Hundreds of animals were removed from the home of Alma and Charel Winston earlier this year, but the couple proclaimed their innocence. At the time, almost 300 animals ranging from dogs and birds to horses and alpacas were taken from the property in Shingle Springs, California.
According to official court documents, the “omission of proper care of dogs” led to those animals being euthanized. Sadly, rooster, ducks, and chickens were sick with avian flu as well. Despite their claims of not harming the animals, Alma and Charel were recently charged with animal cruelty. They also face other felony charges including exposing animals to needless suffering, failing to provide food, drink, and shelter.
When she said, Alma Winston stated, “We have taken in animals that people have sent us from across the country…they kicked us off our property without allowing me to get a toothbrush.”
In addition to the animal neglect, Alma was also charged with inflicting injury on an elderly adult. Another person, Dean Bader, was charged with not reporting the cruelty and animal abuse.
“These people were working the system, and it was very difficult for anybody to process any kind of getting into the home,” neighbor Kimberly Simpson said. “They weren’t opening the gate because they never left their home.”
Simpson and other neighbors worked for years to get authorities to help the animals on the property but was shocked to learn how many actually lived there.
More about these charges and the arrest of both women can be viewed in the video below.
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