Animal cruelty arrest made after Northern California deputies find man with 49 animals

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Grass Valley man Thursday for alleged animal cruelty after deputies seized 49 animals who were denied food, water and clean conditions.

An anonymous tipster alerted the sheriff’s department to several unattended animals in a business unit at the Alta Sierra Business Park complex in the 10000 block of Alta Sierra Drive, off Highway 49, according to a law enforcement news release.

A sheriff’s deputy and Sheriff’s Office Animal Control made a welfare check to the unit on Aug. 6 and found the suspect. Authorities said the 35-year-old Grass Valley resident claimed he had plans to open a reptile business, but it was not yet open and he did not have a permit.

Many of the 47 animals in the business unit — including reptiles, rabbits, rodents, birds, cats and dogs — were locked in small cages or tubs contaminated with urine and feces with no access to water or food, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Supervisor Stefanie Geckler said the unit was warm and humid with no signs of ventilation or air conditioning, with a strong stench of ammonia.

“Inside one small room were approximately six plastic tubs with various types of birds in them,” Geckler said in the news release. “When I checked inside the tubs, none of the tubs contained water or food for the birds. Some of the plastic tubs were also covered with plastic lids, making it likely very difficult for the birds to breathe.

“The ammonia stench grew, the deeper we got into the room.”

Animal Control seized the animals that day and the man was written a citation for animal cruelty.

Two additional dogs that were in the process of being seized for negligence were given to the resident’s neighbor who agreed to assume care, according to the news release. Animal Control and a sheriff’s deputy returned on Thursday for a follow-up check and found the two canines were back with the 35-year-old.

The two dogs were caged with no access to food or water, the Sheriff’s Office said. They were seized, and the Grass Valley man was arrested and booked into Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on animal cruelty charges.