Hoarding 13 dogs, 25 cats
Harrisburg, PA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 8, 2004
County: Dauphin

Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» Joel Brandt
» Geoanne Brandt

Joel and Geoanne Brandt, of Lower Paxton Township lost their case yesterday in Dauphin County Court to recover the 13 dogs and 25 cats that were removed from their home on June 9.

The Humane Society of Harrisburg Area Inc can give away the animals taken from their home on 2720 Patton Road. This was the ruling handed down by Judge John F. Cherry. The animals are at the Humane Society shelter in Swatara Township.

Geoanne Brandt sobbed, "I don't know what we'll do. We've had some of them 15 years."

Responding to two complaints, the Humane Society officials removed the animals from the Brandt home on June 9. The humane society said the animals were not in poor condition, but a report confirmed seeing and smelling urine and feces in the dogs' cages.

William Sandstrom, the society police officer, had visited the Brandt home twice on June 8 and June 9. Joel Brandt said, "He (Sandstrom) would return tomorrow and seize my animals. He said I had too many animals and couldn't care for them properly. I objected and said, 'What happens if I don't surrender them to you?' He said, "I'll have you arrested.'"

The surrender form was signed by Geoanne Brandt "because I was afraid of being arrested."

Sandstrom told the Brandts they could "surrender the animals to the Humane Society or I could secure a search warrant and charge them with animal cruelty for 38 animals. Each count could have a fine up to $750 and or a 90-day jail sentence."

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