26294.
Deputies reported observing the same conditions in this residence as the aforementioned residence, and would come to find that the residences were owned by the same family. Correctly assuming that these animals were suffering from the same conditions as those in the initial residence, a search warrant was obtained for the property.
“Both residences were in deplorable, unlivable conditions,” read official reports. “There was animal feces and urine up to a foot in depth, in both houses. The conditions were so severe, hazmat suits were required to even enter the threshold of both houses.”
At the 21918 residence, officers discovered 8 dogs, 26 living cats, and 12 deceased cats. “There were cat carcasses in all stages of decomposition,” the report continues. “Some had been there so long that all that was left was skeletons.”
The right side of the house in the sun porch area is reportedly were the majority of the cats were housed, and it was here that officers discovered various sections where cats had made attempts to escape, but had been “rigged shut by bungie cords on the outside, and were blocked by big boxes.”
The conditions at 21978 Seneca Trail were reported to be “just as bad, if not worse.” Here, two dogs were found locked in the sun porch area, and the door was obstructed intentionally to prevent the animals from escaping.
“In one section of the house, a large pile of approximately 10 deceased cats was located. They were stacked on top of each other,” read deputy reports.
“In the back bedroom, a mother cat with several newly born kittens were found deceased on top of a shelf. Throughout this residence, multiple piles of deceased cats were found in various locations. A total of 3 dogs, 14 live cats, and 29 deceased cats were located at this residence.
All of the live animals recovered from both residences were in desperate need of medical attention and extremely sick.”
The total number of reported animals found in both residences was 11 dogs, 40 living cats, and 40 deceased cats. The completion of the investigation led to 92 charges of animal cruelty being brought against Donna Thompson. Assistance was provided in the investigation by the Randolph County Assessor’s Office, the Randolph County Humane Society, the Randolph County Humane Officer, and Allegheny Veterinary Services.