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Judge bars woman from owning animals By JILL BRISKEY A Rogue River woman claimed Jackson County Animal Control officers exaggerated when they accused her of neglect and seized almost 300 of her rabbits. But after watching a video taken at the home of Diane L. Scott, Jackson County Circuit Judge Rebecca Orf said she didn't buy the excuses. "I have absolutely no doubt that this woman should never have animals," Orf said. Wednesday morning, Scott pleaded no contest to a single charge of first-degree animal neglect. A plea of no contest carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea. Three additional charges of neglect were dropped in a plea agreement. However, Orf didn't stick to a recommended sentence of two years' probation and forfeiture of Scott's seized rabbits. Instead, Orf sentenced Scott to five years' probation, 80 hours of community service and restitution for the rabbits' care. That figure has not been determined. Orf told Scott she could never again own or care for animals. Scott also was ordered to turn over all her remaining pets - five cats, 300 rabbits and assorted poultry. "They just can't be getting away with this crap," Scott said tearfully after the sentence was read. "I have every day fed and watered the animals. They just didn't believe me." Scott said she will appeal the sentence and also sue Jackson County for seizing her rabbits. Animal Control began investigating Scott in May after receiving complaints from neighbors. Officers said they discovered almost 400 rabbits in need of either food, water, proper shelter or medical care. Animal control officials said the conditions failed to improve despite repeated visits. A videotape was made in May, showing dozens of rabbit cages covered in tarps outside, a decaying rabbit corpse inside a pen and a chicken eating what animal control officers said was a baby rabbit. An officer on the video commented that 90 percent of the water bottles were "bone dry." Scott said she raised her many Angora rabbits for show. After seeing the video for the first time Wednesday, she argued the chicken had eaten a mouse, not a young rabbit. Scott also said her rabbits had received food and water the day the tape was shot, adding that they consumed everything while she was not home. Scott even suggested that the dead rabbits that animal control officials found in the cages during their many visits could have been planted by someone else. "I know that on one occasion that could be the case," she added. Roughly half the rabbits were seized in August and are being cared for at an animal control facility in Phoenix. Scott's attorney, Gene Thompson, argued that the county had given Scott no clear direction regarding the rabbits' care. He said Animal Control didn't consider the later improvements Scott made. "Some conditions were bad. I don't think she has any doubt about that," Thompson said. "This is not somebody who's just hoarding these animals ... she's been making extreme strides." Animal Control Officer Andy Lane agreed with Scott's sentence. "I think it's very appropriate. Things have changed (since the rabbits were seized) but this is very appropriate," Lane added. All of Scott's rabbits will be adopted out to suitable homes, but details were unavailable Wednesday. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail jbriskey@mailtribune.com |
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