Arvada, CO: In a story that has caught the attention of advocates for months, 59-year-old Debe Bell was convicted on January 27th of 35 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Facing up to 18 months in jail on each count, her sentencing has been scheduled for March.
Bell had been a licensed rabbit breeder, but was not licensed at the time her home was raided by police back in July 2011. What the investigators found was horrifying with over 200 rabbits crammed into cages caked with feces, living in filth in stifling heat with no food or water to be seen. There were 20 dead rabbits found in a freezer on the property, with the others clinging to life.
Bell was charged with 55 counts of animal cruelty, but the jury only convicted her of 35. The 20 dead rabbits in the freezer were not part of the jury's decision. The rabbits' coats were a matted mess and they were so thirsty that they literally lunged at the water bowls they were given during the raid.
A petition drawn up by the compassionate advocates at Hand4Paws is currently being networked, asking that Debe Bell receive the maximum sentence for this horrendous case of animal abuse and neglect. You can access the petition here or at the link below.
In August, the judge hearing the case made the decision that the surviving rabbits could be put up for adoption into new loving forever homes. Hopefully they will never again feel the pain of hunger or thirst and will know only love and compassion for what is left of their lives.
These innocent and helpless rabbits were at the mercy of Bell. They were trapped in cages with what was described as 75% more animals than space allowed. They were hungry, thirsty and living in their own filth with no way to escape from any of the torment. They now need for advocates to be their voice for justice.
Click here for the Hand4Paws Facebook page to find other current petitions for animals.
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