One hundred cats, 14 dogs: Woman withdraws plea draws no-contest plea

A criminal case involving a woman who allegedly kept as m any as 100 cats, 14 dogs and other animals was continued Friday in Justice Court.

Judy Space, 60, is charged with cruelty and not having a kennel license, which would be required for that number of dogs. She was scheduled to be sentenced on the two misdemeanors, but instead, withdrew her no-contest plea.

Justice of the Peace Dale Trigg allowed her to withdraw her plea after she told him that she didn't understand that he is not bound by the terms of plea agreement she reached with the County Attorney's office during July. That included a three-year deferred sentence and inspections of her property to ensure it was safe for animals.

Deputy County Attorney Tammi Fisher said she thinks Space felt no malice toward the animals.

"She had taken them in as a rescue to find homes for them," testified Richard Stockdale, director of animal control for the county. "She had been ill and gotten behind in things, and it just got away from her."

The result was a house and kennels deeply littered in cat feces.

"It was just filth they were having to live in," he said. Many of the animals didn't have water, he said.

Fisher said she recently has learned that the Fairmont Road home has no running water.

Conditions there raised questions about Space's ability to care for herself, and a report was sent to Adult Protective

Services, Stockdale said.

"We have a concern that the inside of the house may not be habitable for humans, let alone animals," Fisher said.

She produced photographs of the outside and inside of the home for Trigg to consider. Space looked at the exterior shots, but said she didn't want to see the interior photos, which depicted at least 6 inches of cat feces covering the surface of countertops, appliances and the floor.

Volunteers have cleaned up the outside of the home, including the kennels, Stockdale said.

"She has not personally been actively involved in the cleanup," he said.

Volunteers are not cleaning the inside, he said.

He said he wants Space to reduce the number of cats from about 100 to 8 and to give away all but four of the dogs. He's taken away about 61 animals, he said.

Space testified that dogs always had a chance to run in the mornings and evenings, and that none was dehydrated. She planned to call a woman who wrote a letter on her behalf to testify.

But first, Trigg allowed her to withdraw her plea and hire a lawyer to represent her and she decided she should.

Fisher said she thinks the animals are in not imminent danger because of the delay. They are being fed and watered now, she said, and they've always had veterinary care.

The case arose after someone complained about a barking dog at Space's house, and an officer discovered the number of animals living there, including rabbits, goats and fowl.

No date has been set for Space's next court date.