2009-10-08

County’s largest animal cruelty seizure adjudicated following no contest plea

By Judith Pannebaker

Although originally charged with 40 counts of animal cruelty, Nancy E. Thomason, former resident of Bandera County, recently pled no contest to a single count of animal cruelty. The remaining charges against her were dismissed. Animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $4,000.

Represented by Kerrville attorney Patrick O’Fiel, Thomason waived a jury trial and entered her plea in Bandera County Court on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Thomason will be required to pay a fine of $200 and court costs amounting to $223. A 365-day jail sentence was suspended and she will serve one-year probation.
In addition, Thomason must make restitution of $5,710 for medical care and rehabilitation of the 30 dogs, seven cats and three rabbits seized from her Lake Medina Shores property on March 17.

Bandera County Animal Control, Animal Welfare Society, Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas, Hill Country Animal League of Kendall County and Almost Home will each receive $100. However, the bulk of the restitution will go to San Antonio’s Animal Defense League, $3,600; and D&D K-9 Concepts of Kerr County, $1,000.

In March, acting on a complaint, local law enforcement officials participated in one of the largest animal cruelty seizures in Bandera County. According to reports, the animals were found living in squalor inside and outside of Thomason’s home. The bodies of two dogs and a cat found in a freezer were also removed from the premises.

At that time, Thomason served as president of an erstwhile animal rescue organization, Sanctuary Station.

At the time of her magistration on 40 charges of animal cruelty, County Attorney John Payne noted, “We are serious about prosecuting these types of cases. We want the people of Bandera County to be aware that this type of situation is not condoned and will not be tolerated in this county.”

As an additional condition of her plea last month, Thomason will only be allowed to keep two animals during her probationary period, noted Jennifer Gaertner, community liaison for animal control issues.