LYNETTE KIM COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN and CHAD DAMON DUNIVAN arrested – 63 animals removed from their home

- California, USA -

The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said that 49-years-old LYNETTE KIM COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN and her husband 48-years-old CHAD DAMON DUNIVAN (both pictured), were arrested on the suspicion of numerous felony charges including animal abuse.

In a news release the sheriff’s office said that on May 24, a search and seizure warrant was executed at a residence in the vicinity of the 3400 block of Sankey Road, Pleasant Grove.

The Sutter Animal Services Authority, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, and Sutter County Code Enforcement worked together to remove from the home:

39 Dogs

13 Horses

7 Cats

4 Exotic birds

According to the sheriff’s office, the animals were removed “due to a lack of proper shelter, nourishment, and veterinary care.”

The sheriff’s office worked together with the Animal Services Authority to obtain a search warrant after attempts were made to abate the issue at the couple’s property.

Online arrest records show the pair were arrested on May 24, and each charged with 18 counts of cruelty to animals.

The duo were released the following day after each posting a $1,500 bond.

Sheriff’s officials said the investigation is active and there could be more criminal charges.

This is not the first time that LYNETTE KIM COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN has been accused of neglecting animals.

The Sacramento Bee reports that on Saturday, May 21, more than 20 protesters gathered in Pleasant Grove “to draw public attention to the ‘horrific’ conditions” at the home of the DUNIVANS.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the organizers of the demonstration said in a news release that LYNETTE KIM COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN “has a long history of committing animal abuse and had moved to Sutter County to operate as a horse and puppy mill breeder, where the animals were starving and in serious danger.”

Ms. Candace Taylor was there Saturday and said: “The situation was becoming dire. Sometimes you have to do something to get the attention of the Sheriff’s Office, Animal Services, and the District Attorney’s Office.”

The Sacramento Bee further reports that in April 2014, authorities cited LYNETTE KIM COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN after two horses died on her property in the 1600 block of E Street in Rio Linda.

“She was issued a citation that ordered veterinary care for seven horses with wounds and some lameness” reports the news agency.

Ms. Taylor, who lives down the street from where the two horses were found dead, said: “I saw the whole thing go down. It was horrible.”

According to The Sacramento Bee, at the time of the 2014 citation, COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN had been working with animal control to reduce the number of horses from 40 to 20 on the property. COUNTRYMAN-DUNIVAN was also cited for having too many dogs.

In 2014, Diane Caldwell, a volunteer, told KXTV that COUNTRYMAN was a horse trader and said: “She takes in horses, cares for them, fattens them up and then sells them. She makes her living off the suffering of animals.”

Ms. Caldwell further said: “She is a 3-time convicted animal abuser. In Oregon, we talked to the DA. She's not allowed to have any animals. I want the animals taken away from her. How many more have to die before ‘A.C.’ does anything?”

To that, COUNTRYMAN responded: “That's not true. That's slanderous. The people talking too haven't been to my property.”

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Additional Source:

The Appeal Democrat