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Case #12291 Rating: 2.3 out of 5
Hoarding - kitten found dead under couch
Lake Carmel, NY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
County: Putnam
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Trudy Byrnes
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A Lake Carmel woman accused of allowing her many pets to live amid feces and garbage faces another animal-cruelty count after police found a dead kitten under her couch, authorities said.
A 24th misdemeanor count of animal cruelty was added last week, said Ken Ross, chief of the SPCA of Westchester's Humane Law Enforcement division, after officers returned to Trudy Byrnes' Chappaqua Road home.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in May removed a Dalmatian, nine kittens, seven older cats, five lovebirds and a cockatiel from the home. As in May, the latest discovery stemmed from an eviction proceeding that has been under way against Byrnes, 56.
Ross said his agency was called after Putnam County sheriff's deputies, who were escorting movers collecting Byrnes' belongings on Aug. 30, "found the dead kitten underneath the sofa." The carcass was "partially decomposed," sheriff's Capt. William McNamara said.
Byrnes was initially charged after SPCA officers visited her home in the spring and found the animals living in "horrendous" conditions. One kitten was euthanized the night the animals were seized.
During a Town Court appearance this week, Byrnes relinquished her ownership of the animals now in the SPCA's possession. Putnam Assistant District Attorney Mary Jane MacCrae said Byrnes also promised to turn over four other cats living outside.
"The SPCA is now going to free them up for adoption," MacCrae said of all the animals.
Byrnes had blamed her landlord for the SPCA's involvement, a contention the property owner, Nicole Barile, disputed.
Barile, who lives in Mahopac, called the SPCA in May after smelling a strong urine odor while visiting the home. Yesterday, Barile said that she was aware of the latest discovery and that Byrnes had managed to stay the latest eviction proceeding and remained in the house.
Through her attorney, Albert Manfredonia, Byrnes pleaded not guilty in June to the original charges. Byrnes is due again in court on Oct. 1.
Case UpdatesA woman accused of keeping more than a dozen cats, a dog and several birds in squalor in a rented home has been sentenced to six months in jail.
The six-month sentence, handed down this week, will run concurrently with a yearlong term Trudy Byrnes is already serving in a bank fraud case.
Animal welfare officers took nine kittens, seven cats, a Dalmatian and six birds from Byrnes' rented Lake Carmel home in June, after saying they found it choked with garbage and droppings. Then movers found a dead kitten under a couch in September.
The 56-year-old pleaded guilty in October to one count of animal cruelty. She was sentenced in December in the bank fraud case, after pleading guilty to third-degree grand larceny, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's office.
Byrnes surrendered the pets to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which has found homes for them. | Source: Newsday - Jan 18, 2008
Update posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 5:07AM |
Court contact information for this case is as follows:
Prosecutor:
The Honorable Mary Jane MacCrae
40 Gleneida Avenue
Carmel, NY 10512
Phone: 845-225-3640
Judge:
The Honorable J. Peter Collins
25 Sybils Crossing
Kent Lakes, NY 10512
Phone: 845-225-1606
Fax: 845-306-5280
Tips for Effective Letter Writing:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/action_alerts/letter_writing.php | Source: Case # 07060001
Update posted on Oct 6, 2007 - 10:26PM |
A Lake Carmel woman accused of allowing her pets to live amid feces and garbage pleaded guilty this afternoon to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.
Trudy Byrnes had faced 24 counts, one for each of the 23 pets seized from her home and another for a dead kitten discovered under her couch last month.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in May removed a Dalmatian, nine kittens, seven older cats, five lovebirds and a cockatiel from the home. The investigation was prompted by an ongoing proceeding against Byrnes, 56, to get her to vacate her rented house on Chappaqua Road.
Byrnes was initially charged after SPCA officers visited her home in the spring and found the animals living in "horrendous" conditions. One kitten was euthanized the night the animals were seized.
Byrnes earlier relinquished her ownership of the animals.
Kent Town Justice J. Peter Rollins scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, when Byrnes could get up to three years probation. | Source: The Journal News - Oct 1, 2007
Update posted on Oct 1, 2007 - 5:20PM |
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