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7/25/06 - A jury trial was scheduled for the Nichols' case on 7/25/06. That trial was canceled when Paula Nichols entered a plea of guilty to eight counts of second-degree animal cruelty for neglecting the care of her horses. She was originally charged with 16 counts of animal neglect, and a total of 27 animals were confiscated. Three horses were surrendered to SCR just days before the raid.
SCR is preparing a full report of events leading up to the Nichol's trial. Please check back.
2/23/2006 - Ms. Nichols filed for contingency and her pre-trial case has been postponed.
1/25/2006 - The Pre-trial date for Paula Nichols' case, 16 counts of animal neglect/cruelty, is set for 2/23/2006. It will be held at Thurston County District Court in Olympia.
1/13/2006 - The motion hearing set for 1/12/06 took place. Paula's attorney had petitioned the court for Paula to have custody of all her animals until her trial where she would be found guilty or innocent. This is typically a 2 hour hearing. It lasted two days and a total of approximately 12 hours. Mostly due to lengthy testimony from Paula Nichols. The prosecutor presented several witnesses and a lot of evidence through video and photos.
Prosecutor Debra Eurich did a fantastic job of presenting her case. Representatives from Thurston County Animal Services, Hooved Animal Rescue and Second Chance Ranch all testified. Judge Stilz gave very careful thought and consideration to information provided by both sides. Paula will be allowed three of her dogs back on her property, but no horses will be returned at this time. Also, the following conditions:
1. Paula can not obtain any more animals until after trial.
2. The judge allowed Paula to arrange for foster or permanent homes for the remaining 10 dogs, but no more than three at her home. She has not been charged with animal cruelty or neglect for any of the dogs (horses only).
3. She must obtain proper licensing for the three dogs at home.
4. She will pay bond/restitution for the horses. The current cost to date is approximately $7,000.00 and she will be billed an additional (approximate) $7,000.00 every 30 days. This is for their care and rehabilitation provided by Thurston County. This does NOT include horses taken by Second Chance Ranch. Those horses surrendered to SCR belong solely to SCR and we take full responsibility for their care. The horses confiscated by the County are in temporary custody until trial and she is still responsible for the cost of their care.
This was an educational experience for me as I learned more about the limits, allowances, and loopholes of the law regarding animal welfare and custody. It was particularly difficult to listen to hours of tearful, embellished, and even fabricated testimony from Paula Nichols. She painted a picture of a state of the art, well operated and planned out facility for horses, including a full staff hired to clean, medicate and groom horses, and exercise and feed the dogs.
On the first day of trial, shortly after the prosecutor started her cross examination, Paula's attorney pleaded the 5th Amendment, meaning she does not have to testify against herself, or say anything that would incriminate herself before trial. Remember, this was just a "motion hearing", she has not been found guilty at a full trial yet. Paula's testimony when cross examined was that she had never heard of teeth floating, did not know horses needed salt in their diet, and testified that she did not clean their feet, ever, unless riding. None of them were rideable. She also testified that she did not think she had ever neglected the horses and did not plan to make changes in her care of them.
Prosecutor Eurich was well prepared the present Video, photos, and testimony of numerous witnesses spanning over a period of two years prove the horses had indeed been neglected and were extremely malnourished.
Paula, up until the end, even after gruesome video and photos were presented, testimony from the vet and Animal Services of the horrendous condition (lice, abscesses, founder, starvation, dehydration, dental problems on all horses) claims she did nothing wrong. The horses did not need rescuing and were in fine condition in her opinion. She testified that she does not plan on making any changes to the property or in her care of the animals. Evidence and testimony from the vet showed that it took many months to years for their condition to develop this severely and even “if” she had gotten them in this condition – it’s unacceptable that it has continued for two years.
12/29/2005 - Paula Nichols plead "not guilty" to all charges at the arraignment today. The prosecuting attorney asked for release conditions, that she not possess any animals while the case is pending (She still has cats and chickens). This request was denied, however, the judge did agree to random welfare checks by animal services of the remaining animals on Ms. Nichols property.
A trial date has not been set, however, Paula Nichol's attorney has filed a "motion hearing" set for 1/12/2006 at 3:00 p.m. This motion is for the release and return of all the dogs and horses back to Ms. Nichols.
Paula has shown no remorse and still claims to have done nothing wrong and that she rescued these horses in poor condition. That contradicts the statements and photos provided by every previous owner of the horses confiscated.
PLEASE join us at the court house to show your support. If you have ANY information or have had interaction with Paula Nichols that is pertinant to this case, please notify Prosecuting Attorney, Debra Eurich, immediately!
12/24/2005 - An arraignment date has been set for 12/29 for the charges filed (16 counts of animal neglect/cruelty). If she pleads "not guilty" they will set a trial date. If she pleads guilty, it will be up to the judge whether to sentence her on that day or set a date and time for a sentencing hearing.
1/12/2006 is a date set for a motion hearing because she petitioned the court to have her animals returned.
12/17/2005 - On December 16, 2005 a second horse confiscated from Miss Paula's was put to sleep. Sampson was the 8 yr old stallion, pictured in the Olympian Newspaper when the story broke. It was the opinion of two vets that his severely absessed hoof condition was not treatable after almost two weeks of soaking, padding, pain meds,etc. He has been in horrific pain and walking on three legs for a very long time. The pain meds were irritating his stomach. In his last weeks, Sampson knew he was loved. Couragous effort was made to save him.
Paula Nichols, still unaware or unwilling to admit she has done anything wrong has petitioned the court to return all of her animals. There has been a huge response to this case by the community - many letters, emails and phone calls. We need the support of those of you who have spoken out to plead with the court to NOT return a single animal to her. Click here
12/3/2005 - KUDOS to the Thurston County Sheriff's Department and Hooved Animal Rescue for the outstanding job they have done in taking swift and effective action. I am amazed at how quickly they were able to organize and act on this situation. I am forever grateful to HAR, knowing that all the animals on that farm are now warm, dry, safe and being very well taken care of.
There has been speculation that Paula had "rescued" these horses in even worse condition. Let me clarify and dispel any myth about that. The original owners of most of these horses have provided photos and statements that the horses came to her in very good condition, and were in fact donated to her kid's riding camp. Tico's before photo is an example. A flurry of people have come forward who live near her and have watched the tragic decline of health of these horses.
Paula reported to me that she did not have hay a month available for the horses. In October she purchased a ton of grass hay that she said was basically inedible, for 17 horses. Nothing more was purchased until a few days ago. She reported to me that she did not have hay for the horses and did not have a plan to fund their feed. It doesn't take money to fill a water bucket, wash off caked on manure, pick out feet, comb mane and tail, or put the little food they have somewhere other than muck and manure. Paula works from home. These things are basic, general maintenance that she could have done (even with her disability).
I believe Paula has a problem collecting animals and if it stopped there I would be more forgiving. There is nothing "loving" or special about watching 27 animals (and those are just the ones who were still alive there) starve and endure excruciating medical conditions. After spending time with her and taking three of the horses from her, I believe it was greed - the hope of selling them or breeding the stallion that could barely stand from multiple abscesses in every hoof - that kept them there. She was told by the County, by a vet and a farrier that these horses were in dire need of help and she ignored their warning and also chose to ignore that the horses were starving and in pain. Paula had choices and help available.