Sequim Gazette staff

Sequim resident John Dashti, 61, faces two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in the second degree after most of his animals were seized in late June at his residence off of River Road.

The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the charges after a multi-week investigation by County Sheriff’s Office officials and repeated visits to Dashti’s property at 21 Serenity Lane.

Dashti also is being evicted the property and was given 20 days from his court appearance July 10 to vacate the premises, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King, said.

Dashti’s next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, July 31, in Clallam County District Court 1 for the charges of animal cruelty in second degree, defined as when a “person knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.”

On June 24, Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas, sheriff’s office deputies, a veterinarian and representatives from Chimacum’s Central Valley Animal Rescue seized two donkeys, two sheep and four goats from the property for alleged neglect.

The animals were taken to the rescue because of the low level of sanitation inside their pen where two animal carcasses were found buried, King told the Gazette in a previous interview.

Other animals they inspected including a dog, chickens, quail, pigs and rabbits were found in adequate health at the time, he said.

Prior to seizing the animals, Dashti was given multiple warnings regarding animal care in the past month.

Deputies later reported to Dashti’s property on June 29 to investigate a dead, 100-pound pig. A necropsy performed on the pig revealed it was fed and watered and doesn’t initially appear to be dehydrated, King said.

However, with another animal found dead, King said they obtained another search warrant and seized the rest of the animals except for a few free-range chickens they were unable to capture.

An anonymous post online showed photos of carcasses on Dashti’s property.

Dashti told the Sequim Gazette in a previous interview that he isn’t hiding anything and that some of his animals were killed when tree branches fell on them during last winter’s storm that flooded his property.

Dashti said he kept some carcasses because a Seattle company buys them for $60-$80 each.

However, King said Dashti also told law enforcement he’s kept the carcasses as collections and for research, too.