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Most animals seized in raid move out of animal shelter

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One of the 142 exotic birds seized from a home in Newton by law enforcement on Dec. 16.

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Catawba County Animal Services Web site

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: February 5, 2010

Newton - Catawba County Animal Services has only a few birds still housed at its facility, all that remain of the nearly 150 that were seized from a home in mid-December.

Jay Blatche, manager of Catawba County Animal Services, said he hopes those will be gone by next week.

"Most have already gone to bird rehab groups," Blatche said. "The rest will be picked up next week."

On Dec. 16 four law enforcement agencies seized 142 birds and 44 dogs from Joyce Jarrett's home in Newton. The birds ranged from parakeets to Amazon parrots. Several were stressed, injured or malnourished.

Jarrett, 66, was charged with animal cruelty. She was sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation, and was ordered to get mental health counseling.

Investigators believe her situation got out of control. She took animals into her home since 1986, rehabilitating them and sometimes giving them to adoptive owners.

On Jan. 27, the animals were cleared for release. Blatche said he started making calls. The birds are being distributed to six rehabilitation groups, including one that is based in Phoenix, Ariz., but has an office in Charlotte. The rehab groups specialize in exotic birds.

Of the 142 birds Animal Control took from Jarrett's home, only two died.

"That's pretty good, considering the number of birds and how many were sick and weak," Blatche said.

Many of the 44 dogs, which are mainly Chihuahuas and dachshunds, are adoptable and are going to rescue groups in New York and New Jersey, he said.

"We deal with them regularly, and tried to move them quickly," Blatche said. "Some of the dogs were pregnant and have had puppies, and they'll stay here until they're of age."

He said the puppies are healthy.

"This has been a very expensive endeavor," Blatche said. "We had to have a special vet for the birds, medicine, overtime for my employees."

He estimates that the veterinarian alone cost between $3,000 and $5,000.

Blatche said Animal Services is paying for the expenses by cutting back in other areas of its budget, such as training.