SEQUIM — Four goats were seized by law enforcement from a rural property southwest of Sequim late Wednesday after two donkeys and two sheep had been confiscated earlier that day.
The animals, which are owned by John Dashti, were seized by Clallam County sheriff’s deputies from his property on Serenity Lane.
Dashti, 61, said several of the seized animals were given to him within the last several months.
The goats were taken because of the “environment within the pen, apparent lack of care and parasitic load,” said Brian King, chief criminal deputy for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, “there was some threat of more serious health concerns if they were allowed to remain in the pen,” King said.
All animals present on the property were inspected Wednesday by a veterinarian who decided whether they should be confiscated.
“At the time of the initial service of the search warrant, we had evidence that supported the sheep and mules were in poor health,” King said.
“Therefore, by the judge’s order, the warrant authorized us to seize them. In addition to the seizure of the sheep and mules, the warrant also allowed us to have the remaining animals examined by the veterinarian.”
Dashti has not been arrested and no citations have been issued, King said.
“We are awaiting vet reports on the animals seized as well as those that were examined by the veterinarian during the warrant,” King said.
“We are waiting blood and fecal testing results as part of the investigation.”
Those results “will give us a much more accurate picture as to the overall health of the animals that were in Mr. Dashti’s care,” King said.
He said that once all reports are received, the Sheriff’s Office will submit the case to the Clallam County Prosecutor’s office for a charging decision.
“Those reports have a significant bearing on what degree of animal neglect we may be looking at,” King said.
The veterinarian reports are expected to be ready sometime next week.
“It is OK. I will get them back,” Dashti said.
“You bet I will. I called my vet to go and double-check them to make a report to say I do care.”
The two donkeys were seized because they had parasites, appeared to be anemic and had extremely overgrown hooves, said Tracey Kellas, Clallam County animal control officer.
“I am sorry I didn’t get a chance to do the nails, but I am not guilty of abuse,” Dashti said.
Before the animals were confiscated, deputies visited the property daily to encourage Dashti to have the mules’ hooves trimmed by a farrier, King said.
The sheep were taken because they were in very poor health, underweight and living in an unsanitary environment, Kellas said.
Three pigs, a dog, chickens, roosters and quail were not taken off the property because they appeared to be in relatively good health, Kellas said.
Dashti is pleased his pigs were not taken.
“These are my babies,” he said Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Office has been investigating allegations of animal abuse at the property for the past few weeks after being contacted by neighbors who reported several animal carcasses strewn about the property that were left to rot.
Dashti blames the deaths of some of the animals on falling trees and grass tainted by fuel and fertilizer.
Others he killed to eat, he said.
Dashti left the carcasses untouched to provide food for carrion birds, he said.
Neighbors have posted photos of dead carcasses and of animals purportedly living in squalid conditions on the property, on Craigslist.com.
Reports the animals were not receiving adequate food or water also had been circulated by neighbors.
Kings said that the animals had food and water.
In addition to the animal seizures, Dashti said he is facing foreclosure, and has until July 10 to respond to a lawsuit filed by his bank seeking to evict him.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
