Roane County News - Roane County:

Cat rescue head indicted on 37 counts of cruelty

6/27/05

By Anna Lee Beyer

Last week, Angel Wings Cat Rescue and Sanctuary founder Rehnee Harvey was indicted by the Roane County grand jury.

Charged with 37 counts of animal cruelty, Harvey turned herself in to the Roane County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday and posted $3,000 bond the same day, said Capt. Fay Hall.

Her arraignment is scheduled for today.

Harvey founded Angel Wings 9 years ago. On her South of the River property, there is what’s known as “the cat house” where dozens of cats – some adoptable, some feral, some sick – are housed.

The charges are based on photographs take in the spring, depicting dead animals in and around the cat house and a room covered in excrement.

District Attorney General Scott McCluen began investigating Harvey after the pictures and other information were presented to him by former Angel Wings board members.

As of late May, Harvey was housing about 30 cats and seven dogs at the South of the River property.

Any animals still at the property will be removed and held at the Roane County Animal Shelter, if they don’t pose a risk of spreading illness to other animals in the shelter.

Harvey faced further legal trouble in May when she was arrested by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on felony charges of identity theft and acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud or forgery.

She is accused of impersonating a veterinarian to obtain prescription pain relievers for her own back pain.


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