More details emerge on animal cruelty case

Dec 12, 2019

Details on an animal cruelty case against Lauren Fisher continue to emerge from court hearings and police reports. 

The 65-year-old Marion woman was arrested on Dec. 11 on two counts of animal cruelty, interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest.

Dozens of animals were located inside of her home and on the property, including multiple miniature horses, potbelly pigs, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, hens, chickens, dogs, cats and exotic birds. There were a number of dead birds on the property, but none were inside the house.

Fisher pled “not guilty” at an arraignment at Wareham District Court on Dec. 12. She plans to have a lawyer represent her, but that lawyer was not there. 

The Marion resident is on probation, is not allowed to have any animals during the proceedings, and must allow probation officers to check in with her periodically. Her bail was set at $500. If she is arrested again, she will be held without bail. 

Her pre-trial hearing is set for Jan. 24. 

Police reports revealed that some of the animals would have to be quarantined after they were removed from the property. 

Officer Sean Day, who wrote the report, described numerous animals wandering in the yard, a birdcage in the house that “did not appear to have been cleaned for quite some time,” and dogs kept three or more to a cage. He also noted that there was animal feces on the floors and on a bed. 

In a Dec. 12 press conference police mentioned that at least one of the people who lived in the house was a child, although they would not reveal how many children were involved or their ages. The report showed that police officers came to that conclusion based on the setup of one of the rooms. No children were present during the investigation.

Lieutenant Alan Borgal with the Animal Rescue League of Boston was also on the visit, and said that on a previous visit he had advised Fisher to take two dogs to a vet immediately because their fur was extremely matted. On the Dec. 11 visit, it appeared that Fisher had not done so, as Borgal and Day observed two poodle-like dogs, one that “was supposed to be white in color but currently appeared black and white from dirt and matted fur,” according to the report. 

Officers posted signs at the house forbidding anyone from living at the house. As they conducted an inspection of the animals and property, Fisher reportedly repeatedly demanded to know whether she would get her animals back. Officer Day responded that he did not know. 

Fisher became confrontational, and attempted to rip down the signs that officers had posted and deny them entry. 

When Day said that she was under arrest, she insisted she was not, ripped her arm away, and tried to leave the room. She also deliberately made it hard for Day to place handcuffs on her by keeping her arms tensed.  

The Board of Health voted to condemn Fisher’s house at an emergency meeting on Dec. 12.