More charges filed against Cape woman accused of animal hoarding

The Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office has filed two more charges against a local woman who was found hoarding 75 animals, including farm animals and rare birds, at a Boutin Drive residence.

Robin Peavler, 48, is now charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse and one count of child endangerment.

Peavler was charged with one count of animal abuse Tuesday for failure to properly care for a greyhound in her custody at 2319 W. Cape Rock Drive.

Cape Girardeau police responded to 2327 Boutin Drive on Aug. 20 to inspect Peavler's property before possibly returning pets to her that were removed from her other residence two days prior.

Ty Metzger wrote in a probable-cause affidavit that the home on Boutin Drive was in "horrible conditions," with trash stacked on the floor and in cabinets. The animals in the home were dehydrated and malnourished and had feces mixed with hair and

food.

Cages of rabbits and dogs were stacked on top of each other and some rabbits were found inside closed cardboard boxes. A peacock, several dogs, five goats and guinea pigs were also found at the residence.

When asked by police where her 12-year-old daughter was, Peavler said she was in St. Louis, according to the affidavit. While police and staff from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri were removing animals, the child came out of the home after hiding under clothing stacking in a bedroom.

Two more dogs were also found hiding under mattresses.

When questioned by officers why her daughter wasn't enrolled in school and hadn't been seen by anyone other than neighbors for a while, Peavler allegedly replied that she was homeschooling her daughter.

The affidavit says Peavler couldn't provide documentation of the homeschool activities.

Peavler's next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 27 before Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

2319 W. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

2327 Boutin Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO