Archive: News

In Newfield town court last Thursday (1/12/12), accused defendant Christine Carpenter waived her right to having the charges read out loud and her lawyer requested a stay in the case. The next court date will be in February.

SPCA Executive Director Jim Bouderau said “Our hope is that Carpenter will enter guilty pleas to both charges with a sentence that prevents her from having any pets in her home for at least three years, along with being required to provide restitution to the SPCA for the cost of rehabilitating Sheila.”

Restitution in cases like these can be ordered but rarely happens, leaving the SPCA to bear the burden of all the costs associated with the case. The SPCA of Tompkins County relies on a community of loyal donors to help save the lives of pets like Sheila (whose foster family has now dubbed “Stella”).

Bouderau says, “Cruelty prevention is our core mission. Our humane investigators took about 1,500 calls regarding suspected cruelty, neglect and other situations in 2011. These calls resulted in 396 investigations, and led to the seizures of 100 animals. Without community support, these animals would have no one.”

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