A welfare check at a rural Grass Valley property led to a large animal rescue in Nevada County. More than 200 animals were found in poor condition, and a 39-year-old man now faces felony animal cruelty charges. Deputies responding to the property on November 30 found many animals sick and underfed. Most were sheep, but goats, dogs, horses, and other farm animals were also rescued and placed in quarantine, as reported by KCRA.
The case began after a worried neighbor called the Nevada County Regional Dispatch Center, according to KCRA. A Nevada County sheriff's sergeant sent to check on the situation reported seeing multiple dead and severely underweight animals on the property. Animal Control officers and a veterinary specialist were then called in, and the property's caretaker showed up and cooperated with investigators, the outlet reports.
Once the scene was fully assessed, deputies determined the property held 229 animals in all. Of those, 215 were still alive and were removed from the site, while 14 animals were found dead, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office told CBS Sacramento. Three more animals were later humanely euthanized by a veterinary specialist, and officials say four additional animals died in the days following the rescue.
Two-Day Scramble To Save The Animals
What unfolded next was a hectic two-day operation that pulled in law enforcement, county staff and a small army of volunteers. Animal Control officers, the sheriff's HEART volunteers and a veterinary specialist returned to the property with a search warrant and set up a makeshift rescue center on county land, according to the sheriff's office via YubaNet.
Volunteers logged roughly 700 hours feeding, cleaning, medicating and monitoring the animals during the initial response, the report notes. The Nevada County Animal Shelter organized quarantine housing for dozens of animals, while local nonprofit Sammie's Friends agreed to take in 81 of them for eventual adoption once veterinarians clear them medically.
Disease Complicates An Already Tough Rescue
As if rescuing hundreds of farm animals in distress were not complicated enough, veterinarians say many of the animals showed signs of Orf, also known as sore mouth, which made treatment and quarantine trickier, KCRA reports.
Orf is a parapoxvirus infection that typically produces scabby lesions around the mouths of sheep and goats and can spread to people who handle infected animals or contaminated materials, according to research and guidance from the CDC. That risk meant extra precautions for everyone working hands-on with the rescued animals.
Felony Charges And What The Law Requires
Nevada County authorities arrested 39-year-old Joshua Evan Grayson on December 11 and booked him on eight felony counts of animal cruelty, the sheriff's office told CBS Sacramento.
Under California Penal Code §597.1, which authorizes officers to seize animals when there are reasonable grounds to believe immediate action is needed to protect animal or public health, seized animals must receive proper care and owners are entitled to post-seizure hearings to contest the action, according to California law texts published by Justia.
How Locals Can Step In Now
While the criminal case moves forward, the county is left with hundreds of animals that still need daily care and, ultimately, new homes. Officials say 81 animals have already been relinquished for adoption through Sammie's Friends at the Nevada County Animal Shelter, and more will need foster placements once veterinarians sign off on their medical status, according to YubaNet.
Sammie's Friends shares up-to-date information on adoptions, fostering, volunteering and donations on its website, Sammie's Friends. Local officials say help from residents will be crucial as they wrap up medical exams and necropsies and try to give the surviving animals a second shot at a decent life.
