Lisa Gaunt's friends and fellow animal lovers in Wayland, Michigan say they saw it happening long before she ended up on the front page of the newspaper. She was burning out.
Lisa Gaunt became a "collector" and took in so many strays that she was unable to keep up with such basic tasks as cleaning cages, neutering the animals and getting them vaccinated. Many died, as Gaunt tried to hide her predicament and ignored warnings that she was out of control, her former co-workers said. KeLinda Scott of Wayland, a friend, warned her, and this warning came true. She was charged 8/10/01 with five counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after Shiawassee County officials found more than 160 cats and dogs stacked in cages at her home.
Characteristically, many of the animals were dirty with feces, left for days without food or water. The smell was overpowering when officials opened the windows. Veterinarians euthanized about half of the animals on the spot. he rest, fortunately, are still in good health and remain in the custody of animal control officials.
"Animal collecting is a mental (disorder)," said Molly Girard, who once worked with Gaunt. "In her back room, she had about 100 cats in cat carriers," she said. "When I got into the barn, where she had 15 to 20 dogs in a nonventilated room, there were dead cats, with dogs in feces and urine."
"It's a form of obsession or addiction that I don't think has been addressed in the psychiatric community as much as it needs to be," she said. "The person is in complete denial. They feel completely vindicated by the "goodness" of what they are doing. They could always, always rationalize it away."
Rescuers see an animal and their kindness overwhelms their sensibilities, said Stepheni Lazar, development associate for the Humane Society of Genesee County.
Animal control officials in Allegany County have confiscated Gaunt's animals several times in recent years, but Gaunt has always managed to get them back, Girard said. On one occasion, the animals were returned because photos were taken as evidence without a court order, Girard said.
Lisa Gaunt needs counseling, but she can never compensate the animals who have suffered and died because they didn't even get minimal care. When good intent isn't covered by rational thinking, it all backfires, and the innocent animals were the losers here. |
