Pennsylvania: Judge orders Paul Leahy, Melissa Brodbeck and Barbara Brodbeck - owners of confiscated animals to pay upkeep

PENNSYLVANIA -- A York County judge has ordered a trio of animal owners to pay more than $44,000 for the daily upkeep and veterinary care of 25 horses, ponies and dogs that were seized from them by an animal rescue group.

Now, Ame Kessler of Aglyphic Creatures Rescue and animal law attorney, Nadia Adawi, are trying to figure out what their next step is.

The rescue group, with help from the York County Sheriff's Criminal Response Unit, seized those animals along with two pot-bellied pigs, two roosters, a number of hens and dozens of peeps from a property in the 4000 block of Hess Road in Hopewell Township on Feb. 17.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in district court by Kessler, who is a certified humane society police officer, many, if not all, of the animals were being neglected, underfed or in need of medical care.

The owners of the animals, according to Kessler's affidavit, were Paul Leahy, Melissa Brodbeck and Barbara Brodbeck.

On May 6, Aglyphic Creatures Rescue sought payment in county court for "reasonable costs" from Leahy and the Brodbecks under the commonwealth's Costs of Care Act, which requires the owners of animals seized for cruelty to continue to bear the financial responsibility for the animals' daily upkeep and veterinary care.

The rescue group asked for just under $70,000 for the 74 animals and birds that were taken into custody.

President Judge Stephen P. Linebaugh, ruling from the bench last week, granted the request for the upkeep - past and future - and veterinary bills for 25 of the animals including the horses, ponies, donkey and 13 dogs, Adawi said.

In district court on April 17, District Judge John Olwert found Leahy and the Brodbecks guilty of multiple summary counts of cruelty to animals and sentenced all three to 90 days in prison.

All three have filed appeals of those convictions in Common Pleas Court, according to court records.

Scott A. Harper, attorney for the trio, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Kessler said most of the animals have been farmed out to local stables, kennels and other rescue operations.

Kessler said the cost of upkeep for the animals, which has required her to dip into her own bank account, has been a drain on her organization.

"We're a very small rescue group and a lot of organizations our size go under because of seizures like this," she said. "It has been very emotional and very overwhelming."

Kessler said she now is waiting for the seized animals to be "legally surrendered" to her rescue group so they can be adopted out.

According to the Costs of Care Act, animals that are seized because of cruelty allegations can be forfeited if the owners do not comply with court orders for payment of upkeep and bills.

(SBSun - June 10, 2014)

Earlier:

• Pennsylvania: Paul Leahy, Melissa Brodbeck and Barbara Brodbeck convicted of animal cruelty involving nearly 100 animals