Police: Bunny-hoarding woman busted again

TIGARD, Ore., June 18 (UPI) -- Police in Oregon said a woman arrested in 2006 for keeping more than 200 rabbits has again been arrested for hoarding 13 bunnies in her hotel room.

Jim Wolf, a spokesman for Tigard Police, said Miriam Elaine Sakewitz, 47, had 13 live animals and one dead rabbit in her Homestead Studio Suites Hotel room when police arrived Tuesday and officers had to break into the room to seize the bunnies and arrest Sakewitz, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Thursday.

Sakewitz was convicted in 2006 of animal neglect charges for keeping 250 rabbits, including 88 dead ones, in her home. She was banned from keeping pets an ordered to stay 100 yards away from rabbits as terms of her 10-year probation.

She was arraigned Wednesday on charges of violating the terms of her probation. She was ordered held without bail in the Washington County Jail. She is due back in court June 26.

Sakewitz was previously charged with violating her probation in 2008 when she was found to have a rabbit and a dog in her home. She was also accused of contacting two of her former attorneys against the orders of the court.