NEW BERLIN, N.Y. — The Susquehanna SPCA and the New York State Police held a press conference with new information about an animal cruelty case in the Village of New Berlin.
On April 26, State Police executed a search warrant on Clark Lane and Pig Farm Lane in the Village of New Berlin.
Police were there to investigate an animal abuse case.
Stacie Haynes, the executive director of the Susquehanna SPCA, said it didn’t take long before evidence started piling up.
“It wasn’t hard to determine what we were going to face because there were dead animals right near the road. There were a handful of dead animals in the creek when you walked up to the home. We only had to take a couple steps before we saw animals that were sick and suffering,” she said.
State Police Capt. Marc Barbera said based on the number of decaying animals found on the farm, he believes the abuse was going on for years.
“People were telling us that in the summertime when it gets warm especially, that they would take alternate routes. Like, if they were going into town or going back to their homes, so they would not have to go past that farm.
Barbera said 107 animals were seized, and two dozen were found deceased, along with a graveyard of bones.
“We were told that at one point that was a pig farm that was doing very well, and at some point, there was a fire. Then, I think, a death in the family, and it seems like at that point is when things started kind of downhill,” Barbera said.
Four people are being charged with felonies and misdemeanors in connection to the animal cruelty.
Dominick E Brown, 44
- Nine counts of the class “E” felony of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
- 95 counts of the misdemeanor of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.
Jane M. Richards, 74
- Nine counts of the class “E” felony of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
- 87 counts of the misdemeanor of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.
Helen F. Goude, age 56
- Two counts of the class “E” felony of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
- Three counts of the misdemeanor of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.
Katheriena M.Goude, 60
- Two counts of the class “E” felony of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals
- Three counts of the misdemeanor of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.
Barbera said so far, the owners of the animals are not surrendering their rights to the seized animals.
“The owners are under the belief that the animals are being taken care of just fine,” Barbera said.
All four are being arraigned at the Town of New Berlin Court on May 22 at 9 a.m.
The Susquehanna SPCA and the New York State Police held a press conference with new information about an animal cruelty case in the Village of New Berlin.