MAGDRL Helps out Danes in Cruelty Case

News Update: 1/25/08: Sentencing Hearing Held in Magnotta Case 1/18/08: Magnotta Pleads Guilty in Dogs Death, Bradford Era Newspaper Update 10/3/2007: Animal cruelty suspect’s bail reduced; still jailed on Monday, Bradford Era Newspaper Update 9/20/2007: , Magnotta waives hearing on animal cruelty charges on Tuesday, Bradford Era Newspaper article 8/13/2007: Magnotta's Hearing Postponed

Sentencing: Magnotta, 59, formerly of Bradford, was sentenced to six to 23 1/2 months with credit for 198 days of time served and was immediately paroled. She was also ordered to serve one year of additional probation for the six counts of animal cruelty.

As part of her sentence, she is prohibited from ever owning another dog, cat, bird or other animal for the rest of her life. The judge also ordered a mental health evaluation and for Magnotta to follow through with any recommended treatment. (Source: Bradford Era)

From our President and PA Coordinator, Sheila Marshall: Please accept my thanks to all of you who helped with our efforts on this. To everyone who donated money towards the care of the surviving Danes and to all who wrote letters to the DA and the Judge. My special thanks to Karen Quatman, who I asked to take on the task of getting the word out. She turned into a tenacious bull dog and made contact with everyone should could find to help.

Original Story: July 14, 2007, a 5-year old fawn female and a 2-year old black female Great Dane were removed from a shelter in Clark Summit following the arrest of their owner with charges of animal cruelty. Sheila Marshall, accompanied by Cindy Kerr, drove quite a distance out of MAGDRL territory to pick up these Danes with only a day's notice and find foster homes for them.

On June 12, 2007, a real estate agent, who was sent to the property to check for occupancy and preparation of sale, found two decomposing Great Dane carcasses behind a nailed shut kennel door and called the police. Officials from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement encountered a gruesome scene at a Bradford Township home where they found the remains of more than 20 dogs. Corpses were found in shallow graves wrapped in tarps and carpeting. The remains of the dogs ranged in age from younger dogs to adults and they were in various stages of decomposition. Some bodies were also covered by lime, soil, debris and dog feces which did little to control the smell that lingered on the property. Some bodies were found inside of some of the kennels. According to the affidavit, there were no food or water dishes in or around the kennels which makes it appear that the dogs died of starvation and neglect.

copyright(c) Bradford Era

59-year old Cheryl Ann Magnotta, who was once a well known breeder of Great Danes and ran Swift Dane Kennel in Bradford Township, Pennsylvania, reportedly won a Great Dane Club of America competition in 2004. She also had a license to run the kennel. Magnotta was charged with 21 counts of animal cruelty third degree misdemeanor charges and 44 summary counts of scattering rubbish on the property.

Police said a few of the dog carcasses were sent to a local veterinarian to determine how they died. The rest are being kept as evidence for this case. Results of the autopsies have not yet been released. It was estimated that the dogs died three to nine months ago.

Magnotta was last known to be at this residence on June 11, 2007, with a 26-foot U-Haul moving truck to evidently remove some items since the property was under foreclosure by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according the to the affidavit.

Magnotta and three Great Danes moved in with her mother in a small apartment. Following Magnotta's arrest, authorities felt her mother was too frail to care for three large dogs and Magnotta's mother relinquished all three dogs. The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement contacted Sheila Marshall, President of MAGDRL for her assistance in fostering three Great Danes that were temporarily being held at a shelter in Clark Summit. One of those Great Danes had a wound infection on her leg and was rushed to a local veterinarian. It was discovered that the wound had been left untreated for a long period of time and her infection was so great, the veterinarian didn't think she would make it through the surgery.

Magnotta was sent to the county prison on $150,000 straight bail. She faces a preliminary hearing on September 5, 2007 in District Judge Richard Luther's office. If you would like to stay updated about this cruelty case, go to www.padanerescue.com to see how you can help MAGDRL ensure this doesn't happen to another Great Dane.

How can you help?

Thanks to all who took the time to send letters to the DA's office. The important time to show up at the Court House is at sentencing on January the 24th. Please keep in mind that since a plea was struck, the sentencing guidelines ranges from probation to one month each count. She has plead to 6 counts and has already served 7 months. Letter expressing your thoughts should be sent before January the 24rth.

Again, thanks to all who helped get the letters out. They really made a difference.