- Oklahoma, USA -
On December 11, 2024, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) assisted the Grady County Sheriff’s Office with the rescue of hundreds of animals from a multi-species cruelty case.
It started out as an investigation that the sheriff’s office launched back in October 2024, into a possible illegal marijuana grow at a property on County Road 1430 in Ninnekah.
Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess dispatched his narcotic unit but what investigators discovered was a much more distressing reality.
Sheriff Boggess said the approximately four acres property was covered in animals who were all in poor condition.
Cats, companion birds, dogs, fish, goats, and a pig were found to be severely neglected.
Investigators then executed a search and seizure warrant. Responders and veterinarians from Operation Kindness and Black Beauty Ranch, which is a Humane Society of the United States sanctuary, also assisted on-scene.
In a press release, HSUS said that when law enforcement and rescuers arrived on scene, “temperatures were below freezing.” Officials were “greeted by shivering rottweilers, shih tzus and pit bull-type dogs, chained and tethered outdoors with inadequate protection from the elements and no apparent access to food or water.”
Most of the cats and dogs were underweight, with protruding hips and rib bones, and several dogs had untreated injuries.
The press release further stated that the pig had no apparent access to food or water, and the goats had water “but it was frozen solid.”
In an outdoor pool there were over twenty koi, but with the water being so murky, they were not visible to rescuers upon initial inspection. Throughout the property and the garage, officials also found various types of smaller fish.
According to HSUS, “Companion birds including parrots, parakeets and finches were inside a garage in filthy, barren cages with no environmental enrichment. Veterinarians immediately noted one of the parrots had large patches of missing feathers, apparently self-inflicted and likely due to boredom and stress.”
In an outbuilding on the property, officials found caged roosters and hens. More of them were also found in makeshift pens. The HSUS explained that these animals were “identified as gamefowl, a term used to describe birds raised for the purposes of fighting and selectively bred to be aggressive with other birds.”
Veterinarians noted that many of the game fowl were underweight and suffering from apparent neglect.
According to court records, although investigators spent weeks trying to get 38-year-old YER VANG and 41-year-old CHUE LONG YANG (both pictured), to follow a veterinarian’s recommendations, they disregarded the advice.
The cats, companion birds, dogs, fish, goats and the pig were removed from the property and taken to undisclosed locations to receive in-depth veterinary exams and much-needed care.
THE HSUS said that “due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases to commercial flocks and lack of placement options, gamefowl rescued from suspected cockfighting situations typically are not able to be adopted out.” In view of this, sadly, veterinarians on site euthanized the innocent hens and roosters.
VANG and YANG were arrested and charged with eighty-one felony counts of animal cruelty which also include owning birds for fighting. The pair’s five children were taken into state custody and VANG and YANG were additionally charged with child neglect. Sheriff Boggess said more charges are expected.
The duo are due in court in January 2025.
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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Humane Society of the United States. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should such sources report an update.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Mugshots shared from the Grady County Sheriff’s Office
Pictures shared from the Humane Society of the United States
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