6/4/14 - A Howell Township woman charged after authorities removed more than 90 dogs and puppies from her property has entered a plea in the case and the animals are available for adoption. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says 76-year-old Margaret Elaine Komorny of Howell Township pleaded guilty as charged to a count of failing to provide adequate care to ten or more animals. Sentencing is tentatively set July 17th before Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. In April, investigators found large-breed dogs and puppies living in what were described as substandard conditions at the Raisin Tree Farm on Suntar Valley Drive. Komorny also forfeited her ownership rights as part of the plea and a court order has been issued transferring ownership of the seized dogs to Livingston County Animal Control, which has been caring for them for 20 days. It reports the costs of removing the dogs and providing immediate boarding and veterinary care was close to $20,000. The HSUS Puppy Mill Response team was credited for helping to ease that financial burden that would have fallen to the local taxpayers otherwise since it covered the majority of the expense, providing veterinarians and volunteers that assisted in moving the dogs. Itâs now enlisting the help of other shelters and rescues in Michigan to take over care of the dogs and adopt them out to permanent homes. Complete information is available on the Livingston County Animal Control Facebook page. A link is posted below. (JM)
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