OK- Fate of dogs in sex case not decided

See also: Woman receives suspended sentence in dog-sex case.

10-17-2008 Oklahoma:

Tulsa County sheriff's deputies who investigated a couple's alleged sexual practices with dogs recommended that the dogs be euthanized because they "have been trained to rape," but Undersheriff Brian Edwards said Tuesday that the Sheriff's Office has not made an official decision about the dogs in the case.

"We do have a plan to have a veterinarian evaluate the dogs, so all options are on the table," he said. "This is a difficult case, and there are a lot of conflicting interests."

A hearing has been set for Wednesday for Donald Roy Seig-fried, 55, who prosecutors allege videotaped his girlfriend, Diane Sue Whalen, 54, performing sex acts with the dogs.

Tulsa County prosecutors filed for the hearing on behalf of the Sheriff's Office to determine the cost of providing care for Seigfried's blue heeler, which was taken to the Tulsa Animal Shelter along with two dogs owned by Whalen, court records show.

Assistant District Attorney David Iski said, "It is primarily to address the cost of care of the animal while it is in the custody of the Sheriff's Office."

A similar hearing took place June 25 for Whalen, who forfeited her dogs, a blue heeler and a mixed breed, to the Sheriff's Office after agreeing that authorities had probable cause to determine that they had been abused, Iski said.

A court affidavit says authorities seized all three dogs last month after Whalen's son found materials at his mother's home in west Tulsa County that showed her performing sex acts with the dogs and notified authorities.

Deputies on June 1 seized allegedly pornographic material that included 60 cassette tapes and 107 DVDs, an affidavit shows.

One affidavit states that Whalen told authorities that Seigfried "was involved in taping, directing and giving advice to Whalen as she performed in the movies."

A different affidavit, however, says Seigfried has denied videotaping Whalen engaged in sex acts with the dogs.

Seigfried has not forfeited his dog, and Iski said he would ask the judge to consider two options in determining the cost of providing care for it.

One is to charge Seigfried an impound fee of $25 plus $5 a day for providing food, water and care while the animal is at the shelter, he said.

The other option is to ask that Seigfried forfeit ownership of the dog to the Sheriff's Office, which then would be charged for the dog's care at the shelter.

All three dogs are being held as evidence in the cases against Whalen and Seigfried, who were charged June 23 with crimes against nature, a felony.

Seigfried was booked into the Tulsa Jail on June 24 and was released on $10,000 bond later that day.

Whalen was booked into jail June 26 and was released on $7,500 bond later that day.

Neither Whalen nor Seig-fried, who documents state lives in Skiatook and with Whalen, could be reached for comment.

Tulsa Animal Shelter Manager Jean Letcher said she had been advised not to comment on the condition of any of the dogs or about the case. ..News Source.. by DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer