Elfrida woman faces charges of animal neglect

By Gentry Braswell
Wick News Service
Published/Last Modified on Friday, April 18, 2008 3:06 PM MDT


SIERRA VISTA — A woman from Elfrida was cited on numerous counts of animal cruelty on Wednesday.


After serving a search warrant in the 10000 block of North Bell Road, Cochise County Animal Control officers and Cochise County Sheriff’s Office deputies found 29 dogs, 12 of which were removed for obvious signs of neglect, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Carol Capas said Thursday.

An initial evaluation by a veterinarian found the dogs had medical problems such as gum disease, eye problems, tick scabs, contagious skin disease, hernias and pale mucous membranes, Capas said.

Barbara Ratliff, 56, was cited and released for 85 various Cochise County Code and Arizona Revised Statute violations in connection with the alleged neglect on her part.

After learning about the dogs’ conditions, officers contacted the local court, which then issued an order to seize the remaining dogs at Ratliff’s residence.

Animal Control officers and deputies returned and seized the remaining 17 dogs, and a veterinarian from Tucson was scheduled to perform another evaluation of the dogs on Thursday.

Charges in connection to the 12 dogs seized are pending, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The case is being forwarded to the Cochise County Attorney’s Office.

Copyright © 2009 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Greenleecounty wrote on Apr 19, 2008 8:40 AM:

    " I think that this same lady use to sell dogs out of her home in Duncan, AZ these pets were also neglected kept in filthy kennels and had ticks she even described about how the puppies died during birth because her husband pulled the legs off while delivering the puppies. I am glad that she has been caught.... "

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