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Yolo County Collies

On September 29, 2004, Yolo County served a search warrant at the home of Ronald Chauncey Wilson, of Esparto, California.  On that day, the county took more than 70 collies into custody, as well as other animals.  Subsequently, Dr. Wilson was charged with 7 felonies and 67 misdemeanors for animal cruelty and other violations.

 

On December 5, 2005, Judge Doris L. Shockley of the Yolo County Superior Court issued an order that Ronald C. Wilson forfeit ownership of over 70 collies and other animals confiscated by the Animal Services Division of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department in 2004.  The order forfeiting ownership of the dogs now enables Yolo County Animal Services to allow a number of the animals to be released to the public following standard procedures in such cases.

 

On July 10, 2006, Ronald Chauncey Wilson was convicted of two felony and one misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty by the Yolo County Superior Court. 

 

On September 27, 2006, Wilson was sentenced to 5 years of probation and community service for the crime of felony animal cruelty. 

 
The Road Home K9 Rescue, a Yolo County based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization assumed responsibility for the care and adoption of the collies on December 5, 2005. Although all of the dogs are now adopted or in permanent foster care, they still need your help because of their lingering health problems, a legacy of their abuse.  Information about the dogs and how you can help may be obtained from The Road Home K9 Rescue website: http://www.theroadhome-dogs.org/collies/yolo.htm.

Yolo County press releases
Minute order, Yolo County Superior Court, 12/05/05
Press release 12/09/05  From Yolo County District Attorney Dave Henderson and Yolo County Sheriff-Coroner E.G. Prieto
Update 1/24/05 From collie care volunteers
Press release 11/17/04 From  Yolo County Sheriff - Coroner E.G. Prieto
Press release 9/29/04 From Yolo County Sheriff - Coroner E.G. Prieto

Newspaper articles

09/30/04 Esparto collies seized by Yolo. More than 60 collies recovered from property.

By Andrea Smith, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat [Search archives, article ID:  2437381]

10/01/04 Caged collies in new digs temporarily housed at fairgrounds for checkups.

By Andrea Smith, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat. [Search archives, article ID: 2439868]

10/04/04 Exams of seized collies expected to be done Oct. 11

By Andrea Smith, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat.  [Search archives, article ID 2455016]

11/17/04 Judge refuses request of collie owner. Wilson asks for their return, and also for compensation.  By Andrea Smith, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat.

01/18/05 Seized collies moved to UC Davis facility.  By Andrea Smith, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat. [Search archives article ID 2659845].
03/21/05 Foster homes needed for purebred collies.  San Francisco Animal Care and Control, press release.
03/21/05  Four adorable purebred collies.  San Franscisco Animal Care and Control web site.
04/15/05 Esparto man loses his dog kennel permit; Is charged with 74 counts of animal abuse.  By Eve Hightower, The (Woodland) Daily Democrat.
12/18/05  Happier dog days ahead.  Collies rescued from cramped quarters, in fear of humans, are on the mend, thanks to the efforts of two women.  By Hudson Sangree, Sacramento Bee.
1/13/06  Ecology professor gives desperate dogs a new lease on life.  UCD Dateline. By Sylvia Wright
February 2006:  UC Davis Spotlight:  A new leash on life:  http://www.ucdavis.edu/spotlight/0106/new_leash_on_life.html
2/5/06 New life for collies.  Abused dogs find safe haven with UCD prof. By Sylvia Wright, Dateline UC Davis, reprinted in The (Woodland) Daily Democrat. [Search archives, article ID 3479255]