Case Snapshot

Case ID: 4627

Classification: Poisoning

Animal: cat

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Case #4627 Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Three cats intentionally poisoned with antifreeze
Spanaway, WA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, May 12, 2005
County: Pierce

Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Donna Marie Clark

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

On May 13, Pasado's Safe Haven was contacted by Joseph Ashbaugh, whose 3 cats (Kiki, Billy and Topper) had just been euthanized at the emergency vet clinic, after testing positive for ethylene glycol, the deadly chemical found in antifreeze. Ashbaugh says his cats started showing unusual symptoms on May 12. First one cat became disoriented, vomited and appeared to be in great pain. Then a second cat came down with the same symptoms.

The family's veterinarian told Ashbaugh the two cats tested positive for anti-freeze and would have to be put to sleep. On Friday the third cat became ill, so the family decided to euthanize that pet as well.

Ashbaugh first thought the poisoning may have been accidental, since his neighbor works on cars.

After remembering that his neighbor had begun hassling him about his cat being on his property about six months ago, Ashbaugh looked over the fence dividing the properties, he saw a large bowl filled with bright green fluid and fried chicken next to his neighbor's driveway, close to the property line. He immediately called the Sheriff, who reluctantly came out to the home. When the maninsisted the deputy look over the fence to look at the "evidence", the deputy told him he'd better not trespass on his neighbor's property or he'd get arrested. He left and didn't write up a report.

Ashbaugh then called the Humane Society in Tacoma and the people there told him that since his cat was "trespassing" on his neighbor's property, there was nothing he could do - and they said the neighbor had the right to do anything she wanted to his cat.

After that, Ashbaugh called Pasado's Safe Haven, where Co-founder and Humane Investigator Mark Steinway made sure he had photos of the bowl of antifreeze and several witnesses. Ashbaugh also said his neighbors had been approached about a week ago by this woman and she asked them what antifreeze would do to a cat. They told her that it would kill the cat.

Steinway contacted the Pierce County Sheriff, urging them to pursue the case as Felony, intentional animal cruelty. He asked for a search warrant to be issued to investigate the neighbor�s property based upon evidence Steinway had obtained from Mr. Ashbaugh. A different, very responsive sheriff's deputy responded. A search warrant was issued for the home of Donna Clark, 3700 block of 230th Street E., Spanaway, WA. Police reportedly recovered the bowl with anti-freeze and chicken from Clark�s property and arrested Clark on three counts of Felony First Degree Animal Cruelty. She was released on a $30,000 bond.

Pasado's Safe Haven paid more than $1,300 for animal autopsy reports on the cats and pushed the sheriff's office to investigate.

The Sheriff's department then went in on the evening of May 14 with a search warrant. The bowl of antifreeze was still at her house.

Clark, who works as a nurse, was arrested on three counts of Felony First Degree Animal Cruelty. She was released on a $30,000 bond. Animal Cruelty in the First Degree is a Class �C� felony, punishable by up to 5 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Her arraignment hearing is scheduled for June 1.  Citizens interested in attending who wish to carpool can find more information on the Pasado's Safe Haven website. 

Case Updates

References

• Pasado's Safe Haven - May 19, 2005
• Tacoma News Tribune
- May 18, 2005
• KING 5 TV - May 18, 2005
• KOMO TV - May 18, 2005
• KIRO TV - May 18, 2005
• KCPQ TV - May 18, 2005
• Pierce County Court - Case # 05-1-02439-1
• KOMO - Nov 9, 2005

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