Animal cruelty costs mount


Wednesday, December 17, 2003

DARRYL Q. TUCKER
THE SAGINAW NEWS




A Fremont Township woman and her daughter have avoided
jail on charges they abused hundreds of cats, dogs,
donkeys and other animals in their care.


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However, their no contest plea could result in them
having to pay more than $40,000 in restitution costs.

Jacqueline K. Wolfe, 56, and Kimberly A. Wolfe, 36, who
both live at 13465 Lakefield, learned Tuesday in
Saginaw County District Court that they will spend the
next two years on probation for five misdemeanor
charges of animal cruelty.

The no contest plea means they did not admit guilt but
are willing to accept punishment.

District Judge Darnell Jackson also ordered each woman
to pay $1,075 in fees and fines.

His punishment also calls for the women to pay
restitution. Authorities have not yet determined the
reimbursement amount the County Animal Care Center
should get, although Mark A. Wachner, director of the
center, estimates that caring for the Wolfes' animals
has cost the county more than $40,000.

Jackson told the women that if they didn't follow the
terms of probation, which included limiting them to
owning only two animals each -- the maximum Fremont
Township allows -- they could go to jail.

The judge said he viewed photos and a video of the
animals at the Wolfes' home and barn and "it bothered
me."

Jacqueline Wolfe said her family has taken in and cared
for animals for more than 40 years. Some of them come
to her home already in bad shape and she and her family
nurse them back to good health, she said.

The animals had plenty of food and water, Jacqueline
Wolfe said. She said she often transported sick animals
to a veterinarian.

Some of the animals were in cages to protect them from
other animals, she said.

In October 2002, County Animal Care Center officials
spent more than eight hours removing 228 sick and
malnourished animals from the Wolfes' property. Many of
the animals were too sick to treat, and officials
destroyed 159 cats on the scene.

"I felt the judge was very well prepared for the
sentencing," Wachner said. "He obviously spent a lot of
time reviewing the evidence. It's been a long road with
this case because it was so complex.

"We (at the Animal Care Center) just don't want to see
any more animals suffer. There was a lot of suffering
going on." t

Darryl Q. Tucker covers courts for The Saginaw News.
You may reach him at 776-9686.