By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors filed criminal charges against the 79-year-old Dryad woman from whom dozens of foxhounds were seized last month.
The 65 dogs which included 18 puppies were living in what authorities called deplorable conditions, most seemingly well enough fed but in kennels which were overrun with feces and breeding amongst themselves.
Nancy Punches
Two of the animals are fox terriers – the rest foxhounds – belonging to Nancy Punches who resides on River Road.
Multiple charges were filed on Friday in Lewis County District Court in Chehalis. Punches will receive a summons to appear in court for an arraignment.
One dead puppy was found when numerous animal control employees, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and at least one non-profit rescue group rounded up the canines on October 19.
The following day, at least three puppies were euthanized because of positive tests for Parvo Virus, and five of the 17 dogs taken to Pasado’s Safe Haven in Snohomish County tested positive for a parasite called Giardia which is deadly to puppies, according to charging documents.
Punches said in an interview she didn’t intend for the animals to multiply, but their fencing had deteriorated. Authorities said they did not think she was selling them.
Punches’ dog kennel Oct. 19, 2012
The longtime breeder of show dogs admitted she realized it was bad, saying the situation got away from her as she works long hours out of town – and that it’s hard to find good help.
According to Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher, the law doesn’t necessarily protect someone who has good intentions.
Punches is charged with 65 counts of second-degree animal cruelty, alleging at the very least she knowingly allowed them to live in conditions that caused unnecessary pain.
She is also charged with one violation of another state law regarding dog breeding: keeping more than 10 dogs who are able to reproduce in enclosures without meeting certain conditions regarding sanitation, lighting, fire safety measures, protection from extreme temperatures, and being kept separate from other animals with whom they’re not compatible.
All are misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail or a $5,000 fine or both.
Three of the foxhounds are survivors of the December 2007 flood when Punches lost her home and 16 champion show dogs to the Chehalis River.
A foxhound named Hawk saved himself, while two of them were five-week-old pups she placed in a styrofoam shipping container when floodwaters inside her home rose to within inches of her ceiling. Punches nearly lost her own life as well.
Punches said last month she refused an offer from the Lewis County Animal Shelter in which she could get back four of the dogs if they were fixed as long as she signed away rights to the rest of the dogs. She said they are valuable to the breed.
Punches couldn’t be reached for comment this weekend.
Charging documents describe that on the day the animals were confiscated, a deputy could not see the floor of some kennels because the water, mud and feces was so deep.
A veterinarian there that day said the unsanitary conditions subjected the animals to contagious viral and bacterial diseases which would or could cause considerable suffering, according to the charging documents.
The documents also allege the following:
In the indoor kennel building, the deputy found four dogs standing on top of garbage, mud and feces.
In one pen, eight nine-week-old puppies had no overhead shelter, and appeared very thin. Four of them were lethargic, one had diarrhea and one was dead.
The veterinarian at Pasado’s Safe Haven noted several of the dogs had minor wounds and she saw signs of signs of abuse, including a strong fear of humans.
Punches had described some of them as “unsocialized”.
Lewis County does not require kennels to be licensed but does prohibit individuals from keeping more than 50 unaltered dogs, although there is no limit on the number of puppies.
State law requires breeders with more than 10 unaltered dogs to meet certain conditions.
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For background, read: “Aged flood survivor loses her stock of prize-winning canines for the second time” from Sunday October 21, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I can’t believe the above comments. This woman lived in another location years ago and at that one also treated her dogs inhumanly. She was much younger so this has nothing to do with her age. She’s a disgrace and it’s a disgrace that the people who know her hide her disgusting treatment of animals. I hope she never gets her hands on another dog. How can the dogs that are left be “valuable to the breed” when she probably has no idea what dog bred what dog to produce what puppyies. Spay/neuter the whole bunch and find them homes or euthanize them. Better than living anywhere with this woman.
Jenell Brinson yes that’s what the Media is good at tearing someone down. But we the people have the power to stand up to the courts and local law enforcement. We need to unite as a community and tell the Sheriff what we need from them, not what can they do to us. Long live America. Stand Together, lets not let these corts divide us..
What can any say to those that take such delight in tearing someone they don’t even know apart for a situation they know few facts about. Ms Punches was not, has never, run a ‘puppy mill’ for profit, the dogs were not being bred for mass sale. Foxhounds a not a marketable breed. I am a retired foxhound breeder in another state, have known her for decades, she has been a devoted and caring breeder for over half a century…longer than most of you have even been alive. She’s elder, she went through unimaginable horror and trauma, physically, mentally, emotionally, in the 2007 chehalis river flood, and as she has said herself, she’s just never been the same since that….all of it together, her advancing age, being unable to keep up the care of the dgs and ennel as she once had, the effects on her of her near death and losses in the great flood….as for the condition of these dogs, you can see the pics, they are well fed and beautiful, despite how in over her head she was. Some have reported them seeming abused because they are fearful of strangers that came in like cowboys chaing them down, lassoing and snaring them, of course they were fearful…foxhounds are a naturally timid breed shy of strangers, it just their nature. what really upsets me is she had realized she was in over her head, had reached out for help, and instead of help, she got everything taken away, is being accused of being intentionally cruel…have a heart, people, realize, even good people, especially aged and alone, can get into desperate circumstances.
