Sign: 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 instead did not 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 the house on Sandoz Road; the resident contacted the authorities because she knew that 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, and 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 name of the cats’ owner to the authorities, but they have made no arrests; they have done no 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 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 cats’ 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

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

Update 5/22/2025: This case WAS NOT dropped by Iberia Parish. The Prosecutor is Lauren Hue. The case is now billed by Iberia Parish 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 a bill of information (formal charges) had not been signed by the D.A.’s office. 

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 25th of last year! Deputies charged her with six counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Thank you for all your wonderful help and support! We will follow up with court information soon.

Update 9/19/2023: Still no answer from Sheriff. Iberia Parish along with Sheriff Romero seem to have 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 asked repeatedly for an investigation 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.netcprovost@iberiagov.net;

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

Hold Police Accountable For Allowing Cats Abandoned In House To Die

4,977 signatures = 25% of goal
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20,000

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4977 SUPPORTERS


Latest Signatures
4,977 Gloria S. Those poor cats! That irresponsible, murdering, evil owner should have taken the cats to an animal shelter, to be adopted by true cat loving people. Also, the police were equally as bad and I’m appalled and disgusted at their response, they did not do their lawful duty. They should be held accountable also, for not doing their job properly.What a way to die, it just doesn’t bear thinking about. If I was the resident who authorities I would have done my best to save those cats. 0 Jun 26, 2025
4,976 Louis B. 0 Jun 25, 2025
4,975 Lucette B. 0 Jun 25, 2025
4,974 Debera W. 0 Jun 24, 2025
4,973 Cameron Z. 0 Jun 17, 2025
4,972 Scott B. 0 Jun 15, 2025
4,971 Naomi E. 0 Jun 14, 2025
4,970 C C. Find that gutless bastard and do the same to him. Tougher laws needed and follow thru when these perpetrators are arrested. 0 Jun 12, 2025
4,969 Carole C. 0 Jun 12, 2025
4,968 Saskia E. 0 Jun 12, 2025
4,967Anonymous And they are getting paid, for what sitting in their cars and doing nothing! 0 Jun 12, 2025
4,966 Corrie V. 0 Jun 10, 2025
4,965 Megan R. 0 Jun 09, 2025
4,964 Christopher M. 0 Jun 09, 2025
4,963 Ruby P. 0 Jun 08, 2025
4,962 Georgia P. 0 Jun 08, 2025
4,961 Claudine B. I support Project Accountability & fully support prosecuting Ms.Amanda Bijou to the fullest extent of the law. Although I completely doubt anything would come of it, the entire Iberia Parish’s Sheriff’s Department should face some consequence for their absolutely careless conduct in the handling of the witness’s calls of concern, their abhorrent attitude towards the witness & the cats’ welfare & their despicable lack of action taken to protect the cats & resolve their abandonment, including lack of sustenance, until it was far too late, ultimately contributing to their prolonged suffering &, finally, agonizing death by starvation & dehydration. 0 Jun 08, 2025
4,960 Rachel Y. 0 Jun 07, 2025
4,959 Jared F. 0 Jun 07, 2025
4,958 mark p. The authorities involved deserve the death penalty! They are brutal killers!!! 0 Jun 07, 2025
4,957 Holly L. 0 Jun 07, 2025
4,956 Melissa J. 0 Jun 06, 2025
4,955 Stephanie F. 0 Jun 06, 2025
4,954 Michelle P. 0 Jun 06, 2025
4,953 Sandra C. They need to own up to what they did. Perhaps the neighbor could have broken a window so the cats could get out on their own??? 0 Jun 05, 2025
4,952 Nadine G. 0 Jun 05, 2025
4,951 Schreila F. 0 Jun 05, 2025
4,950 Fiona N. 0 Jun 05, 2025
4,949 Phillip E. 0 Jun 05, 2025
4,948 Sandra M. MOST SEVERE PUNISHMENT! 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,947 Simona B. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,946 Peter S. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,945 Donna A. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,944 Brian C. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,943 Newsha K. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,942 Y V. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,941 Barbara C. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,940Anonymous 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,939 Ixchel C. 0 Jun 04, 2025
4,938 Liz H. The owner needs to pay for locking these cats up to die and these corrupt authority figures need to be held accountable for their cruel decision to let these innocent animals die a painful death. They are just as responsible. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,937 Patricia C. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,936 jennifer B. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,935 Biardeau C. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,934 CHRISTIENA W. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,933 Tomoko E. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,932 Patrícia M. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,931Anonymous 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,930Anonymous People down south do not care about innocent animals and neither do law enforcement. People down south are stupid and cruel, and they will not change. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,929 Nicole T. 0 Jun 03, 2025
4,928 Julie B. 0 Jun 03, 2025