SANTA BARBARA – The District Attorney filed charges against a woman accused of animal cruelty after more than 400 animals were seized from her home in December and Animal Services has been fronting the bill to care for the animals since then.
Sandra Coupal is facing misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and failing to provide proper care and attention to animals.
On December 10, 2011, County Animal Services along with the Santa Barbara Humane Society and the Sheriff's Department, served a search warrant allowing the seizure of the animals at Coupal's residence on West Camino Cielo.
Since the animals were taken, the county has spent unbudgeted money to care for and feed the 445 animals which include turkeys, hens, roosters, pigeons, quail, dogs, cats and a lone rabbit and alpaca.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services teamed up with the Santa Barbara Humane Society to house the animals. Two full-time staff members are needed to take care for them. Feeding the animals has been an unbudgeted challenge for the county.
"Because of the additional labor component as well as the additional expenditures for feed, it is a hardship but it is something we feel is important to do," said Animal Services Director Jan Glick. "You never know when you'll have a case like this but you just have to rise to the occasion and do what's needed to be done for the welfare of the animals."
When the animals were first brought to the shelter, members of the community donated chicken feed that helped cut down some of the expense but some of those donations have tapered off. Glick said the shelter will gladly take donations of chicken pellets and turkey rations.
Donations can be dropped off at County Animal Services at 5473 Overpass Road in Goleta.
The 445 animals cannot be adopted yet because they are still being held under the jurisdiction of the court.
Coupal's arraignment for the two misdemeanor charges is set for February 29.
