Steilacoom Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Animal Cruelty Charge

Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Kim Olander, 35, with animal cruelty for severely neglecting her dog found in the bathroom of her Steilacoom home.

On Jan. 8, 2013, a Lakewood Animal Control Officer responded to the defendant's home to perform an animal welfare check as a result of an anonymous complaint. The defendant allowed the officer to enter the residence, where the officer was greeted by three bright and healthy dogs. The defendant asserted that she owned two additional dogs that were being detained in the bathroom due to construction workers being at her residence.

The Lakewood Animal Control Officer entered a urine-soaked bathroom and found two dogs inside. One dog was thin and the other severely emaciated with protruding vertebrae, hips, pelvis, ribs, shoulders and skull. The defendant explained that the two dogs had been sick for about a month. The defendant admitted that she had not taken them to a veterinarian. She voluntarily surrendered the two dogs. 

The dogs were taken to the Humane Society for examination. Tests found that the emaciated dog's condition was most likely related to starvation. Within one week of proper care, the dog gained 11 pounds and appeared to be in normal condition.

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, the defendant failed to appear before the court and was later arrested on a warrant. On Friday, she pled not guilty in Pierce County Superior Court. Her next court appearance is March 7, 2013.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.