Case Snapshot
Case ID: 2133
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Person(s) in animal care
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CONVICTED: Was justice served?

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Case #2133 Rating: 4.3 out of 5



Wednesday, Jul 31, 2002

County: Montgomery

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Linda DeStefano

Despite being found guilty of 10 counts of animal cruelty, a Gilbert woman said she plans to keep her dog shelter open. Linda DeStefano, 49, who owns Canines Are Guardian Angels, was fined more than $3,000 by a Monroe County judge last week.

The judge found DeStefano guilty of 10 of the 11 charges she was appealing from a May hearing before a district justice in Saylorsburg.

District Justice Jolana Krawitz had found DeStefano guilty of charges including failure to provide shelter, shots and dog licenses for some of the estimated 25 dogs in her shelter.

DeStefano provided the dog licenses in court last week and she was found innocent of that charge.

The citations were filed by a humane police officer for the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the state dog warden.

That came after two of DeStefano's volunteers reported the violations.

References

« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Montgomery County, PA

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