Each of the charges carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $1,000 fine or both.
In Caledonia County Sheriff's Department Sgt. William O'Hare's lengthy affidavit, he describes receiving a telephone call from Josephine Guertin, the local animal control officer. Guertin described a phone conversation she had with Evelyn Hodsdon, 74, St. Johnsbury, on Aug. 4. Hodsdon is the sister of Pauline Harpin.
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| Pauline Harpin |
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| Paul Harpin |
Hodsdon told Guertin she should visit the Harpin home because the Harpins' animals were dying every day and being neglected. In O'Hare's affidavit, he said Guertin had been in contact with the Harpins a number of times during the years about animal cruelty issues.
Guertin told O'Hare she had been threatened by Paul Harpin in the past and she would not return to the residence unless she was accompanied by law enforcement officers.
Hodsdon told Guertin that during her last visit to her sister's house in July, she counted 17 cats in the residence. Three weeks after her last visit, Hodsdon's sister said 10 cats had died. Later, Hodsdon learned, an 11th cat had died.
On Aug. 6, O'Hare responded to the residence with a search warrant and Caledonia County deputy sheriffs Gaylon Smith, Steve Hartwell and Dana Kalahan. Guertin went to the house along with veterinarian Robert Hicks.
Twenty live animals were removed from the residence. Each of the rescued animals represents one of the 20 charges of animal cruelty lodged against each of the Harpins.
Rescued were five cats, a speckled lizard, a pot bellied lizard and a tan lizard, a white Geco, a tarantula, a tortoise, a ball python, a hamster, a brown and white mouse, a guinea pig, a chinchilla, two ferrets, a rabbit and a dog.
Inside, a number of dead and decaying animals were found, with 15 frozen animal carcasses alone discovered in the freezer.
According to court records, the house was infested with fleas and black flies, and rotting garbage was heaped up everywhere. The animals were kept in inhumane conditions and demonstrated severe neglect.
According to O'Hare, the Harpins surrendered all of the animals to the town of Barnet.
After the Harpins entered innocent pleas, they were released on conditions, including they not possess any firearms or dangerous weapons; they have no contact with and not harass or abuse Evelyn Hodsdon or Josephine Guertin; they make an appointment to meet with a mental health counselor from Northeast Kingdom Human Services; they not have any animals in their residence; and that they allow periodic inspections of their residence by a humane officer.
The animals rescued all received medical attention and most have been placed with new owners.
(Caledonian Record - Sept 9, 2008)
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