CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #5643 Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Hoarding - 60 animals seized
Lincoln, IN (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 31, 1998
County: Berrien
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Valerie Gross
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Valerie Gross pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in 2000, but the Berrien County pet owner is in trouble again on the same charge of cruelty to animals.
Gross was arrested in May 2000 for allegedly violating her parole, which could put her in jail. In January 1999, Animal Control officials found 60 animals in filthy and unsafe conditions in several buildings in Lincoln Township. At the time, Gross said that it wouldn't happen again.
Now officials are saying that it did happen again. Animal Control discovered that Gross had four more pets than her probation allowed, which was a violation of her parole terms. "We found cats that were in need of medical treatment, then those cats disappeared and we had to track those down and found them placed in another building," said Valerie Grimes of Berrien County Animal Control.
Gross and more of her pets were found staying at this motel. "At the motel we found the five cats and the one dog," said Grimes. Now all the animals are at a local shelter.
Gross is scheduled to appear in late May 2000 for a probation hearing. Her pets are being cared for at a local shelter. A judge will decide if she gets them back.
Case UpdatesA Berrien County woman will be allowed to keep some of her pets after pleading guilty to one count of animal cruelty. Animal control officials will be allowed to inspect Valerie Gross's home as part of her plea agreement reached this afternoon.
Over 65 dogs, cats, birds, ferrets and flying squirrels in Gross' care were found in filthy conditions in a former business last week. Gross will be allowed to keep three dogs, two cats, three kittens and three ferrets. The other animals will be distributed to appropriate agencies for further care. | Source: WNDU - Feb 2, 2000
Update posted on Oct 29, 2005 - 9:41PM |
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