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Police charge woman with animal cruelty

By JAYNE HANSON
Today's News-Herald
Published Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:55 PM MST

VALLE VISTA — A Valle Vista woman, 37-year-old Heather Bridget Kral, was arrested Wednesday morning on six counts of cruelty to animals.

Heather Bridget Kral. Submitted photo.

Her arrest came after Mohave County Animal Control Enforcement Division followed up on a tip received Tuesday that dogs were howling and barking as if in distress at a rural residence, according to Mohave County Sheriff’s Office officials. She also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

“The dogs are expected to make a full recovery. One is on pain medication,” said Trish Carter, spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.

The animals showed signs of a skin condition that seemed to be the cause of hair loss. “They were malnourished and had been eating at their own toenails,” Carter said of the dogs’ initial condition.

Kral also was charged with four counts of no dog license and two counts of over the limit of dogs at her residence in the 10200 block of East Valley Road, according to a press release issued Thursday by Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. Valley Vista is located north of Kingman near the Kingman airport.

An animal control officer responded to the residence 1:15 p.m. Tuesday to check the welfare of the dogs and found a German shepard locked in a plastic travel crate sitting in the sun without any water. Another dog was located on the front porch of the residence, and both canines were emaciated and their fur was falling out, the press release said.

The animal control officer took custody of the two dogs because no one was home at the residence and noted there were more dogs inside the residence.

A search warrant was executed at the residence 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at which time detectives contacted Kral. The search revealed a makeshift pipe with burnt residue and four unhealthy dogs inside the residence.

Carter said it is believed the dogs were possibly being used for breeding purposes and the courts will determine if the dogs are to be returned to Kral. A collective fine associated with the charges could cost the animal owner almost $1,000 to regain custody of the dogs, she explained.

Kral was taken into custody without incident, transported and booked into Mohave County jail in Kingman where she is currently being held, Carter said.

Child Protective Services responded and took custody of Kral’s 2-year-old child.

Animal control transported three of the dogs to Cerbat Cliffs Animal Hospital where they received treatment. All six dogs are currently being housed at the Western Arizona Humane Society animal shelter in Kingman, Carter said.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.

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Comments (16 comment(s))

Bud wrote on Sep 4, 2009 3:23 PM:

" "I'd rather see people educated than busted and humiliated"
Since you're so smart, exactly how were you going to approach this woman and do such a thing. That lady chose her destiny, you can't change that.
Wow, talking about reading into a story and making judgements.
All I have to say is I hope that none of you own pets or bear children.
Wait, those must be your pets and your daughter you're defending. "

Bud wrote on Sep 4, 2009 12:38 PM:

" WHD, I never made any judgement. My opinion stated that I was pleased that the authorities didn't close their eyes on a potentially bad situation.
Did you even think about what you said? Who said the child was neglected? What about child endangerment?
If the lady is innocent of illegal drug use, let her prove her case. In the meantime, protect the child and the dogs that were on HER property.
Not her dogs? Free food? On her property in her home and in cages? No water? You don't make any sense.
And a 2 year old was supposed to take care of the dogs? You are kidding, right?
My point was that someone alerted the authorities and didn't close their eyes and walk away.
Just as in a name like "watching havasu die". Maybe you should get involved instead of just sitting back and watching. "

babalouie wrote on Sep 4, 2009 5:37 AM:

" I'd rather see people educated than busted and humiliated, Bud. And I think the libelous remarks posted by the peanut gallery here are in some way worse than the actual allegations against the woman. Yeah, I know, that's tough for a person like you to comprehend, since you think anyone who dares to disagree with your vision of society is guilty of criminal negligence, themselves. It's ten degrees cooler in Kingman, ya know. What was the temperature the day the raid took place? What was the time of day? Was there any shade on the property that might have kept the cage in the shade most of the time? Did the dog simply knock the water out of a water bowl that WAS provided? Was he left there long enough to get heat prostration? Why was he kept IN that cage to begin with? In point of fact, we aren't told squat here because the reporter and the paper don't think we are smart enough to make an informed decision about the issues the article raises. Perhaps they have people such as yourself in mind. Ya think? Did the brown residue found in a pipe come from ingesting a hard drug? Are we talking about a junkie or a speed freak, here? And frankly, what do her personal habits, be they good, bad, or somewhere in between, have to do with the allegations of animal cruelty? Are they, in fact, relevant? The fact is, probably not, and they probably would be ruled as inadmissable in court for darn good reason. Is it legal or ethical to tar her with the "druggie" brush merely to besmirch her character even further? Why? To justify the expense of the operation that didn't turn up quite as much as they were hoping to turn up? Hmmm, THAT sounds familiar. Why couldn't they simply have called her and discussed the anonymous complaint so she could have gotten into compliance with the pertinent laws? Why couldn't the complainant have talked to her and offered advice, perhaps even help? OMG, not THAT! Oh, know! It's not that big a stretch to see this thing as reminiscent of the way the Third Reich behaved. Heil Hitler, Bud! Do you shave your head too? "

