VICKI RAUCH ARRESTED ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES

By Jon Mayhew, Publisher

DENVER -- A Denver animal "rescuer" at the center of a controversy involving more than 400 animals and a lawsuit by Lincoln County government is arrested on charges of cruelty to animals.

Around 9 a.m. Friday, authorities arrested Vicki Rauch at her Petite Lane residence.

Her husband, Michael William Rauch, 47, and her son, Brandon Mitchell Olsen, 19, both of 3453 Petite Lane are also charged with nine counts each of felony Cruelty To Animals.
Mr. Rauch has a doctor’s appointment and is expected to turn himself in later today.

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Lincoln County Animal Services, armed with a search warrant, removed 400 animals from the residence on Petite Lane and placed them in temporary facilities in a warehouse at the former R-Anell Homes plant on Highway 16 in Denver.

County employees, fire fighters, rescue personnel, animal rights groups and a number of volunteers continue to clean, bathe, and feed the animals and provide them with medical treatment.

Currently, there isn't any bond information available on Rauch, since as of 11 a.m. Friday, she's still being processed through the Magistrate's Office.

It's not the first brush with the law over the excessive amount of animals Rauch held on her small property.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by The Carolina Scoop, a warrant was issued for Rauch's arrest in December 2007 on charges she didn't have rabies tags for 105 dogs and 5 cats; she also didn't have the proper documentation for said animals. She was given a $300 unsecured bond on the charges.

Rauch was also arrested earlier this year for failing to appear in court on the above-mentioned charges.

In a recent telephone interview with The Carolina Scoop, Rauch said she was being singled-out by Lincoln County.

"I've been an animal rescuer for more than 20 years," said Rauch. "People are just picking on me."

The arrest is the latest chapter in a case where neighbors of Rauch have spent the last two-plus years complaining to Lincoln County officials about the smell and noise from having animals in such close quarters.

The Carolina Scoop visited property adjacent to Rauch's, where the homeowner pointed out the smell.

"Today's a light day," said the neighbor.

A recent inspection of Rauch's "rescue" by state and local officials revealed many animals had little or no food and water; some had no shelter; and many had sores or worms.

Lincoln County Animal Services director Jack Kerley was recently asked what conditions were like during the beginning stages of Operation Noah's Ark, termed by Kerley for the animal rescue that happened in the pouring rain last week.

Kerley shook his head.

"It was unbelievable," said Kerley. "Unbelievable."

The Carolina Scoop's Trey Childs contributed to the article.