Governor Polis' Appointee To Veterinary Board Charged With Animal Cruelty

(CBS4) -- A woman appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of animals in Colorado is charged with animal cruelty.

Until recently, Ellen Kessler -- a vocal animal rights activist -- was on the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, which licenses and regulates veterinarians in the state.

Last week, Jefferson County Animal Control investigators received a complaint about Kessler committing animal cruelty. They say they found 13 birds in cages at Kessler's home, along with caked feces, urine a large number of flies and dead and live mice.

One of the birds, they say, was dead, and another bird later died at a vet's office.

Kessler is charged with 13 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Governor Polis appointed Kessler -- who is friends with First Gentleman Marlon Reis -- to the Board of Veterinary Medicine in 2020.

She resigned from the board earlier this year after a controversial Facebook post in which she called Colorado ranchers lazy and nasty.

CBS4 was unable to reach Kessler for comment.