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We are appalled to learn that prosecutors in San Bernardino are considering dropping the felony charges against Dianne Bedford, which would likely lead to her avoiding any jail time for lesser misdemeanor charges.
You can read about the case by clicking on the two pictures above.
In summary, in 2024, authorities seized 114 dogs from Woofy Acres Adoptions in Pinon Hills, San Bernardino County. According to investigators, 94 of those animals were in such poor condition they had to be euthanized.
The owner of a Southern California dog rescue has been charged with 37 criminal counts of mistreating the animals, nearly 100 of which were in such bad condition they had to be euthanized.
Woofy Acres first made headlines in early 2024 after Bedford was accused of abandoning 32 dogs — many from Orange County — at a Rowland Heights kennel in Los Angeles County.
Woofy Acres was heavily used by Orange County Animal Care.
Orange County Animal Care has released a total of 149 dogs to Woofy Acres, with the last placement in January 2024. It is unclear whether any dogs from Orange County were among the dogs seized by authorities.
Danielle Howard, a local volunteer and animal advocate who has worked alongside Kennel Eviction Rescue, which took on the care of the dogs abandoned by Dianne Bedford of Woofy Acres prior to the Pinon Hills seizure, and has advocated for the confiscated animals, said, “It is imperative that the public contact the District Attorney’s office. The Deputy District Attorney indicated to me at the January 6th hearing that she intended to offer Dianne a plea deal and would not be filing felony charges because there were no prior convictions. She also stated that this would be her approach to hoarding cases moving forward, characterizing hoarding as a mental health issue rather than an act of intentional cruelty. That approach sends a troubling message about accountability in cases involving severe animal neglect.”
"This was the worst case I've ever seen," said Shira Scott Astrof, founder of the Animal Rescue Mission, who told FOX LA the animals were found "skin and bones, just barely alive."
Beezy's Rescue has a fantastic summary of the criminal case, which we encourage you to read for more in depth information on the charges and the current state of the case.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Please contact the San Bernardino District Attorney's Office and ask that they prosecute Dianne Bedford to the fullest extent of the law, including keeping the felony charges.
Send your email to these three:
da@sbcda.org,DPloghaus@sbcda.org,publicaffairs@sbcda.org
Here is a text blurb you can use if you'd like to:
I urge you to reject any plea deal that diminishes accountability for her willful and felonious criminal actions toward 116 dogs, pursue felony charges reflecting the full extent of the cruelty and resulting deaths, expand the counts to include all confiscated victims, and seek the maximum sentence permitted under California law.
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