State v. Vicki Cornell, a case we helped prosecute for the Williams County Humane Society, co-counseling with the Bryan City Prosecutor’s Office.
Cornell was found guilty of 24 counts of companion animal cruelty relating to 48 dogs kept on her residential property in Edon, Ohio. All were allegations of severe neglect. Some animals were extremely thin and/or lacked adequate water. Most suffered from a variety of causes, including being forced to breathe air with high concentrations of urine and fecal ammonia, mange, wounds, ear and eye infections, fleas or flea allergies, keeping dogs in conditions where dog fights occurred, and others. Much of the suffering was directly related to severe filth. Cornell was the President of a nonprofit organization called Skinny Little Buddies Animal Rescue, which operated out of her home.
Cornell was sentenced to 25 days in jail for each count, all of which run consecutively, for a total of 600 days. Jail time will be imposed if she fails to complete 5 years probation. All animals were forfeited to the Humane Society except for four personal pets.
Cornell is prohibited from owning, possessing, caring for, or living at a residence with more than 4 animals indefinitely. During probation, Defendant must obtain a mental health evaluation and follow up with treatment; all animals must be kept in a humane, lawful and sanitary manner, and she is subject to random inspections by the Humane Society.
Defendant was fined $100 on each count for a total of $2,400. The Humane Society waived restitution, given the fact that there is very little likelihood that they could ever collect.
Congratulations the Williams County Humane Society, Williams County Dog Warden, and the Williams County Sheriff’s Department. Hats off to Prosecutor Rhonda Fisher and her staff who devoted endless hours seeing this through to a successful conclusion over nearly a week of trial and hearings.
Cornell was found guilty of 24 counts of companion animal cruelty relating to 48 dogs kept on her residential property in Edon, Ohio. All were allegations of severe neglect. Some animals were extremely thin and/or lacked adequate water. Most suffered from a variety of causes, including being forced to breathe air with high concentrations of urine and fecal ammonia, mange, wounds, ear and eye infections, fleas or flea allergies, keeping dogs in conditions where dog fights occurred, and others. Much of the suffering was directly related to severe filth. Cornell was the President of a nonprofit organization called Skinny Little Buddies Animal Rescue, which operated out of her home.
Cornell was sentenced to 25 days in jail for each count, all of which run consecutively, for a total of 600 days. Jail time will be imposed if she fails to complete 5 years probation. All animals were forfeited to the Humane Society except for four personal pets.
Cornell is prohibited from owning, possessing, caring for, or living at a residence with more than 4 animals indefinitely. During probation, Defendant must obtain a mental health evaluation and follow up with treatment; all animals must be kept in a humane, lawful and sanitary manner, and she is subject to random inspections by the Humane Society.
Defendant was fined $100 on each count for a total of $2,400. The Humane Society waived restitution, given the fact that there is very little likelihood that they could ever collect.
Congratulations to the Williams County Humane Society, Williams County Dog Warden, and the Williams County Sheriff’s Department. Hats off to Prosecutor Rhonda Fisher and her staff who devoted endless hours seeing this through to a successful conclusion over nearly a week of trial and hearings.