CountryWolf07
03-17-2004, 12:26 AM
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- A 72-year-old woman collapsed in court on Tuesday after a jury convicted her of animal cruelty toward more than 230 Chihuahuas and 60 birds she kept in squalor at her southern California home.
Emma Regina Harter, who was also convicted of lesser charges of battery on an animal control officer, unsanitary conditions and failure to isolate sick animals, was treated in the courtroom by paramedics and released, prosecutors said.
She was ordered to return to court on Friday, when she faces a possible sentence of five years in prison.
Authorities raided Harter's home, which was caked in layers of fecal matter and where Chihuahuas were living in the walls, in November and seized the animals.
Many of the diminutive dogs died due to illness after they were taken from Harter's home and others were found too dangerous for adoption. But after the story became national news animal activists convinced a judge to spare about 150 of the animals from being put to death.
Emma Regina Harter, who was also convicted of lesser charges of battery on an animal control officer, unsanitary conditions and failure to isolate sick animals, was treated in the courtroom by paramedics and released, prosecutors said.
She was ordered to return to court on Friday, when she faces a possible sentence of five years in prison.
Authorities raided Harter's home, which was caked in layers of fecal matter and where Chihuahuas were living in the walls, in November and seized the animals.
Many of the diminutive dogs died due to illness after they were taken from Harter's home and others were found too dangerous for adoption. But after the story became national news animal activists convinced a judge to spare about 150 of the animals from being put to death.