Sunday, May 29, 2011

Couple to pay $24K, gets jail in Animal Cruelty case

CHAMBERSBURG, PA -- Prosecutors said they weren't looking for jail time, but a Franklin County couple will spend 48 hours behind bars for abusing their Siberian Huskies.

Ralph and Susan Fries must also pay $24,000 in restitution to the Better Days Animal Shelter, which cared for the dogs after they were seized from the couple's Shady Grove home last summer.

President Judge Doug Herman on Tuesday additionally sentenced the couple to 180 days probation, and to perform community service at the shelter. An attorney said they planned to appeal.





The couple was charged with animal cruelty after a humane officer in July said he found the huskies were being kept in small pens and in filthy conditions.

Three months earlier, the pair had been charged in another animal cruelty case after 70 goats, seven donkeys, a horse and a pony were seized from their farm. Ten goats were found dead, and the pony died a short time later.

The couple were later ordered to give up the farm animals and pay $1,800 in fines and court costs.

(WHTM - May 25, 2011)

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