Woman Arrested in Animal Cruelty Case
By DARLA M. YOUNGSLAURENS
0n Monday, February 19, Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staff worked with the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office to rescue four dogs living in deplorable conditions in the Town of Laurens. Unfortunately, the tip from a private citizen came too late to help the five deceased dogs found on the property.
“It was horrific,” said SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes at the time. “The worst situation I have been a part of.”
For Haynes, that’s saying something, as the SQSPCA routinely assists local law enforcement officials with animal cruelty cases here in Otsego County.
Last week, on March 13, Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. announced the arrest of the owner of the property from which the dogs were seized. Ashley H. Williams of Laurens has been charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony; nine counts of abandonment of animals, a misdemeanor; and nine counts of failure to provide sustenance to animals, also a misdemeanor.
During the month of February, according to the sheriff’s report, deputies received accounts of deceased and emaciated dogs that had been abandoned at a property in Laurens.