LeighB wrote on Sep 3, 2009 10:46 PM:

" I pray all of the animals get back to health and out of pain. They should lock her up in a choke chain with no water out in the heat. What a waste of a human being she is. How disgusting it must be to have no feelings or empathy for a helpless animal. May God have mercy on her soul! "

kate_the_valkyrie wrote on Sep 3, 2009 8:00 PM:

" For animal control to believe the animals "emaciated", then it must have been bad enough to cause suspicion. To be locked in a cage in this heat with no water is wrong... whether the woman was on drugs or not. I hope she can get the help she needs, and I am not one to pose judgement, but obviously animal personnel thought it pertinent to remove the animals, that's enough for me. "

WATCHING HAVASU DIE wrote on Sep 3, 2009 12:24 PM:

" FOR BUD TO JUMP TO JUDGEMENT WITH THE LITTLE FACTS GIVIN JUST SPEAKS FOR HIS IGNORANCE ! ALSO IT SAID NOTHING ABOUT THE CHILD BEING NEGELECTED JUST THAT CPS HAD HER (they couldnt jail the child too) MAYBE IT WAS THE CHILDS CHORE TO TAKE CARE OF THE DOGS?? MAYBE THEY WERENT EVEN HER DOGS (no lic charge) THEY JUST HUNG OUT WHERE THERE WAS FREE FOOD?? MAYBE BUD SHOULD GET ALL THE FACTS BEFORE HE STARTS HIS BLATHER "

Bud wrote on Sep 2, 2009 3:12 PM:

" "over reacting"? "ignorant bigoted people"? Unbelievable.
babalouie, I thought you said the details were too sketchy to make an accurate analysis. You seem to be doing just that.
So who we would blame if authorities didn't do anything and all 6 dogs died and the child was harmed?
We could blame people like "babalouie", "bill516" and "watching havasu die" for not getting involved. "

Bud wrote on Sep 2, 2009 7:23 AM:

" I only replied to this story because I said how could anyone turn this story around and make stupid comments and then bill516 shows up.
Your primary concern was getting the lady off crack first and not the child or the dogs?
What about the child's or dogs rights? They weren't even able to have any say in the matter.
Maybe you should join that lady in the crate with no water to see what the dogs endured. "

babalouie wrote on Sep 2, 2009 1:25 AM:

" The details are too sketchy to make an accurate analysis of this story. Do the animals sound inadequately care for? It would appear so but descriptions such as "emaciated with hair falling out" doesn't tell us much. Many animals who are perfectly well cared for can exhibit those symptoms (worms, skin allergies, etc.). It troubles me that the authorities can come down on a person to this degree based solely on a complaint from who knows who and who knows why. As for the remarks of the people who accept these allegations at face value, all I can say it, how typical of the ignorant, bigoted people in this county. They just buy the state's character assassinations, lock stock and barrel, without a hint of skepticism. Poor journalism, at best, but since when does that matter around here? "

WATCHING HAVASU DIE wrote on Sep 2, 2009 12:26 AM:

" Sounds to me like law enforcement over-reacting,,,They are all being negelected and sick? But only one is on pain medication (prob just old) sensationalism,,,,MCSO just needed a Ada-boy "

bill516 wrote on Sep 1, 2009 7:17 AM:

" "eating at their own toenails" - What kind of idiotic statement is that.

Unhealthy dogs?, What does that mean exactly?

This appears to be another violation a citizens constitutional rights with CPS and the whole bit.

Get the woman off the crack first! "

carriem29 wrote on Aug 29, 2009 5:29 AM:

" What a NASTY, FILTHY, DISGUSTING woman. Its obvious that this woman is on some sort of drug, you can tell that by just looking at her. I'm sure she will not pay the $1000 to get her animals back.... that would cut into her drug money. Her poor child though, probably the product of yet another 3 day drug binge. I hope that baby will find a new home with a mother that actually cares about the child more than the drugs. As for her punishment, make her eat a bowl full of toenails while sitting in a plastic crate in 115 degrees with no water to wash those tasty toenails down!!! WHAT A DISGRACE. IM SURE HER MOTHER WOULD BE SO PROUD! "

tntareinlove2000 wrote on Aug 28, 2009 6:59 PM:

" What kind of sick person. Would harm a cute animal. If you are unhappy with your animal give it to a SHELTER.
Thank you..... "

LHCwasteland wrote on Aug 28, 2009 11:55 AM:

" she needs to be locked up and treated the same. By the looks of that animal, she looks almost there. "

BrightOne wrote on Aug 28, 2009 8:39 AM:

" Just plain sick! This woman should be locked in a travel crate with no water! "

Bud wrote on Aug 28, 2009 5:30 AM:

" They should lock her in a plastic travel crate with no water.
Hope all the dogs and her child get better. "

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