Animal hoarding case continued
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
May 8, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/050815_PS_Luken
The case against a Reidland woman accused of animal cruelty was continued Thursday for another two weeks.
Deborah Luken, 54, is facing 196 counts of animal cruelty after the McCracken County Sheriff's Department and animal control seized three rats, six ducks, seven chinchillas, 11 exotic birds, 83 dogs and 86 rabbits on March 25 from the woman's Merrydale Drive home.
Luken's attorney David Bundrick told McCracken District Judge Chris Hollowell Thursday that Luken is seeking help from a counselor to resolve mental health issues they believe contributed to the animal hoarding and told the court they are waiting on a report.
Bundrick also said they are still working out some details of the case.
"The prosecutor and I are discussing an agreement to have the animals placed permanently," Bundrick said after the hearing. "Right now, the animals are in foster homes and we are working on finding a more permanent arrangement for them."
Prosecutor Jamie Mills of the County Attorney's Office said he and Bundrick are working to get the case resolved as quickly as possible so the animals can be placed and the fosters given some relief.
Animal control director Cathy Coleman said Luken has been fully cooperative and improvements have been made to the home since the animals were seized.
Mills said he was eager to receive the results of Luken's psychological evaluation so he can determine the best course of action.
"We want to get, as best we can, to the root of the problem here and make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.
Luken's next appearance in court is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 21.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Deborah Luken, 54, is facing 196 counts of animal cruelty after the McCracken County Sheriff's Department and animal control seized three rats, six ducks, seven chinchillas, 11 exotic birds, 83 dogs and 86 rabbits on March 25 from the woman's Merrydale Drive home.
Luken's attorney David Bundrick told McCracken District Judge Chris Hollowell Thursday that Luken is seeking help from a counselor to resolve mental health issues they believe contributed to the animal hoarding and told the court they are waiting on a report.
Bundrick also said they are still working out some details of the case.
"The prosecutor and I are discussing an agreement to have the animals placed permanently," Bundrick said after the hearing. "Right now, the animals are in foster homes and we are working on finding a more permanent arrangement for them."
Prosecutor Jamie Mills of the County Attorney's Office said he and Bundrick are working to get the case resolved as quickly as possible so the animals can be placed and the fosters given some relief.
Animal control director Cathy Coleman said Luken has been fully cooperative and improvements have been made to the home since the animals were seized.
Mills said he was eager to receive the results of Luken's psychological evaluation so he can determine the best course of action.
"We want to get, as best we can, to the root of the problem here and make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.
Luken's next appearance in court is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 21.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
