Friday July 4, 2008, 2:42 am

WOMAN WHO KEPT 50 PETS CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY
The Mercury

NORRISTOWN - A judge has ruled that a former New Hanover woman improperly cared for nearly 50 dogs and cats at her former home, allowing them to live in ‘filthy’ conditions.

Montgomery County Judge William T. Nicholas on Wednesday convicted Mary Lou Petrucci, formerly of the 2100 block of Little Road, of 48 summary counts of cruelty to animals as well as charges that she failed to properly license the dogs and failed to vaccinate the dogs against rabies in connection with a July 2006 incident.

By hoarding more than 26 animals in one place she also violated a state kennel law, the judge determined.

Authorities testified the Little Road residence was littered with animal feces and urine on the day the animals were rescued from the two-story stone farmhouse. Testimony revealed the stench was so bad that local firefighters had to provide the animal rescuers with air masks so they could enter the home.

‘The condition of the house, it was filthy. It was so awful it drove (authorities) out of the residence. I'm satisfied the animals were maintained under those circumstances,’ Nicholas said as he announced his verdict.

Nicholas ruled that the 31 dogs, including Border Collies, and 16 cats be permanently forfeited to the Montgomery County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which will now put the animals up for adoption.

Nicholas ordered Petrucci to pay $2,375 in fines. Nicholas plans to hold a restitution hearing at a later date to determine just how much Petrucci should pay to the SPCA, which had confiscated the animals after conducting a search of the Little Road home on July 13, 2006.

Edward Davies, operations manager at the SPCA, testified it cost the agency $122,304 to care for the animals from July 2006 through Wednesday. The animals could not be put up for adoption until the court case was settled.

While Assistant District Attorney Abby Silverman argued the SPCA is entitled to the restitution, defense lawyer Charles Mandracchia called the restitution request ‘overkill.’

Mandracchia unsuccessfully pleaded with the judge to allow Petrucci to reclaim some of the animals.

‘She loves animals,’ Mandracchia said.

The judge heard the case after Petrucci appealed a previous ruling by District Court Judge Maurice H. Saylor, who convicted Petrucci of the same charges and ordered her to pay fines in connection with citations issued under regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Petrucci, who reportedly now lives in Chester County, did not testify during Wednesday's hearing.

The main point of contention during the hearing was whether or not Petrucci actually lived at the house. Mandracchia claimed Petrucci moved out in April 2006 but returned there occasionally to assist the owner of the home in cleaning and refurbishing the home.

Mandracchia implied that when Petrucci visited the home she would take along half her animals.

‘We're not saying she never lived there, but at the time in question she wasn't living there,’ Mandracchia argued, claiming there is no evidence the animals lived at the home.

But Silverman argued the amount of feces found inside the home was evidence the animals lived there for a prolonged period of time.

‘This was more than a day's worth of feces in this home. This is not the buildup of animals who were kept in a house for an hour,’ argued Silverman, referring to photographs of the animal feces that caked the floors of the home.

Silverman said SPCA officials began their investigation after Petrucci's neighbors complained of odors, allegedly overpowering smells of urine and feces, coming from the home. The dogs were found inside the home and the cats were found in a separate poorly ventilated trailer on the property, authorities alleged.

SPCA officers and veterinarians testified for the commonwealth during the hearing.

‘It knocked you back, the smell and the heat,’ Edward Bunt, dog warden for the state Department of Agriculture, testified, referring to the stench. ‘There were numerous dogs running around and barking, wet floors with fecal matter on them. The fecal smell was just overbearing.’

SPCA veterinarian Dr. Melanie Stewart testified some of the cats had oral infections and the dogs had matted hair and were covered in their own waste.

‘Some of them had severe dental problems. Their gums were inflamed and filled with pus,’ said Stewart, referring to the condition of the cats.

Stewart testified some of the dogs suffered from birth defects, like fused toes, which can develop from inbreeding.

Friday July 4, 2008, 5:30 am
Noted. Thank you for this story. Hoarding is one of the toughest abuses with which to deal, in my opinion, because the perpetrator generally meant to do well by the animals. The end result, however, is very definitely the opposite and animals suffer terribly.

Friday July 4, 2008, 7:32 am
I hate hoarding. The animals suffer because of it. She needs to be prosecuted for it. Thanks for sending to me Dave. Noted with thanks End Cruelty.

Friday July 4, 2008, 7:45 am
hoarding is a mental illness, but it can be a problem when the eyes are open but can't see the damage it has caused, i wish it never existed !!!
may god save them !

Friday July 4, 2008, 9:06 am
I HATE PEOPLE WHO TORTURE ANIMALS. THEY SHOULD BE IN JAIL

Friday July 4, 2008, 9:09 am
noted...hoarding is horrible...all those poor furbabies suffering...it has got to be a sickness or the people doing are just S-I-C-K

Friday July 4, 2008, 9:33 am
well she didn't move far, Chester county is her neighbor. if you have a barn, with animals, you clean it. every day. like a litter box. same for these animals. doesn't sound like she did them any favor, this is taking care..
yuck, how disgusting.
ty ...

Friday July 4, 2008, 12:46 pm
Noted with thanks

Friday July 4, 2008, 1:08 pm
Noted and thanks Dave for sharing. Hoarding IS a mental illness but she should still have to pay restitution.

Friday July 4, 2008, 3:24 pm
NOTED THANKS

Friday July 4, 2008, 4:03 pm
noted thats awful.thank god some one did something to help.love shawna

Friday July 4, 2008, 4:23 pm
Shouldn't people with this hoarding problem be kept away from animals? At least she was discovered and fined, but aren't the odds in favor of it starting all over? Thanks, End Cruelty, good info.

Friday July 4, 2008, 4:58 pm
Such a difficut issue in which to deal. I think it is a mental illness but somehow these people must help pay to provide rescue efforts for their victims.

Friday July 4, 2008, 11:46 pm
DEFINTLY A BASKET CASE, I COULD SEE IF SHE HAD A FACILITY TOO RESCUE IN ALL MEANS NOT TOO HARM, THE ONLY PUNISHMENT IS TOO TAKE THEM AWAY AND MONITER HER AND FORBIDE HER TOO HAVE ANY ANIMALS.( i HOPE SHE WASN'T PLANNING ON KEEPING THEM FOR FOOD

Saturday July 5, 2008, 1:13 am
Sad indeed...if not an illness definately a weakness!
It's a pity that the person concerned can't be enrolled in some sort of project involving the care of animals.....such as an animal shelter or sanctuary....where her help would be invaluable...& she would realise how much time & work is involved in the well being of animals!

Saturday July 5, 2008, 1:30 am
noted thanks Dave

Saturday July 5, 2008, 12:19 pm
Glad she was prosecuted, I don't really care if it is a mental illness or not, other beings should not have to continually suffer as we at care2 see every day due to another's state of mind. If counseling is called for then that should be a part of the sentence. Shelters are severely overtaxed as it is and there is no reason that they should have to fit this large bill because she wouldn't sign over the animals for adoption. My guess is that wherever she lives she will begin this again.

Saturday July 5, 2008, 11:07 pm
Noted. Thank You

Sunday July 6, 2008, 5:12 pm
noted and thanks Dave for story.

Monday July 7, 2008, 12:02 pm
Noted. Thanks for keeping us informed.

Tuesday July 8, 2008, 3:01 am
I can't imagine what people who hoard animals are thinking. It does sound sick. However, she should pay her fine, make payments for the care they had to be given and never be allowed to have another animal. Thanks for the story, Dave and for all the work that you do.