All of the animals found at the 402 Allen St. home on Aug. 11, 2015, were malnourished and dehydradated without food and water, with flea and other parasitic infestations. All were in conditions so filthy and horrific that animal control staff had a hard time breathing in the home, Simonian said. There were open wounds and serious dental disease.
Some were much worse off. One cat had a fracture that caused the ankle to be hanging down from the leg. One had an empty eye socket. One had a large open tumor hanging down from its chest. Many had painful eye or uterine infections.
"Just because they can't speak doesn't mean they can't feel pain and neglect," Simonian said.
Some animals were in crates or cages, others roamed free.
There were 280 dead animals at the house, most in freezers.
Simonian asked Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara to sentence the 52-year-old McHendry to a year in the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee followed by 10 years probation.
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| They should have been banned FOR LIFE from owning animals. I hope voters remember this when Ferrara is up for re-election. |
Ferrara did not give McHendry, who cried throughout the plea session, any jail time. He sentenced her to probation for five years.
JUDGE OVERRULED PROSECUTOR'S REQUEST
Simonian had asked for 10 years probation but no jail time for Richard, saying he was less culpable than McHendry, who collected all the animals.
Ferrara said he did not consider Richard less culpable than McHendry since he lived in the house with her, saw what was going on, and could have done something about it.
Ferrara sentenced Richard, 69, to five years probation, just as he did McHendry.
LET'S BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HELP THE ABUSER... not
Anthony Bonavita, Richard's lawyer, had asked that the case be continued without a finding so Richard's senior housing would not be endangered. Ferrara entered a guilty finding and did not continue it without a finding.
Each pleaded guilty to 15 counts of animal cruelty, 14 of them for specified animals and the 15th for the animals collectively.
The two, who no longer live together, can have one specified dog each. The places where they live will be inspected by either the MSPCA or the Probation Department to check on the conditions of the animals.
McHendry had her dog while she lived at the 402 Allen St. address with all the sick or dead animals, but treated that dog well, Simonian said. McHendry is living with her mother now, Simonian said.
McHendry referred to herself as an animal rehabilitator, animal rescuer.
The dog with which Richard can live belongs to a relative.
Neither will be allowed to do any kind of work or volunteering with animals under the terms of probation.
Dale E. Bass, lawyer for McHendry, said she had been evaluated to see if she could be held criminally responsible. He said the doctor reported she could be held criminally responsible.
Bass said the doctor diagnosed McHendry with a major depressive disorder, schizoid personality disorder and a hoarding disorder.
McHendry worked for decades as an animal care assistant for a Monson veternarian, Bass said. He said she is now unemployed and collecting disability payments.
He said she went to college in a veterinary technician program but did not receive her certification.
Ferrara said as part of her probation terms she must continue mental health counseling as determined by the Probation Department.
Bass said McHendry felt she was taking care of the animals.
Ferrara said, "I don't see either of these persons were acting with malice."
Neither had any prior criminal record.
Other live, but sick or malnourished, animals found at 402 Allen St. were 13 skunks, 12 raccoons, and one ferret, parrot and fox, Simonian said.
All of the live animals were removed by staff from the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield. Seven cats and two dogs could not be saved, Simonian said.
Simonian said on July 30, 2015, MSPCA investigator Christine Allenberg was notified there was a complaint about animals in the house. On Aug. 11, Allenberg, TJO Executive Director Pam Peebles, city police and a representative from the city code enforcement division went into the home and discovered the animals.
On hand for the plea were Peebles and Dr. Lauren Atkins, veterinarian at TJO.
(MassLive - Nov 4, 2016)
Earlier:
- Massachusetts: Kathleen McHendry and Ronald Richard charged with felony animal cruelty after 280 carcasses found in refrigerators, freezers
- Massachusetts: Trial date set for Kathleen McHendry and Ronald Richard, each facing 15 animal cruelty counts after 125 live pets, 280 dead ones found in Springfield home
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