Felony animal abuse in Gerber under investigation

It was a rescue and moving day for all of the reportedly severely neglected and abused animals that were located by the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office on the 22900 block of Thomes Avenue in Gerber.

Using trucks, trailers, cars, crates and much more on July 3, dozens of animals were transported to the county’s Animal Care Center facility and other locations in an effort to provide them with the much needed food, shelter and veterinary care they required.

The Sheriff’s Department staff were at the property by 8 a.m. to seize all of the animals from the property with assistance from the Care Center, the California Brand Inspector's Office, Tehama County District Attorney’s Office, and local cowboys and cowgirls volunteers who were all willing and ready to help in the enormous project.

Throughout the day the volunteers and staff transported horses, mules, dogs, goats, sheep and cattle – seizing and moving over 100 animals.

The animals were transported to various locations, including the animal shelter, private foster homes, and large animal facilities, reported the sheriff’s department.

The critical work came just days after the sheriff’s department had issued warnings about caring for animals in the continuing heat wave on social media, and on the heels of two residents who were willing to get involved when they saw dogs locked in crates in a vehicle in the torturing heat.

According to the sheriff’s office, two residents reported the alleged abuse to the department, which quickly responded.

Sheriff’s Dep. Steven Weightman immediately responded and found two dogs locked in the crates in the back of the car, which was not running and no air-conditioning provided.

Weightman said the animals had no food or water and appeared to have been held in the crates for days - the outside temperature displayed on his phone reading 111 degrees.

The deputy made access to the dogs, and with the help of neighbors, made makeshift bowls to provide water to the animals.

In the meantime, the deputy began noticing other animals at the address who appeared in distress.

As more deputies arrived on scene to assist, officers from allied agencies and departments arrived as well, such as the Corning and Red Bluff police departments and the Tehama County Animal Care Center staff.

“As we entered the property, we discovered what can only be described as a horror scene of animal neglect and abuse,” Weightman said. “The specific findings are too graphic to fully express here, but it included deceased, mutilated animals, goats with their necks and horns bound in rope, injured lambs that could not stand or walk, a severed bull’s head rotting in an empty horse trailer, and multiple animal skulls and carcasses littered around the front yard of the residence.”

Also located were several severely emaciated dogs, one of which had a litter of puppies, according to the sheriff’s office, as well as dozens of emaciated cows, horses and livestock.

Deputies said they could not locate any stock of animal feed on the property.

One of the most heartbreaking moments of this incident, reported deputies, was when they observed one of the emaciated dogs trying to feed on a maggot-infested, rotten goat carcass.

The owner of the property, 66-year-old David Michael McGrath, was located and immediately taken into custody, deputies reported.

He was booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of felony animal abuse.

The overwhelming amount of animal abuse discovered resulted in a request for the Tehama County Major Crimes Unit to respond and take over the investigation.

A search warrant was served at the property and as the investigation continues, additional charges are expected to be filed against McGrath in Tehama County Superior Court.

“Mr. McGrath will have a right to a post animal seizure hearing where he can appeal to have his animals returned, but our detectives are working hard to make sure that he is not able to get any of these animals back. Adoption proceedings may begin following the determination of the post seizure hearing,” said Tehama County Sheriff Dave Kain.

For more information on how to help feed and care for the rescued animals call the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office at 530-529-7940 or the Animal Care Center at 530-527-3439.