- Colorado animal-rights activist and vegan charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty.
Published by -NAWA News Feed- in - Animal Law - · Tuesday 15 Mar 2022
Ellen Kessler, an animal rights activist and vegan who was appointed by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to the State Veterinary Board but resigned earlier this year, has been charged with 13 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
According to CBS Denver, who first reported the charges on Monday, Kessler had 13 birds in her Jefferson County home, one of which was discovered dead and another of which died shortly after at a veterinarian's office.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the charges. The first court appearance for Kessler is set for May 23.
Ellen Kessler's Jefferson County home, where 13 birds were found in poor living conditions. Photo courtesy Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
According to Jefferson County Public Information Officer Karlyn Tilley, a person who visited Kessler's home on March 7 called the county to report multiple birds in poor living conditions, and Kessler allowed animal control officers to see the birds that day.
"There were a total of 13 birds, the most of whom were housed in the basement with food and water but no sunlight. Seed, dirt, and feces were all over the cages and floors. The stench of pee was overpowering. Many mice, both alive and dead, as well as flies, were discovered throughout the residence. There was no evidence that the house had any other pets or animals "In an email, Tilley stated.
The birds were taken away the next day, according to Tilley.
"It was determined that the birds should not be returned to the home," Tilley wrote, in part because the birds, which included doves and cockatiels, had a range of health problems.
"Ms. Kessler was given a list of resources for funding and cleaning her home. She was also given instructions on what she needed to do in order to provide suitable living conditions for her animals " The birds were taken to Foothills Animal Shelter to be evaluated for possible adoption, according to Tilley.
Ellen Kessler's Jefferson County home, where 13 birds were found in poor living conditions. Photo courtesy Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Kessler was charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty misdemeanors. Animal cruelty is a class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado that includes a maximum fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum fine of $500, as well as the possibility of up to 18 months in prison.
In June 2020, Kessler, a vegan and animal rights activist, was named to the state veterinary board. Her appointment sparked outrage almost immediately due to harsh remarks she made against farmers and ranchers, mostly on Facebook. "4-H clubs don't educate students that animal lives count," she remarked in a post a month after her appointment. In August 2020, she shared a tale on Facebook alleging that dairy farmers sexually assault their cows, most likely referring to artificial insemination, which has been used for at least 60 years.
Kessler's resignation was demanded by several people, including Polis.
In response to a Facebook post by First Gentleman Marlon Reis, a friend of Kessler's, she labeled ranchers "lazy" and "rude" on Jan. 22.
Reis' remark was in response to an article in the Missoulian about a new collaborative initiative with grizzly bear ranchers. Kessler accused ranchers of using their cows to "bait" wolves in order to get compensation for the death of their animals in recent wolf attacks on livestock and dogs in northern Colorado.
On January 24, Kessler resigned from the board of veterinarians. Records reveal she stepped down to protect Polis from backlash after she made incendiary remarks about the livestock sector, according to records.
While she apologized to the governor, she doubled down on her remarks regarding ranchers, which were initially reported by the agricultural newspaper Fence Post.