Attorneys/Judges
| Judge(s): | Patricia L. Mitchell |
Animal neglect by rescue
Rockville, MD (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 16, 2009
County: Montgomery
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Judy Cahill
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A Rockville woman has been charged with neglect and allowing animals to cause an unsanitary condition for the way in which police say many dogs were held in wire crates in a trash-strewn house.
The neglect charge against Judy Cahill was filed in regards to one of nine flea-ridden dogs that police say Cahill had euthanized before leaving the overgrown home at 2 Foxden Court.
A toenail had grown into the dog's foot pad, which had become infected, and Cahill had not provided needed veterinary care, said Capt. Michael Wahl, head of the Montgomery County Police Department's Animal Services Division.
Also, "keeping the animals in those unsanitary conditions without proper air and space can be an element of neglect," Wahl said.
Cahill's operation -- Rescue Inc. -- was listed in the phone book under humane societies for many years.
Neighbors had pushed county officials to intervene for more than a decade.
Police said they will seek a court order to prevent Cahill from keeping animals again.
The neglect charge carries a maximum $500 fine, and the unsanitary condition charge a maximum $100 fine.
Case UpdatesA Rockville woman charged with animal neglect and unsanitary conditions for the way she held many dogs in wire crates in a trash-strewn house is fighting a request to keep her from owning or caring for animals.
Judy Cahill, formerly of 2 Foxden Court in the Potomac Highlands neighborhood, told District Court Judge Patricia L. Mitchell that it would affect her life drastically if she were ordered not to own or possess any animal for five years.
That the county is seeking the order is "rather extraordinary," said Jim Savage, a lawyer with the county attorney's office.
Mitchell agreed to continue the case to Nov. 17 to give Cahill, who has been living in a homeless shelter, time to find a lawyer.
The neglect charge was filed because one of the nine dogs Cahill had euthanized before she had to leave the home had an infected ingrown toenail that had not received veterinary care.
But, "keeping the animals in those unsanitary conditions without proper air and space can be an element of neglect," said Capt. Michael Wahl, head of the Montgomery County Police Department's Animal Services Division.
The neglect charge carries a maximum $500 fine.
Allowing animals to create an unsanitary condition carries a maximum $100 fine.
Neighbors had complained about Cahill's kennel and yard-keeping for years.
She fought back and won a $37,000 judgment against the county after a court found that police, responding to complaints, entered her home without probable cause in 1994.
Cahill refused a reporter's request for an interview. | Source: Gazette.Net - Oct 14, 2009
Update posted on Oct 14, 2009 - 11:21AM |
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