Bird Breeder: The State Ruined My Life - NewsChannel5.com

by Brent Frazier

PORTLAND, Tenn. - A newly released animal autopsy confirms that seven of LaSandra Walter's exotic birds died of starvation and dehydration.

"When a bird's dying, they stop eating, and they stop drinking," Walter defended, in an exclusive sit-down interview with NewsChannel 5.

"And so, that's why there's nothing in their crop. That's why they appeared dehydrated."

But there's more to this part of the story.  Walter admitted to keeping the carcasses of those seven dead birds in her freezer, some for several years.

"A lot of times, it's just common sense," she explained. "The ground's frozen, so other times I just can't bury them. And they [veterinarians] have morgue freezers!"

Still, prosecutors saw the setup much differently than she did on August 3. William Lamberth, the assistant district attorney and lead prosecutor in the case, recalled what law enforcement officials, armed with a search warrant, found that morning.

"They're emaciated; they're in nasty and filthy conditions. There are untreated medical conditions here."

Lamberth stood behind his handling of the case, a case that lasted, from beginning to end, only one week. Lamberth also insisted that despite the raid and seizure of all 120 of Walter's birds, the animals were ordered to be treated as Walter's property, at all times, until her court case reached finality.

Lamberth recalled, the lineup the day the search warrant was executed included, not only uniformed officers, but also, "at least four separate vets and avian experts. One of which is the vet for the Nashville Zoo."

Lamberth also credited outsiders, including an animal rights group from Washington, for their contributions.

"A veterinarian from D.C., had flown in free of charge just to be able to evaluate this situation, to find out if there was a problem," Lamberth said.

While William Lamberth finds no pleasure in the early August raid of the Walter property, he believes whole-heartedly that he saved the lives of roughly 120 birds, also the life of LaSandra Walter herself.

"My whole life was based on my bird business," Walter insisted.

Hookbill Haven Aviary is the name Walter's bird breeder business operated under for the bigger part of 30 years.

"My birds were well cared-for," she defended. "I was never cruel to anything!"

In a plea agreement with the courts, LaSandra Walter pleaded guilty to lesser charges:  four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, the state agreeing to dismiss a felony count of extreme animal cruelty.

Walter is under strict orders from the court, no more birds, outside of the two feathered friends she gets to hang on to:   "Buddha," she calls him, an African Gray Parrot she's had 22 years; and an Amazon Red Lored, named "Lolly," she's enjoyed and cared for the last 36 years.

LaSandra Walter also agreed to never allow those two birds to breed, and to never have more than just Buddha and Lolly in her home from this point forward.

The 68-year-old must now find comfort in the cats, chickens, geese and Arabian horses she gets to keep. Walter admitted to NewsChannel 5, she loves her horses.

"I love the birds, too," she said. "But this is all I have."

29 Aug, 2011

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