Thursday, October 1, 2026
Two men were arrested after authorities seized more than a hundred animals from a property on 137th Lane Southwest in Rochester last month.
Jason Eugene Veach, 51, and Chad Jon Hamilton, 54, face 123 counts of animal cruelty following an investigation by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Services.
Deputies first visited the property on July 9 after receiving reports of animal neglect. At that time, they observed dogs and birds without food and water, and living in unsanitary conditions. The owners were told to correct the issues, but a follow-up visit in early August found conditions had not improved, a sheriff's office report states.
During this visit, authorities reported seeing dogs confined to small cages with no water and contaminated bedding. Chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, were kept in enclosures without food or clean water.
A veterinarian who accompanied deputies expressed concern that several animals needed immediate medical care and brought these animals with them.
Veach and Hamilton agreed to release some of the animals to rescue groups and animal services. However on Aug. 2, officials later determined no animals that remained on the property were rehomed.
This prompted authorities to geta search warrant for the property. Once obtained, they visited the location again on Aug. 15.
Deputies and animal services seized additional animals, including pigs, dogs, cats, chickens and a horse. Some animals were found severely malnourished, while two deceased cats were recovered from one of the homes on the property.
“The walls appeared as if the pig had started to eat them due to a lack of food. There were what appeared to be bite marks in the walls and dry wall missing,” a sheriff's office deputy states in the report.
In total, authorities removed 123 animals over the course of the investigation.
Veach and Hamilton were arrested on Aug. 17 and booked into Thurston County Corrections Facility on 13 counts of first-degree animal cruelty, and 110 counts of second-degree animal cruelty.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
SecondOtter
THese shnottheads should be stuck in a cage without water food or a way to stay clean. Forever.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Report this
LindaD
What needs to change to enable officials to take the animals immediately in cases like this. Let’s do that. The animals shouldn’t have to suffer another minute when something like this is discovered.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Report this
DonnaS
Thank you for your report on this tragic case of animal cruelty. Thanks to the Sheriff's Office for arresting and charging the two men with animal cruelty. Thank you Darlanne Cruz for your report. Please continue to follow this case through the legal system. We have had numerous cases of felony animals cruelty where the defendants were found guilty, yet they were let go by the judge with a slap on the wrist. We need to enforce the state laws for animal cruelty to the furthest extent to stop this from happening over and over.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Report this
EdieMG
Why leave animals in dire situations only to b return weeks later? Take them immediately!
Thursday, September 4, 2025 Report this
SecondOtter
The police/sheriff aren't allowed to remove the poor animals immediately because they are considered 'property', despite the fact that they are living things in obvious pain/suffering. So apparently they have to jump through hoops to take property.
And the JAS doesn't really want to deal with them. Honestly, JAS doesn't have the facilities to take in so many animals, especially livestock like pigs and a horse.
I don't like the fact that a judge has to go by Precedent in such cases. The animals SHOULD be taken into 'custody' immediately and the abusers should be stuck..well, I still think shoving them together into a small cage is only fair, but apparently that's 'cruel and inhumane' treatment of a human who hadn't an iota of empathy for the animals.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 Report this
S2345S23456
Let's put those sickos in a cage without food and water and let them rot in their SHT.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 Report this
ALSYKES
Thank you for reporting on the cruelty case. I was wondering if you are planning to do a full up article on which organizations took the animals and if they will be up for adoption.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 Report this