Paso Robles woman charged with animal cruelty granted diversion

October 13, 2026

Laurie Bryant

By KAREN VELIE

A Paso Robles woman who faced seven felony counts of animal cruelty related to the deaths of 40 cats was granted mental health diversion on Monday, meaning that if she completes her treatment plan the charges will be dropped.

Animal control officers rescued six cats living in a filthy apartment amid the dead bodies and bones of 40 other cats on Aug. 16, 2024. The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office then filed seven felony counts against 63-year-old Laurie Bryant.

On her behalf, Bryant’s attorney then requested a mental health diversion.

Bryant’s court ordered treatment program includes the following requirements:

• Cannot have more than four cats
• Allow animal services to make compliance checks
• Attend treatments sessions with a mental health provider
• Take all proscribed medications
• Allow reporting of her progress to the court
• Not threaten to or harm herself, others, or property
• Not possess firearms
• Not commit any crimes
• Attend all medical and mental health appointments
• Attend all review hearings

After suffering a health issue in 2020, Jackie Bryant, the owner of the Presidio Apartments, moved into an assisted living facility. Jackie Bryant then tasked her daughter Laurie Bryant with managing the apartment complex where both her daughter and son lived in adjacent units.

Presidio Apartments

In Oct. 2023, Laurie Bryant moved into her mother’s home, though neighbors said she left most of her belongings behind. Jackie Bryant instructed her daughter to clean the apartment and rent it out, she said.

At first Laurie Bryant showed up daily at her former unit to feed the cats, then it was weekly or monthly, neighbors said.

In June or July of 2024, Stephan Bryant drove his mother to the Presidio Apartments to let her see for herself the condition of his sister’s former unit. Halfway up the stairs to Laurie Bryant’s apartment, the smell was overwhelming, Jackie Bryant said.

Bathtub full of cat feces at apartment in Paso Robles

Shortly afterwards, four cats escaped through a screened window. While residents attempted to rescue the starving cats, Laurie Bryant said they belonged to her. Laurie Bryant took one of the escaped cats with her when she left that day, according to witnesses.

On Aug. 16, 2024, SLO County Animal Services discovered the gruesome apartment with a bathtub full of feces and the bodies of 40 dead cats. Animal services employees rescued six living cats from the apartment and opened an investigation into animal cruelty.

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow objected to diversion in this case because this “kind of suffering deserves accountability.”

“The cats in this case suffered and died in conditions no living creature should endure, and they had no voice to ask for help,” Dow said. “Mental health treatment matters, but our criminal and victim justice system must put victims at the center, including animals who depend entirely on the people responsible for their care. We will closely monitor Ms. Bryant’s compliance and will ask the court to resume prosecution if she fails to meet her obligations.”

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