Animal Legal Defense Fund |Take Action

Send a letter to encourage a meaningful sentence upon conviction for animal hoarder Wendy Oughton!

Hoarder in 'Million-Dollar Home' Charged with Cruelty

Send a letter to the local and county prosecutors to encourage a meaningful sentence upon conviction!

(Morris County, NJ) Illustrating that the roots of animal hoarding are psychological and not financial, approximately 150 cats were discovered in March 2009 at Wendy Oughton's ‘million dollar' home in Chester Township. Ms. Oughton is now facing over 90 criminal charges of animal cruelty related to animal hoarding. The cats were allegedly living in deplorable conditions and the house, despite its value on paper, may be condemned. The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized over 20 cats in the initial raid, and was later able to successfully negotiate for the relinquishment of the remaining cats, with Oughton agreeing to pay for their cost of care during their recovery.

What You Can Do To Help
Polite letters of thanks may be sent to the local and county prosecutors, noting concern for the prevalence of animal hoarding and the expectation that all local agencies be well-educated on the subject. Cooperative efforts are crucial to meaningful animal hoarding interventions - not only for the sake of the animals tied to current cases, but to prevent future suffering (not to mention the drain on community resources), as the recidivism rate among animal hoarders nears 100%.

This is an ongoing pledge that should be fulfilled as often as possible starting after Jun 08, 2009.

Comments, Suggestions and Stories

Soodle Billy Co.Dublin, Ireland @ 02:50AM PT Oct 25
Pledge fulfilled Oct 25!

Thank you for supporting ALDF's First Strike and You're Out law!

Spread the word to friends and family and ask them to do the same!
Kat ForTheAnimals Sax., Germany @ 12:45AM PT Jun 10

All done.
Thank you Bill.
Joycey Berry Canton, NC @ 07:24AM PT Jun 09

Letter sent.

Thank you for taking action! Together, we are winning the case against cruelty

Thank you for making the pledge "Send a letter to encourage a meaningful sentence upon conviction for animal hoarder Wendy Oughton!"
L W chippewa falls, WI @ 03:02AM PT Jun 09
Pledge fulfilled Jun 09!

Thank you!

Thank you for taking action! Together, we are winning the case against cruelty.
r s holmen, WI @ 10:41PM PT Jun 08
Pledge fulfilled Jun 08!

Thank you!

Thank you for taking action! Together, we are winning the case against cruelty.

Since 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been the leader in the fight to win animals the legal protection they so desperately need — and deserve. Your support is vital to our continued success. Thank you for being a voice for animals!
B F Harmony, ME @ 09:49PM PT Jun 08
Pledge fulfilled Jun 08!

I wanted to let you know about a case that needs your attention.

Illustrating that the roots of animal hoarding are psychological and not financial, approximately 150 cats were discovered in March 2009 at Wendy Oughton's 'million dollar' home in Chester Township, New Jersey. Ms. Oughton is now facing over 90 criminal charges of animal cruelty related to animal hoarding - the cats were allegedly living in deplorable conditions and the house, despite its value on paper, may be condemned. The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized over 20 cats in the initial raid, and was later able to successfully negotiate for the relinquishment of the remaining cats, with Oughton agreeing to pay for their cost of care during their recovery.

What You Can Do To Help

Send a letter to the local and county prosecutors in one click on Animal Legal Defense Fund's website. Encourage them to continue their thorough prosecution of Wendy Oughton and to fight for a meaningful sentence upon conviction, one that includes an order prohibiting her from possessing animals for a significant period of time, and inspection rights for humane agents.

Go to: http://www.aldf.org/action_nj_0609

Thank you for all that you do to win justice for animals!