LAWRENCE (WKZO-AM) — A couple who were keeping more than 100 dogs in squalid conditions at their Van Buren County home will avoid jail.
Donald Smith and Melissa Copen agreed to plead guilty to a count of animal cruelty and neglect this week. As part of their deal, they are expected to serve probation, and as a condition of that probation, they will not be allowed to have pets.
Authorities say they found incredibly unsanitary conditions in their home when they seized the dogs, some cats and a horse earlier this year.
They say the animals had fleas, were malnourished or were in otherwise poor condition.
The animals were taken to shelters and once they were cleaned up and evaluated, many were put up for adoption.
Smith and Copen said in court they cared about their pets but simply became overwhelmed.
