Police find 19 dogs, feces, squalor; charge mom with child endangerment

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — A Poplar Bluff mother may face child-endangerment charges after an animal-control officer says he found her children living in a home with nearly 20 dogs Tuesday.

Animal-control officer Dan St. Lawrence was on patrol when he saw several small dogs running at large in the 600 block of Don Street.

As he got out of his vehicle, several of the dogs ran into a Don Street home, St. Lawrence said in a report filed in the case.

At that point, St. Lawrence said, he approached the front door, announcing himself as an animal-control officer, and was met by Patricia Christine Parkison, 28.

“It should be noted that while at the door, I counted at least 12 dogs,” St. Lawrence said.

“The living room and kitchen floor (were) covered in dog feces, and there were two children in the residence.”

When St. Lawrence asked Parkison for her identification, “she refused, stating that she isn’t getting any more tickets on these dogs,” St. Lawrence said.

St. Lawrence reportedly had issued Parkison a ticket Friday for a dog at large.

Once Parkison gave St. Lawrence her identification, he said, he called for an officer and code-enforcement officer to assist him.

Parkison’s stepfather, David Erickson, subsequently arrived and “admitted to having at least 12 dogs inside” the home, which was occupied by himself, his wife, his stepdaughter and her two children, who ranged in age from about 7 to 12, St. Lawrence said.

When patrolman Jim Gerber arrived, St. Lawrence said, Parkison “became very agitated and cursing.”

According to Gerber’s report, Parkison told St. Lawrence she wanted her identification back and grabbed it from him when she was told he would return it when he was done.

At that point, Gerber said, he placed Parkison in custody and requested officials with the Butler County, Missouri, Juvenile Office and Missouri Children’s Division respond.

The children, he said, were turned over to them.

“Mr. Erickson was advised of our reason and concerns for the safety of the children and agreed for Officer Sisk and I to inspect the property,” St. Lawrence said.

St. Lawrence and animal-control officer Mark Hastings removed 16 dogs and three puppies from the property.

“Due to the amount of dogs living in the residence and the unsanitary conditions (including) trash, dog feces and the overall lack of housekeeping,” Parkison was arrested on suspicion of two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest, Gerber said.Pertinent address:

600 block of Don Street, Poplar Bluff, Mo.