Luken faces 196 counts of animal cruelty
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
April 2, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/luken-faces-counts-of-animal-cruelty/article_524d053e-5ade-11e7-8eac-10604b9f0f42.html
A 54-year-old Reidland woman found "hoarding" almost 200 animals at her home has been cited with second-degree cruelty to animals, the McCracken County Sheriff's Department reported.
Deborah M. Luken faces 196 counts of the misdemeanor in McCracken District Court. She went to the sheriff's department Thursday for an interview with detectives about the animals found in her home on Merrydale Drive.
Authorities went to the home March 25 and seized 196 rabbits, dogs, exotic birds, ducks, rats and chinchillas.
Deputies reported Luken was unable to care for the animals and had inadequate living space for them. All of the animals were found underweight and with minor injuries from neglect, according to a news release, and some of them have died due to illnesses from the living conditions.
A copy of the criminal complaint states the animals were living inside and outside of the home in unsanitary conditions. Feces and urine was found "all over the floors and some animals were covered in feces," according to the complaint.
Also, the crates the animals were living in were unsanitary and had not been cleaned, the complaint states.
"The defendant did not have the space or adequate resources to have and take care of that many animals," according to the complaint.
The sheriff's department reported three rats, six ducks, seven chinchillas, 11 exotic birds, 83 dogs and 86 rabbits were seized.
Deborah M. Luken faces 196 counts of the misdemeanor in McCracken District Court. She went to the sheriff's department Thursday for an interview with detectives about the animals found in her home on Merrydale Drive.
Authorities went to the home March 25 and seized 196 rabbits, dogs, exotic birds, ducks, rats and chinchillas.
Deputies reported Luken was unable to care for the animals and had inadequate living space for them. All of the animals were found underweight and with minor injuries from neglect, according to a news release, and some of them have died due to illnesses from the living conditions.
A copy of the criminal complaint states the animals were living inside and outside of the home in unsanitary conditions. Feces and urine was found "all over the floors and some animals were covered in feces," according to the complaint.
Also, the crates the animals were living in were unsanitary and had not been cleaned, the complaint states.
"The defendant did not have the space or adequate resources to have and take care of that many animals," according to the complaint.
The sheriff's department reported three rats, six ducks, seven chinchillas, 11 exotic birds, 83 dogs and 86 rabbits were seized.
