Hold Authorities Accountable For Allowing Cats Abandoned In House To Die

Published: June 09, 2023 at 12:16 AM Author: Penny Eims

Iberia Parish, Louisiana – Six cats suffered a slow and agonizing death after their owner moved out of a rental house at 5814 Sandoz Road, Iberia Parish, leaving them behind without food or water. What their owner did is horrific, and what the local authorities did (or failed to do) is unconscionable.

According to Jeff Dorson, the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, last summer, an Iberia Parish resident saw several cats in the window of a house on Sandoz Road; she contacted authorities because she knew the tenant had moved out.

The woman claims that the authorities not only refused to come out to the home to remove the cats but informed her that if SHE removed the cats, she would be arrested. The result? Six cats slowly starved to death…alone in a house that had become their prison. Growing weaker with each passing day, they were left to wonder if the person who was supposed to care for them would ever return.

The colossal failures surrounding this sad situation get worse. The Humane Society has provided the authorities with the name of the cats’ owner, but they have made no arrests or conducted any investigation. Dorson said:

“We have provided the sheriff’s office with the name of the cat’s owner and pictures taken of the crime scene (the deputy who finally responded to the call in February refused to exit his vehicle or look at the pictures of the carcasses). He simply told the witness that he would write a report and added that he doubted that anything could be done. This is wrong on every level.”

If you are appalled by this horrific situation, please add your name to the petition today! Animal Victory will be petitioning the authorities with your comments and signatures. We will demand that these cats deserve justice through a complete investigation and charges against their owner. Animal Victory firmly believes that this animal cruelty case must be investigated by the law. It is indefensible that the authorities have chosen to sweep this situation under the rug.

Animal-Protection-Laws-of-Louisiana-2020-Animal-Legal-Defense-Fund (3)

We, the undersigned, demand that the authorities conduct a complete investigation into the death of six cats who were abandoned in a home at 5814 Sandoz Road. It is our understanding that the department has been provided with the name of the cat’s owner and photos of the crime scene. With this information, an arrest and charges are warranted. These innocent lives deserve justice – they suffered horrific deaths, and someone needs to be held accountable!

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

News

Statement from Jeff Dorson

FINAL CASE UPDATE – DECEMBER 2025 VICTORY!

After more than two and a half years of persistence, this case has finally concluded.

Defendant Amanda Bijoux pled guilty to six counts of simple cruelty to animals for abandoning her cats in a home without food or water, leaving them to die slow, agonizing deaths. Initially, there was substantial concern that this case would be ignored or dismissed in Iberia Parish — but we refused to allow that to happen.

Because of the continued pressure from Animal Victory supporters, and through coordinated efforts with Jeff Dorson and the Humane Society of Louisiana, Iberia Parish officials were repeatedly reminded that these lives mattered and that the public demanded accountability. Your signatures and voices prevented this case from being swept under the rug.

The Sentence

Bijoux received:
• Six months in Iberia Parish Jail — suspended
• Two years supervised probation
• $60/month probation fees for two years ($1,440 total)
• $500 fine
• $100 cost of prosecution
• $100 to the Public Defender’s Office
• 40 hours of community service

While we had hoped for a stronger sentence given the suffering these animals endured, we are grateful this case was not dismissed and that the defendant was held legally accountable. Too many cruelty cases go unpunished. This one did not — because you refused to give up.

Thank you

To every signer, every supporter, and to our partners who stood with us — you helped keep justice alive in this case. This is proof that persistence matters, public pressure matters, and together, we can make authorities act.

Judgement and Sentencing of Amanda Bijeaux

Update 9/30/2025: The pre-conference and jury trial for Amanda Bijoux has been continued. Pre-trial is on 11/12/2025, and jury trial is on 12/15/2025. Case #: 23-1104

Update 9/29/2025: The jury trial for Amanda Bijoux started at 9:00 AM. The court clerk has confirmed that the results will not be available until tomorrow.

Update 8/22/2025: Defendant Amanda Bijeaux
Docket Number: 23-1104. Amanda Bijeaux was arraigned on July 16, 2025.
Her pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2025, and her jury trial is set for September 29, 2025.

Update 5/31/2025: Animal Victory sent a petition to Prosecutor Hue. 

Update 5/22/2025: This case WAS NOT dropped by Iberia Parish. The Prosecutor is Lauren Hue. Iberia Parish now bills the case on May 20, 2025. An arraignment hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Update 10/10/2024: This case was actively turned over to the District Attorney’s office on July 10, 2024, and is being prosecuted by ADA Michael Caffery. Docket #23-11-04. Amanda Bijoux appeared on 07/03/2024 for her arraignment, but the D.A.’s office had not signed a bill of information (formal charges). 

Update 7/17/2024: We have just been informed by Jeff Dorson that the suspect in this case, Amanda Bijeaux, was arrested and charged on October 25, 2023. Deputies charged her with six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Thank you for all your excellent help and support! We will follow up with court information soon.

Update 9/19/2023: Still no answer from the Sheriff. Iberia Parish, along with Sheriff Romero, seems to have a complete disregard for people and animals. We’re not done. Read our letter below

Sheriff Romero and Iberia Parish Government 9.08.2023

Please let your thoughts be known. We have requested an investigation repeatedly since June 2023. Please ask the Sheriff what’s going on with the investigation.

Please call 1.337.369.3714, extension 0, or email Sheriff Romero.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, 316 West Main Street, Lafayette, La. 70501

info@lafayettesheriff.com

Sheriff Romero toromero@iberiaso.org

Iberia Parish Government President M. Larry Richard, Cynthia Provost, executive director for Parish President M. Larry Richard bbergeron@iberiagov.net; cprovost@iberiagov.net;

Update 9/8/2023: Animal Victory talked with Robin from Sheriff Romero’s office this morning and was informed that the investigation is still active. Animal Victory has since sent a letter to Sheriff Romero, demanding information about the investigation by Monday, September 11, 2023. At this time, we have taken our next step and copied the President of the Iberia Parish Government regarding the situation at hand.

Update 8/13/2023: Animal Victory has spoken with Sheriff Romero’s Office, and they confirmed that the investigation is still active. The sheriff will issue a press release when the investigation is complete. 

Update 6/26/2023: Animal Victory has sent Sheriff Romero our petition along with your signatures demanding an investigation. We will update the petition when we receive an update from the Sheriff.

Prior Signatures 14,086