I guess making this behavior even more illegal-er will stop it.
I feel really bad for that lady, Mrs. Punches it would be nice if they did not fine her or put her in jail and just gave her a defered sentence (meaning if she did not get in any trouble) for a year it would be removed from her record I beleave(but not sure). Please people have a little heart for this lady dont’t you think she is hurting inside? Those who have no sins cast the first stone.I would like to have meant Mrs. Punches my heart goes out to her and (yes) a prayer…
Sheesh, Bill Bates of the Centralia City Council Blew his neighbors Cat away with a Gun and only received a slap on the wrist. This old lady is going to get ran through the ringer because she’s not part of the Centralia Good Ol Boy Club.. When you are part of the club you get special treatment, but when your a Tax Paying Slave with a blue collar 9 2 5 job you get screwed over by the Kangaroo Court System. Prosecuting this woman is a waste of tax payer dollars. This type of behavior is a mental sickness. After all, she is growing old and does not want to let go of her independence. My Gradmother had alot of dogs before she died. I see dogs in horrible conditions all the time. What happens if I was a chicken lover or a rabbit lover. In other countries they eat cats and dogs… Oh that’s right were in America, we only do cruel testing on Animals, but that’s OK with You right?http://www.change.org/petitions/iams-pet-products-stop-cruel-testing-on-dogs-cats-and-other-animals Oh and here’s some more important pet information. Dogs and cats are frozen then taken back to Rendering plants and boiled down to be reused as Crude Animal Fat and sprayed back onto Dog and Cat Food. Don’t think so? Oh here’s that link also.http://rense.com/general70/dead.htm Should I give you more Information? In my opinion this lady is just lonely and has a mental problem that can be repaired. Jail Fixes Nothing! Research opens the mind!
I hope that Nancy can get the help she needs. Having her pay the fines or do jail time will not fix the obvious mental issue that is underlying with her. She is an apparent hoarder, with piles of trash and debris around her front door, home and shop. I am not sure if this was an issue before the flood but it is very apparent now. It is sad that it took the county so long to act – we haven’t been in the area long but had already taken pictures for reporting to the county only to find out she was already under investigation. She is a very nice woman who is struggling with a real disorder and it is unfortunate these animals had to pay the price.
“The county made her do it.”
Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.
I was in no way saying that the “county made her do it.” How does one even come up with such nonsense except by twisting somebody’s words into something completely removed from the author’s original intent?
The county didn’t make her abuse dogs.
The county just provided an atmosphere where these things are part and parcel of the Lewis County economy.
“if I beat my wife, I can blame the county because no cops stepped in to stop me. Brilliant”
There are laws against beating your wife. Don’t do it, please!
There are NO LAWS against puppy mills in Lewis County. So for you to confabulate my comment into meaning that I’m angry because no “cops stepped in” is a complete misinterpretation.
Please don’t put words in my mouth.
All I was doing is suggesting that better laws could avoid this kind of situation. But since all you want to do is start an argument and put words in my mouth, I will humbly concede the argument.
You’re right. Because there were no Animal Welfare officers to stop this woman, it couldn’t possibly be the county’s fault. She was just a criminal renegade dog breeder flouting the law and deserves prison.
You make me sick.
“It’s the county’s fault for letting things get as bad as they did.”
I totally agree. This woman bears no responsibility at all for keeping 65 inbreeding dogs in filthy conditions so she could make money by selling them…The county made her do it.
I suppose by using that standard of logic, if I beat my wife, I can blame the county because no cops stepped in to stop me. Brilliant.
I highly doubt this poor woman wants to fight the county the last few years she has left.
She’ll get fined, won’t do time, and most likely won’t live long enough to pay even a fraction of the restitution.
It’s the county’s fault for letting things get as bad as they did.
Will more oversight, licensing regulations, and strict limits on number of dogs change anything?
Would a common-sense approach to breeding pets for profit change anything in Lewis County?
Nah. Let’s allow anybody to start a puppy-mill for profit with no oversight. That way, everything will stay the same and we can continue to read about these awesome and entertaining stories!!! *sarcasm off
What the #$%^ was Jonathan Meyer thinking? 66 Misdemeanor charges? She should demand a jury trial for each charge, and a defense attorney paid for by the public. She could tie up Lewis County District Court for a couple of years! Is this running up the stats so he can claim a huge conviction record? The election IS just around the corner.
Seem like Lewis county needs to get in place some better regulations reguarding how many unaltered dogs that a kennel can have and a limit on the number of puppies. By all mean Kennels should be licensed. If we are required to have a licence for our pet dogs/ cats, so should a breeder.