AUTHORITIES SEIZE ANIMALS FROM DENVER RESCUE
More than 100 animals seized; charges pending

By Jon Mayhew
Publisher

DENVER -- Lincoln County authorities took a major step Tuesday to rid the Petite Lane area of what many neighbors have called a nusiance for the past several years. Starting around 9 a.m., county animal services director Jack Kerley said a search warrant was executed at the residence of Vifcki Rauch on 3454 Petite Lane to remove more than 100 cats, dogs, horses, a lama, goats and chickens.

In Exclusive video on The Carolina Scoop, Kerley said the animals were living in deplorable conditions both inside and outside the residence and were in poor condition.



Neighbor Vickie Rogers said today is something she's worked for the past eight years;having the animals rescued from Rauch, a self-proclaimed "animal rescuer."

"People couldn't live because of the smell," said Rogers. "The smell is so bad out here, people would actually get physically sick."

The search warrant service caused Rauch's son to have to be treated by Medic for breathing difficulty. The Carolina Scoop walked the property line between Rauch's residence and neighbor Jamie Barnes. A definite odor of wet dog, mixed with feces, filled the air.

"I've lived behind the Rauch's since the mid-90s," said Barnes. "The smell is atrocious and today's a light day."

Animal services director Jack Kerley said Rauch started out bredding dogs.

"She went from breeding them to say she was rescuing the animals," said Kerley. "She told me she's not rescuing animals anymore."

Vicki Rogers watched as people first removed animals from outside the residence. Then, authorities went inside to where up to 50 cats and dogs had been living.

"We've been watching them do this for about an hour," said Rogers.

When Kerley was asked what conditions were like inside the house, he started shaking his head.

He said some of the animals didn't look good, that some have sores.

"It's a sad shame that animals have to live this way, tied outside with no shelter, little or no food and water that's overgrown with algea or brown," said Kerley. "They are Rauch's animals. We're taking them into custody to care for them."
Kerley said it was a combination of a recent inspection of Rauch's "rescue" facility and a slew of complaints from residents living around Rauch that prompted today's action.

Now it's up to a judge to decide if Rauch will get any of the animals back. It's alao up to authorities to decide if any charges will be filed against Rauch.

Rauch is one of two shelters being sued by Lincoln County for violating the county's animal nusiance ordinance. Joann Hager, owner of Tri County Animal Rescue, is the other shelter being sued.

In a recent email to The Carolina Scoop, Hager said her shelter and Rauch's shelter had "no connection." Yet, when Rauch was recently arrested for failing to appear in a Lincoln County courtroom, it was Hager who told media of the arrest. The failure to appear charge was dropped against Rauch.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Kerley revealed that Rauch actually had more animals than the population at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter off John Howell Memorial Drive in Lincolnton.

In fact, Kerley said a mobile animal shelter is being brought in to an undisclosed location to house the animals. A mobile vet from Raleigh is also expected to be in Lincoln County Wednesday to take care of the animals.

In the meantime, volunteers are working alongside authorities and investigators to rescue and care for the animals.

Animal Services Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies are being assisted in the project by Lincoln County Emergency Management, the Fire Marshal's Office, East Lincoln and Denver Fire Departments, the American Humane Society, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Lincoln County EMS, East Lincoln and Lincoln Rescue and volunteers from animal rights organizations.