More than 60 animals removed from Auburn home in cruelty case

More than 60 animals have been removed from a home in Auburn after police charged home owners with animal cruelty charges.

Auburn Police announced Wednesday morning they executed a search warrant on Buron Terrace Tuesday. The search warrant was granted after police received reports of cats and dogs living in unsanitary conditions.

Police say a pastor's wife - Jean-Ann Anger - is accused of illegally selling dogs and cats out of the home she shares with her husband Richard, the pastor at nearby Auburn House of Prayer.

"She's not running a kennel, so she shouldn't be selling dogs," said Auburn Police Lt. Scott Mills.

Officials say a total of 61 animals were recovered from the home - including two litters of puppies and four litters of kittens.

Investigators say many of the animals seized are extremely ill and they have complaints that some pets sold in Anger's online shop later died.

"Most complains were from people who had purchased animals from this woman, where the animals became sick almost immediately upon being purchased," said Mills.

The property and property owners have been the subject of 11 complaints filed with the Board of Health since 1993 - all were investigated. Police say Jean-Ann used her husband's church ties to subvert the investigation in the past.

"We were told, or have been told, that she used a large church van to transport and/or remove animals so that an inspection could be completed so it would not show she didn't have the amount of animals she actually had," said Mills.

The house was also deemed unfit for human habitation and the property is now posted to reflect that.

Charges of animal cruelty and operating a kennel without a license will be filed against Jean-Ann. Officials haven't decided if Richard will be charged.

Cox Media Group