Help bring justice to Jennifer Petkus!

Want the maximum allowable sentence for Jennifer Petkus the owner of the Thyme and Sage Ranch in Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin.

We are aware that there was a search warrant served on May 19th, 2009.  Involved in this case besides the sheriff's department also present were the HSUS and the ASPCA. They confiscated almost 400 animals and within 10 days the Dane County Humane Society in Madison, Wisconsin spent nearly 1/2 a million dollars on care for these animals. Jennifer released about 270 animals in June and was given 10 "personal pets" back.

Richland County district attorney%u2019s office has filed a civil suit against Jennifer to get the remainder of the animals released. This suit will not be heard until October. If Jennifer is truly a %u201Crescue%u201D person why not release these animals so they can find forever homes. Why is it necessary to file suit to get them released at all? Are these animals a means of support and that is why she won%u2019t let them go? Clearly there are too many to be considered personal pets.

After three days of searching, Jennifer was arraigned in court. I am going to post a link because the report is long and graphic. It is hard to understand anyone keeping the animals in that condition. Besides all the dead animals found, at least one had to be put down right then and there. Sadly even though a veterinarian was present and felt the animal could not be saved, Jennifer would not allow it and they had to get an order from the district attorney to euthanize it. (This link provides much more information http://www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com/thyme-and-sage-articles.html#legal.)

The arrest information shows that there are 39 charges against Jennifer from intentionally allowing improper Animal Shelter-Sanitation to intentionally mistreatinge animals to deposit animal carcasses for the dead animals stacked up behind one of her buildings.

Jennifer was released with very strict, clear bond stipulations. It was made clear from the start that they would have trained staff come to her facility to inspect those personal pets and the animals that had to be left there. Jennifer was aware that not only did she have to allow the inspections but behave accordingly when the staff was on her property. Another serious condition of her bond was that she was NOT to obtain any more animals.

While there was an inspection done in June another more recent one was done on August 10th, 2009. During that inspection the vet and her staff noted that there were at least 30 domestic animals, including many puppies, again on Jennifer%u2019s property. Another notation was that several of the animals were in need of medical attention and it appeared that from June to August their conditions had gotten worse. Of course the staff stated in their report that it was hard to do the inspection they had hoped to do because of constant harassment from Jennifer and her parent%u2019s. The report clearly stated that the staff feared for their safety even though a deputy from the sheriff%u2019s department was present and refused to intervene.

While reading the newest information it was made perfectly clear to me that Jennifer was again in violation of at least three conditions of her bond and that he officer should have stopped the behavior of the Petkus%u2019s while assisting the staff.

I was one of the many human victims of Jennifer Petkus since I bought sick puppy from her that died before it was in my home for a week. For the last 15 months I have called and emailed the sheriff%u2019s department, the district attorney%u2019s office, the county board of supervisors and anyone else in the county that I thought could stop this behavior. Sadly even after Jennifer was found in violations of the condition of her bond and arrested the judge stated on August 24th, that he was %u201Ctoo busy%u201D too hear the case.

The sheriff%u2019s department was flooded with phone calls from victims like myself after the raid and admitted that they took 72 reports. Many of those reports had been reported prior to the warrant but were considered civil or unfounded. The reports were compiled into a book and sent to the DA%u2019s office and yet I still cannot get a straight answer from them whether or not they will prosecute. With the lack of any support from anyone in Richland County I am afraid that Jennifer will receive very little punishment if any at all.

I would like to present this petition to Judge Edward Leineweber to express the seriousness of this situation. The criminal case will not be heard until March 2010 but she the civil case will start on October 8th, 2009. We need to make sure that the judge will find that the animals should be released and only to those looking to adopt them to forever homes.

Jennifer continues to violate the conditions of her bail every day but no one will arrest each day and bring it to the court, therefore Jennifer continues her behavior as she did before the raid.

This case is very detailed and I have tried to keep this as short as possible but still include as much of the information as I am able. I would be willing to answer any questions that are posed to me. I need as much help as I can get to make sure that my puppy's death was not in vain and that Jennifer will be punished accordingly.

Thank you for taking the time to read this petition and help us fight for fit punishment someone who clearly has no respect for the law.