SEQUIM — Law enforcement has seized several animals from a property southwest of Sequim.
The animals — two donkeys and two sheep — were seized early Wednesday afternoon by Clallam County sheriff’s deputies from a property on Serenity Lane rented by 61-year-old John Dashti.
“The sheep were taken because they are in very poor health,” said Tracey Kellas, Clallam County animal control officer.
“They are thin, and they were not sanitary,” she said. “Their hair had not been shorn.”
The mules were seized because “of parasite load [and] appeared to be anemic, and their hooves were in such bad shape.”
No citations have been issued, said Brian King, chief criminal deputy for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office has been investigating allegations of animal abuse at the property for the past few weeks.
“We have fielded several complaints,” King said.
Dashti said he did not hurt his animals.
“These animals are not being abused,” he said Wednesday.
More animals on the property may be confiscated, King said.
“We are processing the scene and we are applying at this time for a second search warrant, an addendum to the original search warrant, to seize more animals,” King said.
“We have a vet on site, and as we process the scene, we are having the vet check on the health of the animals that are present.
“We continue to conduct our examination of all the animals there.”
Kellas said that four goats also are slated for seizure.
“We are leaving one dog, that appears to be in very good health,” Kellas said. “But she does need to be groomed.”
They are also leaving behind three pigs, and various quail and chickens.
“All were checked by the vet,” Kellas said, noting Dashti was given recommendations about how to ensure they are properly cared for.
Clallam County authorities also have served Dashti with a lawsuit from the property’s owner seeking to evict him, according to KOMO News of Seattle.
Dashti must respond to the lawsuit to evict him on July 10, KOMO said.
KOMO News told of carcasses on the property in a report posted Wednesday.
Neighbors also have posted photos of dead carcasses and of animals purportedly living in squalid conditions on the property, on Craigslist.com.
“I do kill animals to survive — to eat for the meat,” Dashti said.
“But I do not abuse [the animals] whatsoever.”
Reports the animals were not receiving adequate food or water also had been circulated by neighbors.
“As far as the water and food concerns, we have been out there several times, and every time they have been out there, they have had food and water,” King noted.
Before the animals were confiscated, the deputies visited the property daily to encourage Dashti to have the mules’ hooves trimmed by a farrier.
“We have been out there every day this week” to encourage Dashti to hire a farrier to trim the mules’ hooves, King said
The animal control officer was “trying to get voluntary compliance,” King added.
“I should have been on top of it right away,” Dashti said.
He said that the seized animals were given to him within the last several months.
As far as the dead carcasses, those are left strewn about the property to provide food for carrion birds, Dashti said.
“What happens is crows and [other] animals come to consume the meat and the bones,” he said.
“I don’t see that as cruel. They need to eat.”
Dashti blames the deaths of some of the animals on falling trees and grass tainted by fuel and fertilizer.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
