Woman faces new charges, restitution in rabbit-hoarding case
Posted by The Oregonian July 12, 2007 11:57AM
Categories: Top Stories, Washington County
HILLSBORO -- Oregon's largest animal neglect case did not end today as planned when a judge ordered Miriam Sakewitz to pay nearly $20,000 in restitution for the care of more than 150 rabbits seized from her home nearly nine months ago.

During the restitution hearing, Sakewitz, 45, was arraigned on charges that she violated her probation for having rabbits once again on her property in the 1800 block of Northeast 23rd Court in Hillsboro.

A probation violation hearing will be held Aug. 9.

Sakewitz pleaded no contest in April to five counts each of first- and second-degree animal neglect and was sentenced to five years' probation. Because of the convictions, state law mandated that she not possess domestic animals for five years.

Police seized 158 live rabbits from her house, backyard and shed during a raid Oct. 16. They found another 88 dead rabbits in refrigerators and freezers.

Police said the surviving rabbits were diseased, sick and dirty. They were adopted out after being nursed back to health, fed and cared for by Rock Creek Veterinary Hospital, Washington County Animal Services, Hillsboro police and volunteer rabbit advocates.

While the rabbits were in a secret police warehouse, Sakewitz broke in and took more than 100 of them in January, police said. She was arrested in Chehalis, Wash., with nine live rabbits and one dead rabbit in her car. More than 130 rabbits were at a nearby horse farm.

In that case, Sakewitz pleaded no contest to second-degree criminal mischief and tampering with evidence.

Click here to read previous stories from The Oregonian about this case, and to view a video about Sakewitz and the rabbits.

-- Holly Danks; hollydanks@news.oregonian.com