Hampden Superior Court Judge John Agostini on Wednesday set the trial date selected by lawyers for Kathleen McHendry and Ronald Richard and Assistant District Attorney Janine Simonian.
The two defendants have previously denied the charges and were released on their own recognizance.
The case began with an investigation of a home at 402 Allen St. in Springfield where McHendry and Richard lived.
State animal welfare officials filed charges against the couple Aug. 28, two weeks after inspectors found about 280 dead animals packed into freezers in the kitchen, porch and garage at the home in the East Forest Park neighborhood.
Inspectors removed about 125 living animals of varying species from the property. The home was condemned.
The indictments list a total of 90 cats, 6 dogs, 12 skunks, 13 raccoons, one ferret and one fox as being victims.
Superior Court records list Richard's address as 17 Cold Hill in Granby and McHendry's address as 281 Chauncy Walker, Lot 105, Belchertown.
When they were arraigned in District Court, the two were released on their own recognizance but barred from having custody or caring for any animals, with the exception of two dogs and two cats.
If convicted on any of the animal cruelty counts, the pair faces a maximum penalty of seven years in state prison or 2½ years in jail, plus fines up to $5,000.
Under the District Court judge's order, McHendry will be allowed to retain her dog Matilda, and her sister Patricia was given custody of two cats. Richard's son will care for one dog.
The final indictment against each lists multiple animals by letter or number. The other 14 indictments each list one other animal.
A report filed with the court by Christine Allenberg, an officer with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, described the conditions found by her and city inspectors on Aug. 11 after receiving an anonymous complaint about there being a large number of animals.
The state report described filthy conditions and numerous animals inside and outside the house showing signs of illness and injury.
Staff from the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center and from the MSPCA removed the animals, with the living ones taken to the adoption center for eventual adoption if possible.
The MSPCA cited animals it said "represent the scope and severity of animal cruelty" allegedly caused by the couple.
One of the cats, for example, was emaciated "with severe dental disease, ear mites, a heart murmur and a large open, infected tumor hanging from its chest," according to the MSPCA report.
Another example cited was a dog "with entropion, chronic ear infections, matting, painful walking, hookworms and difficulty urinating," the report said.
When inspectors went into the kitchen, they were "greeted by approximately 40 cats." The kitchen was "filthy" and "everything appeared to be sticky," according to the report.
McHendry, 51, is represented by Dale E. Bass and Richard, 68, is represented by Anthony Bonavita.
(MassLive.com - April 22, 2016)
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