Contemptuous dog breeder's fines now top $70K

Dog breeder Thurman "Randy" Sanders Jr. was found in contempt of court Monday, after ignoring an August court order that limited him to owning no more than three adult dogs.

"You knew you were in violation of that court order all along," Tippecanoe Superior 2 Judge Steve Meyer said. "What disturbs me about your case is you're showing a pattern of violating ordinances and court orders.

Disregarding the August order racked up an additional $19,200 in fines, $1,850 in attorney fees — both of which are added to the $49,805 in fines and fees assessed last fall. All totaled, Sanders now owes $70,855.

"You're showing a disrespect for this court and for that, I'm finding you in contempt of court," the judge said just before assessing the fines and fees against Sanders.

Meyer indicated that Sanders could be sent to jail for a contempt order but saved that possibility for another day.

"If there's another violation that comes before this court, we will be looking at other sanctions," Meyer said.

Sanders admitted he had eight dogs — four adults and four juveniles that Sanders claimed in court had just turned 4 months old when seven of his eight dogs were seized on Feb. 23. But outside the court, Sanders said the pups were born in early August, which would have made them nearly 7 months old when they were taken. Any dog more than 4 months old is considered an adult, according to the county's animal control ordinance.

Seven of the eight animals were removed from Sanders' barn and described as abused and neglected, living and sleeping in their own filth inside their pens, according to animal control reports.

Earlier this month, Tippecanoe Superior 6 Michael Morrissey stripped Sanders of ownership of the seven dogs. They have since been spayed or neutered and are now at a rescue in Canada. Morrissey allowed Sanders to keep the eighth dog, pending a July hearing on the issue.

Earlier in Monday's hearing, the court pressed Sanders on how he might pay the $49,805 assessed against him from the August proceedings.

Sanders said he owns 26 acres south of Stockwell and that the land does not have a mortgage, but it does have two liens. He also said he receives $626 a month in Social Security disability.

Jay Seeger, attorney for the Tippecanoe County Board of Zoning Appeals — which brought the civil action for zoning violations that was settled in August, said he believed Sanders' property is sufficient to satisfy the debt from the fall, as well as the current fines. But neither Seeger nor the court pressed Sanders Monday to pay the fines or fees.

After the hearing, the Journal & Courier asked Sanders about paying his debt.

"Where (are) they going to get it?" Sanders rhetorically asked.

"The county government in the county that I've lived in for 67 years, keeps adding fine, after fine, after fine because I'm trying to make a living to pay my own bills."

In the discussion in the courthouse hallway, Sanders' indicated he wants to continue to breed border collies and continued to search for the 30 dogs he allowed a person take to Boone County so he was compliant with the August order. Those dogs, which he claimed still are his property, have been sold or given away, and he's not been paid for the dogs.

"If I'm allowed three dogs," he said, "I want them to be a male and two unrelated females so that I can breed one litter a year. I was trying to find the other dogs."

The July hearing in Superior 6 will consider whether Sanders can own any dogs, including his companion dog, Spud. Until then, Sanders is barred from keeping any new dogs, and Spud is not allowed to breed.