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Case #13984 Rating: 2.7 out of 5
Puppy mill - almost 60 animals seized
Lamotte, MI (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
County: Sanilac
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Patrick Plunkett
» Dixie Plunkett
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A mother and son in Sanilac County could face up to four years in prison for their treatment of almost 60 animals, according to warrants issued Thursday by the Sanilac County Prosecutors Office.
Patrick Plunkett, 57, of Lamotte Township has been charged with cruelty to 10 or more animals, a felony that, in addition to the prison time, could result in 500 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.
His mother, Dixie Plunkett, 76, faces the same charge.
A lesser charge of kennel facility violations also was delivered to the Plunketts. A misdemeanor, this charge comes with up to three months' punishment and a $100 fine.
An arraignment date has not been set due to the late time of day the warrants were issued.
The Plunketts were running what Sanilac County Humane Society Director Carol Schmidt described as a "puppy mill." The facility at the Plunkett residence was shut down last week by Sanilac County Sheriff Department and Sanilac County Animal Control when they seized 38 dogs, 20 birds and two cats.
The Plunketts were not arrested when the animals were seized, so it is unlikely they will be jailed before their undetermined court date.
"Since they weren't arrested at the time, they will be given a notice to appear in court," Ryan Edberg, assistant prosecuting attorney, said.
The severity of the punishment stems from a new law that was sponsored by state Rep. John Espinoza, D-Croswell.
That law links the penalty to the amount of animals involved in the case or the number of prior convictions, said Espinoza's legislative aide, Nicole Stallworth.
Since the Plunketts had more than 10 animals, they face the stiffest sentence.
Just a week after the seizure, three dogs have died but Schmidt said she hopes the rest recover.
"They're doing well. We are starting to groom some of them and we're finding maggots in the mats of their hair," she said. "It's gruesome."
The dogs - a majority of which had ringworms, parvovirus and worms - now are receiving treatment but are not out of the woods yet.
"With parvo they could be here one day and gone the next," she said. "In another week they'll be through that."
Case UpdatesA Sanilac County mother and son were sentenced to serve jail time last week after pleading no contest to animal cruelty, but only one of them actually will go.
Dixie Plunkett, 77, was sentenced to three years probation and 30 days in jail, but her jail time will not be enforced at the recommendation of the jail administrator based on her medical condition, according to court records.
Along with her son, Patrick, Dixie Plunkett pleaded no contest to operating a kennel without a license, a misdemeanor, and animal cruelty to 10 or more animals, a felony.
The felony will be dismissed if she successfully completes probation, Deputy County Clerk Lynda Graves said.
The Plunketts also will have to pay restitution to the Sanilac County Humane Society which has cared for the animals since the seizure.
Cindy Trainor, secretary of the humane society board of directors, said how much was spent on the animals hasn't been finalized, but it is estimated to be about $20,000.
As part of the plea deal, Dixie Plunkett also will have one dog and a parrot returned to her and one dog given to her daughter.
She's mandated to have a veterinarian examine the animals every 6 months at her expense with a report given to her probation officer. Sanilac County Animal Control also will make unannounced inspections, and Dixie Plunkett is not allowed to not have more than the one dog and one parrot during her probation.
Carol Schmidt, director of Sanilac County Humane Society, said she doesn't know if she still has or ever had the dogs Dixie Plunkett requested.
"There's a little bit of a discrepancy on the dogs she's describing and the dogs available," she said.
Members of the society aren't happy any animals are being returned.
"They should not be able to own any animals," Trainor said.
Patrick Plunkett, 57, was sentenced to 3 years probation and 30 days of community service for the charge of animal cruelty. He's also facing 120 days in jail, with a six-hour pass each day to care for his mother and with the last 60 days spent as community service, according to court records.
The charge of operating a kennel without a license was dismissed.
The Plunketts' Lamotte Township home was raided in June. Animal control officers removed about 40 dogs, 20 birds and two cats from the residence. | Source: Times Herald - Dec 31, 2008
Update posted on Jan 3, 2009 - 8:39PM |
A trial date has been set for a Lamotte Township mother and son charged with animal cruelty. Patrick Plunkett, 57, is charged with cruelty to 10 or more animals, a felony punishable by four years in prison, and failure to obtain a kennel license, a misdemeanor. His mother, Dixie Plunkett, 76, faces the same charges.
A Sept. 25 trial date has been set, a Sanilac Circuit Court spokeswoman said.
Carol Schmidt, director of the county's Humane Society, said animal control officers removed 38 dogs, 20 birds and two cats from the Plunketts' home at 1140 Germania Road last month.
Dixie Plunkett said Tuesday that she and her son have done nothing wrong and that lies are being told about how they treated their pets.
"I don't abuse them," she said. "If anything, like my kids, I spoil them."
She said all the animals have names, and they were nervous after the seizure because they were surrounded by strangers.
Many of the dogs had ringworm, matted fur and parvovirus, Schmidt said after their removal in June.
A few of the dogs died shortly after being removed from the home, and one dog recently gave birth to a litter of puppies, Schmidt said. A few of the remaining dogs also may be pregnant, she said.
Some of the older dogs and the birds are being cared for by foster families. The others are in Schmidt's care.
The animals' conditions have improved dramatically, she said.
"They no longer roll over and pee all over themselves when you approach them. They're happy, they're groomed," she said. "I still have a few that are a little on the leery side, but most of them are running and playing and just learning what it's like to be a dog."
Schmidt is trying to gain custody of the animals. While she is now their caregiver and guardian, the Plunketts remain the owners of record, she said.
Earlier this month a forfeiture hearing was scheduled to transfer the animals to Schmidt's care, but the paperwork was misfiled, she said.
A second court appearance on the custody issue is scheduled for Tuesday, Schmidt said. | Source: The Times-Herald - July 30, 2008
Update posted on Jul 30, 2008 - 12:03PM |
A court will determine the fates of Dixie and Patrick Plunkett. Thankfully, a tougher new state law against the mistreatment of animals is the standard a Sanilac County court will use.
The public was outraged when Fred Jacklett Jr. and Laurie McConnell were sentenced to misdemeanors for the unconscionable neglect of the animals at Jacklett's Buel Township farm. Although Sanilac County Sheriff deputies found 70 animals either dead or starving there on New Year's Day 2007, the state's anti-cruelty law required proof of "willful" and "malicious" intent on the part of defendants to charge them with felonies.
It will be different for the Plunketts. The 76-year-old mother and her 57-year-old son are charged with cruelty to 10 or more animals, felonies under the new state law.
The two are accused of running what Sanilac County Humane Society Director Carol Schmidt calls a "puppy mill" at their LaMotte Township residence.
When Sanilac County Animal Control officers and sheriff deputies raided the Plunketts' home June 19, what they found was deplorable. Dogs, from less than a week old to their teens, were locked in a bedroom or stuffed together in small crates. Thirty-eight dogs, 20 birds and two cats were seized in the raid. Three dogs subsequently died.
Despite the evidence, Patrick Plunkett denies the animals were neglected or mistreated. Anyone who believes animals deserve better should be outraged.
State Rep. John Espinoza sponsored the new animal-cruelty law in response to the Buel Township tragedy. The state statute apparently didn't arrive a moment too soon. | Source: Times-Herald - June 30. 2008
Update posted on Jun 30, 2008 - 1:56PM |
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