Lee County animal rescue raided, two arrested for inhumane cure of animals

LEE COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) – The South Carolina Division of Natural Means has arrested two women in link with the inhumane therapy of animals.

Laura Ross and Nicole Lafaivre are experiencing several costs together with illegal possession of white-tailed deer, inhumane treatment of animals, and illegal importation/possession of non-native wildlife species.

On June 29, conservation officers executed a research warrant on a residence in Lee County.

On arrival, officers identified various deer, more than 200 squirrels, and other animals staying retained in crowded situations inside a double-broad cell residence on the home. Armadillos and nutria, an invasive species native to South The united states, were also uncovered on the house.

Officials say some of the small mammals ended up staying stored in cages stacked in the dwelling room of the mobile house though other individuals had been roaming freely.

Quite a few wildlife companies will be assisting SCDNR with securing safe lodging for the animals who were confiscated from the property right until they can be assessed for potential disorders or other overall health concerns.

“Right now, our amount one problem is the welfare of these animals,” SCDNR Deputy Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Emily Cope reported. “It’s a extremely complicated predicament to offer with, predominantly for the reason that of the sheer amount of animals that had been currently being held on this internet site, and the deplorable problems that existed there. We are functioning with Animal Manage to determine the greatest way to go ahead on this, and the support we’ve gotten from local veterinarians has been invaluable.”

The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Ailment Analyze at the University of Georgia’s University of Veterinary Medicine will help SCDNR with screening some of the animals. Animals located to be disease-cost-free could be unveiled into the wild, while the disposition of each individual animal will have to be seemed at on a circumstance-by-scenario foundation.

“SCDNR usually takes the inhumane remedy of animals extremely severely,” reported SCDNR Deputy Director for Legislation Enforcement, Col. Chisolm Frampton. “It’s heartbreaking when our officers come upon a circumstance like this, and we greatly take pleasure in the guidance of the Lee County Sheriff’s Workplace and all of the other businesses and individuals associated yesterday. It’s vital for us to be crystal clear that this kind of remedy of wildlife will not be tolerated in South Carolina.”

Ross and LaFaivre have been currently being held at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Middle awaiting a bond listening to.

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