Introduction by Michael: Although a slightly forgotten, infamous individual, Julianne Westberry was well known as the cat hoarder who cynically and successfully played the cat rescue network to receive praise and money. But cats starved to death on her premises. She was in charge of a cat house of hell. There has been a long delay to punish her for criminal behavior which includes animal cruelty. Actually I am surprised the prosecution services have proceeded against her; not because she does not deserve it but because prosecutions against these sorts of crimes are uncommon. There are a series of articles on the Westberry saga which you can read here.
There’s not much progress being made in the Julianne Westberry case at this time except for a court appearance yesterday. Westberry had a hearing set for Thursday, September 17 along with many other legal cases. She made an appearance as is required by law but was dismissed due to other cases having precedence over her case. The hearing will be rescheduled.
It’s been a very harsh week for everyone involved in the case against Westberry. From the Anderson County PAWS (shelter) who scanned the dead cats for microchips, to the ones who handed over cats from transport thinking they were on their way to a new home, to those of us following in the shadows of Westberrys’ cruelty, we’re basically going through PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) caused by Westberry.
PTSD and loving cats won’t get anything accomplished against Westberry. What occurred yesterday may be in the best interest of building a better case. Victim Advocate Brenda Smith of the South Carolina 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office has viewed the YouTube video below made last summer and Ash Truesdale and I photographed the surviving cats the Anderson County PAWS. Smith understands we all want Westberry to serve jail time and are upset she was only charged with a couple of offenses.
Warning-video will make you cry!
This article is in part a call out to anyone out there who feels they have been a victim of Westberry. Anyone who pledged money to Julianne Westberry is asked to contact the 10th Anderson County Solicitor’s Office at (864) 260-4046 and leave your info with the receptionist or speak with Brenda.
Victims who contact the Solicitor’s office should stress that probation and a fine aren’t enough. Please don’t tie up the phone line just saying you want Westberry to suffer for what she’s done without being a solid part of the case. Brenda has over 50 cases, and it would distract from her other work.
I’ll do my best to keep everyone informed of new developments. It’s not known at this time whether Westberry will go before the judge in October. If not, court cases go down during November and December, and it will likely be January 2016 before her next court appearance.
Before anyone asks why she received so few charges, I don’t honestly know. I have learned cats are often considered less important by the courts. There have been dog cases in the Carolinas and Georgia where the person committing the abuse received one charge for each injured animal.
I think it sad we can’t even get a charge for a DEAD animal. Especially the innocent cats who thought Westberry was taking them to a better life and the animal advocates who believed in her.
Please feel free to comment below on any of this. Share this article widely, as there could be hundreds of victims who sent Westberry money, considering there are over 800 cats missing (not including the rescued or those found dead).
Please comment on Facebook to spread the word. Please click “Also post on Facebook”. Thanks:
Previous articles about JW had anywhere from 1.1K Facebook likes to 2.6K Facebook likes. This article hasn’t even hit 200 yet. Same goes with Kristen Lindsey. Each update gets fewer and fewer. It’s a bad way to judge things but it’s fairly accurate.
I’ll repeat what I said on Facebook last week… Justice would be a public hanging.. Save our tax dollars and remove this POS from existence. The end.
This monster should serve many years considering how many innocent cats suffered because of her! Cats have helped heal and comfort many lives, and are very valuable to humanity!!! Please make her pay for all the pain she has caused!!!
Cat and animals will heartily agree with you but the lawyers who prosecute her won’t probably.
Those innocents… they feel so deeply, either loved or heartlessly betrayed. We need a new word or phrase for cruelty to animals, especially domestic cats. I can’t think of anything strong enough.
Unfortunately Tiggre was never found. I feel he died or Buddy would never have left his side.