Woman, 80, Arrested; 20 Pets Are Impounded

An 80-year-old Pacoima woman was arrested and forced out of her rented house Tuesday after Los Angeles Animal Regulation Department inspectors discovered neglected dogs and cats amid unsanitary conditions inside.

Los Angeles police forced open the door of the house in the 13700 block of Filmore Street about 1 p.m. after Dorothy Sexton refused to let inspectors inside, said animal regulation Lt. James Phipps.

When she refused to leave and yelled, “Get out of my house, you can’t take the animals,” a police officer led her out, grabbing her right hand and holding her left arm against her back, authorities said.

Sexton was arrested on suspicion of maintaining unlicensed animals and was taken to Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar for observation, Phipps said. The woman appeared to have an open sore on her leg, officials said.

Ten dogs and 10 cats were taken to the city’s East Valley Animal Shelter for health inspections, he said. Phipps said a dog that appeared to be dying was found lying on a couch.

“It had rapid, shallow breathing and did not look like it was well at all,” he said. “I had fleas all over my legs as soon as I set foot in the yard.”

Witnesses said the floor of the house was covered with animal droppings. Dogs that were not bald had matted hair, Phipps said, and almost all appeared to be suffering from upper respiratory infections. The animals apparently were not let out and had no contact with humans other than Sexton, Phipps said.

“They were hiding under furniture, wherever they could scram to hide” when officers entered the house, he said.

Phipps said authorities became aware of conditions in the house when a neighbor complained in April, 1988, but they agreed to waive charges when Sexton voluntarily gave up several of her cats.

When inspectors returned in August to see if she was complying with regulations, she refused to let them inside, he said. Authorities obtained a search warrant but did not serve it until Tuesday after trying for several months to persuade the woman to allow them inside.

“We didn’t want to persecute this individual,” Phipps said. “She’s a little old lady who needs help.”