The Nevada County Sheriff's Office has reported the arrest of a man on eight felony counts of animal cruelty. Joshua Evan Grayson, 39, was taken into custody on Dec. 11 after authorities discovered over 200 neglected animals on his property in Grass Valley. The investigation, which started on Nov. 30 after a report from a concerned citizen, led to the rescue of an array of animals in poor condition, including sheep, goats, dogs, horses, pigs, calves, chickens, and even a donkey, cat, pony, and rabbit, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.
A sergeant first visited the property on Meyer Ravine Road to conduct a welfare check, which quickly turned to be a situation grim enough to necessitate a broader response. The Nevada County Sheriff's Office's (NCSO) Animal Control Division, alongside a veterinary specialist and the Sheriff's Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team—Nevada County Sheriff's HEART—were to swiftly act to provide emergency animal rescue support. Grayson, who claimed he was setting up an animal rescue, was at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. This sequence of events was detailed in a post on the Nevada County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
Over the two-day intervention, authorities found 229 animals, 215 of whom were living yet in dire straits. A total of 20 animals eventually died, including six that were sent for necropsy to UC Davis Veterinary. Many of the animals appeared to be infected with Orf, a highly contagious zoonotic disease that can spread to humans. To manage the outbreak and provide care, an emergency pop-up rescue center was established with support from Robinson's Enterprises and logistics support from the Nevada County Fairgrounds, as mentioned in the Nevada County Sheriff's Office social media post.
Animal Control Supervisor Stefanie Geckler and Sheriff's HEART co-founder emphasized the need for a methodical approach. "With cases like this, it’s imperative that we take our time and conduct a thorough and complete investigation," she stated in the Nevada County Sheriff's Office Facebook post. The involved animals will require individual assessments and medical care coordinated by the Nevada County Animal Shelter, HEART volunteers, and other animal partners. As for the rescued animals, once medically cleared, 81 have been relinquished by Grayson and will be up for adoption through Sammie's Friends at the Nevada County Animal Shelter.
The community's response has also been of essence; HEART volunteers have rendered over 700 hours of care and support and will continue to assist as needed. The Nevada County Animal Shelter is currently arranging for the quarantine and care of 47 animals across various locations, indicating the collaborative effort behind such an urgent animal welfare case, as per the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.
