Jesse & Tina Kolb: Springville, Wisconson

Jan 30, 2010: Shelter seeks homes for 193 seized animals

By : Karen Madden

An out-of-court settlement has authorities hoping they can find good homes for nearly 200 animals seized in November.

Tina Kolb, 30, and Jesse T. Kolb, 33, both of the Adams County town of Springville, have agreed to transfer custody of 193 of the 197 seized animals over to the Adams County Humane Society. The animals include dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, horses and a ferret.

"The settlement was agreed to because it was in the best interest of the Adams County Humane Society, Adams County and, most importantly, the animals," said Brenda Merkle, Humane Society president. "Many of these animals will now be available for adoption and will be placed with the best suitable homes."

Dogs, cats, the ferret and guinea pigs are at the Humane Society. The rabbits are being cared for at the Adams County Fair Grounds by 4-H members. All the animals will be spayed or neutered before adoption, Merkle said.

The dogs were thin when they came to the shelter, she said. They are now taken for walks twice a day and are happy, healthy and have good temperaments. However, they're getting restless with the long-term confinement in the kennels.

"They really need a family, love, care and attention," Merkle said.

Jesse and Tina Kolb each are charged with three counts of child neglect, 10 counts of animal neglect and 10 counts of failure to provide proper food to a confined animal. If convicted of the 23 misdemeanor charges, each could face more than 17 years in jail. Both previously entered not guilty pleas to the charges and are scheduled for their next court appearance March 17..." More

Dec 30, 2009: Couple face cruelty charges

By Andy Steinke

Criminal and civil charges were filed recently against the Adams County couple whose children were taken away and whose 193 animals were seized from their home Nov. 11.

Jesse Kolb, 33, and Tina Kolb, 30, of the town of Springville, each were charged Dec. 14 with 10 counts of intentionally mistreating animals, 10 counts of intentionally failing to provide proper food for a confined animal and three counts of mistreating a child. All 23 criminal charges are misdemeanor offenses and carry a maximum penalty of $230,000 in fines and 17 1/4 years in prison..." More

Dec 26: 2009: Couple face 23 charges

By Andy Steinke, Dells Events

Criminal and civil charges were filed last week against the Springville couple who had their children taken away and 193 animals seized from their home Nov. 11.

Jesse Kolb, 33, and Tina Kolb, 30, were each charged Dec. 14 with 10 counts of intentionally mistreating animals, 10 counts of intentionally failing to provide proper food for a confined animal and three counts of mistreating a child. All 23 criminal charges are Class A misdemeanor offenses and carry a maximum penalty of $230,000 in fines and 17 1/4 years in prison.

Separate civil charges were filed Dec. 15 in an attempt to release the ownership of the animals to Adams County — specifically the Adams County Humane Society.

The couple’s initial court appearance to enter pleas for the criminal and civil charges is scheduled to resume Jan. 6, and Judge Charles Pollex may rule on the county’s petition to take ownership of the animals.

During the initial first appearance, the Kolbs requested an attorney and were appointed one by the court, Adams County District Attorney Mark Thibodeau said.

The investigation is ongoing, Thibodeau said, and additional charges could still be filed.

A number of dead animals were found on the Kolbs property, and according to Adams County Humane Society Manager Christina Ackerman a few of the rabbits have died since being seized.

A necropsy was performed on the animals found at the home, but results are still pending, Thibodeau said.

Adams County Sheriff Darrell Renner said the animals that were seized — two horses, 37 dogs, seven guinea pigs, one ferret, 13 cats and 133 rabbits — remain at the locations they were originally taken to: The horses at Central Wisconsin Save The Animal Group in Portage, the rabbits at the county fairgrounds and the rest at the Humane Society.

The animals are costing the county $5,000 per week to care for, county board Chairman Al Sebastiani said, which is why the board considered a resolution at its Dec. 15 meeting to pay the Humane Society $20,000 a month until the animals could be released from its care.

The resolution was tabled because Renner suggested at the county’s Safety and Judiciary Committee that his department pay for the animals’ care through the end of the year. The department’s 2009 budget was still in the black, so it could afford the expense for the remainder of 2009.

Sebastiani said if the board had passed the resolution, the county would have had to “dig for the money.”..." More

Nov 13, 2009: Adams County Struggling To Care For Seized Animals

Children Placed In Foster Care

TOWN OF SPRINGVILLE, Wis. -- The Adams County Humane Society is struggling to care for dozens of animals that were taken from a Town of Springville home Wednesday.

Authorities said three children at the home have been placed in foster care after Jesse Kolb, 33, and Tina Kolb, 30, were arrested Wednesday.

Jesse and Tina Kolb are facing 10 misdemeanor counts each of mistreating animals and three counts each of neglecting a child. They have been released on $5,000 signature bond.

Investigators said they aren't sure why the family was in a situation they described as "unlivable."

For a shelter that typically has about 20 animals, Christina Ackerman, manger of the Adams County Humane Society, said she is doing the best she can with more than 50 animals.

"There were dachshunds, labs, huskies. The huskies are in the worst shape by far," Ackerman said.

In all, 37 dogs of all ages and breeds were seized from the home, and Ackerman said the dogs are suffering from various stages of starvation.

"They are so hungry, but we have to be careful because if we feed too much at once you can really damage -- make them sick and injure them. So we try to feed, every hour or two, a cup to each animal," Ackerman saidIn addition to the dogs, 11 cats, seven guinea pigs, two horses and 133 rabbits are also in the county's custody after the animal seizure that county authorities said was like none they've seen.

"The conditions, some of the initial reports I got, were not fit for anyone to live in the house, because there were so many animals in the house and feces and different stuff on the floor and just in the residence itself," said Adams County Sheriff Darrell Renner.

The county and the Humane Society have to pay to care for the animals as the case works through the court system..." More & video