50 caged dogs seized and child neglect alleged against San Bernardino Mountains woman – San Bernardino Sun

Fawnskin's home in the San Bernardino Mountains, where 50 dogs were seized on June 1, 2024, is seen on June 4. The dogs' owner was cited for suspicion of animal cruelty. A separate investigation resulted in a child cruelty charge against the woman. (Courtesy of Joyce Stawarz)

A resident of the San Bernardino Mountains community of Fawnskin was arrested over the weekend following two separate investigations: one for child neglect after a doctor treated her daughter's old injuries. 8 years and one for animal cruelty after authorities discovered around 50 people. caged dogs lacking food and water, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said.

The child and dogs were seized for their safety.

A mountain resident said Tuesday, June 4, that both situations persisted despite information provided to authorities.

Joyce Stawarz, 63, is a moderator of the Big Bear Critter Connection group on Facebook, which helps with lost and found animals and raises awareness of animals available at the Big Bear Lake Animal Shelter, where she volunteers. Stawarz said in an interview that some of the dogs — mostly pit bulls, German shepherds and huskies — were taken in by his shelter. The rest went to the Devore Animal Shelter, she said.

Many dogs are expected to be available for adoption, but Stawarz, who has worked in animal rescue for 30 years. is worried about those who cannot find new accommodation.

“It’s devastating to me,” Stawarz said. “I'm holding back tears right now, it's so devastating. Lives will be lost because of this. A euthanized animal hurts me. This is why I take this so hard.

Stawarz spent Tuesday at the home on the north shore of Big Bear Lake where the dogs were seized, helping the owner clean the exterior and interior, where she said the counters, appliances and toilets were dirty. She said the landlord, who lives in Michigan, showed up on May 30 to evict the woman, who was $6,000 behind on rent.

The owner was shocked to see the dogs in stacked crates, according to Stawarz.

The next day, May 31, officers conducted a welfare check at the home, the sheriff's department said, finding that the woman had left her children alone for five hours to go smoke cocaine in Victorville. A report was forwarded to Child and Family Services.

Then on June 1, deputies visited the property again after receiving a report about caged dogs. The woman, who said she was the dog's guardian, was cited for suspicion of animal cruelty, the sheriff's department said.

That night, the police returned to investigate the girl's health. They summoned the firefighters who sent the girl to the hospital.

“Doctors at Bear Valley Community Hospital treated the child’s neglected injuries and released her from care,” the sheriff’s department said.

The sheriff's department declined to describe the injuries or say how old they were.

Three children were removed from home care and placed in Child and Family Services. The woman was arrested and, on June 1, charged with one count of willful cruelty to children, a misdemeanor. She was being held on $100,000 bail and was scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday.

The Southern California News Group did not identify the 44-year-old mother to protect the identity of the girl, whom the woman is accused of neglect.

Stawarz said she had been trying to prevent the woman's dog from being acquired for more than two years. She didn't know where the woman lived, but saw posts on social media where the woman was asking to take in lost or abandoned dogs.

“I would call it: stop taking these dogs,” Stawarz said.

She said the woman's neighbors in the 39000 block of North Shore Drive had complained several times to county animal control about the odor and incessant barking on the property.

Based on his experiences, Stawarz said, animal collectors who get in over their heads start with good intentions but are undone by various problems.

The girl also seemed troubled, Stawarz said. She spoke to parents whose children know the 8-year-old and they told her her hair was usually matted and she often smelled like urine.

“She was crying and begging not to have to go home,” Stawarz said.