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Case #2493 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Hoarding - at least 50 cats
Millbrook, NY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004
County: Dutchess
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Susan Langford
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
After a week-long investigation by SPCA officers at the home of Susan Langford, Langford was arrested by SPCA officer Stephanie Weber and charged with 51 counts of failure to provide proper sustenance to an animal and 51 counts of failure to give adequate care to impounded animals, all misdemeanors.
She was arraigned in Town of Washington Court and held in Dutchess County Jail on $5,000 bail.
SPCA Officer Doug Niederkorn said that the number of cats in the house is still unknown, and that officers have been at the property every day for over a week, finding and removing cats.
The SPCA is requesting donations of anything from cash to cat food to copy paper to help pay for the cats' care.
Case UpdatesDutchess County Assistant District Attorney Sara Thompson said that a plea bargain was reached with Susan Langford approximately three months ago.
"Our records indicate that she is serving three years of probation on the condition that she will have no animals in her home," said Thompson. The county reached a plea agreement with Langford, according to Thompson.
"Hopefully, she will not re-offend," she said.
Langford, now 56, was charged with 51 counts of failure to provide proper sustenance to an animal and 51 counts of failure to give adequate care to impounded animals after SPCA officers discovered more than 50 hungry, ill cats in her home at 32 Reservoir Drive on June 15, 2004. All 102 counts were misdemeanors.
Langford was arrested by Dutchess County SPCA humane law officer Stephanie Weber, and was arraigned in the Town of Washington Court before Judge Bruce Aubin on June 22, 2004.
That day, she was remanded to Dutchess County Jail before posting a $5,000 cash bail, according to jail officials.
Doug Niederkorn was one of many SPCA officers who helped to remove the cats sick from the house.
According to the SPCA, almost all the cats found were diagnosed with viral feline leukemia, which is spread by feces and urine.
Niederkorn could not recall the exact number of cats that were found to be healthy, but Roundtable reports at the time said that only one kitten, named Weber for the officer who rescued it, had survived.
Niederkorn satisfaction over the conclusion of Langford's case.
"We're pleased that she's accepted responsibility for her actions. That goes a long way, and was acceptable to all parties," said Niederkorn. | Source: Millbrook Round Table - Aug 25, 2005
Update posted on Aug 29, 2005 - 5:00PM |
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