PONTIAC (WWJ) — A Pontiac woman has been charged with a felony after authorities removed more than 30 animals from her home earlier this fall.
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald on Wednesday announced she has charged 47-year-old Karmen Schooly with one count of cruelty to 25 or more animals and one count of operating an unregistered animal shelter.
On Sept. 27 Oakland County Animal Shelter officials were called to Schooly’s home on Argyle Avenue. They found she was keeping 29 dogs and eight cats inside the home, which the prosecutor’s office says was “unfit for living.” The sheriff’s office at the time described it as a “hoarding situation.”
Schooly is not registered or licensed to house animals, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“Housing dozens of animals that you can’t take care of is not a ‘rescue,’ and neglecting or abusing animals is a crime,” McDonald said, per a press release. “I applaud Oakland County Animal Control for saving these dogs and cats from deplorable conditions.”
Hours after the animals were removed from Schooly’s home, Oakland County Shelter manager Bob Gatt told WWJ Newsradio 950’s Luke Sloan the pets were living in deplorable conditions.
“This home was so bad that they were living in a fecal-infested home on the floors and everywhere they were at," Gatt said.
Almost every animal was infested with fleas and Gatt said all the animals were "showing signs of not a whole lot of human interaction."
"They're very, very scared of our staff and they're very scared of the surroundings," Gatt said at the time.
The woman’s home was condemned by the city’s ordinance and building departments, officials said previously.
The felony charge of cruelty to 25 or more animals is punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.00, and/or not less than 5 years’ probation, and/or up to 500 hours of community service, or any combination of penalties.
Operating an unregistered animal shelter is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500.
Information on adopting pets from the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, can be found at oakgov.com/petadoption.
More on today's top stories: