MI: Woman charged of cruelty twice will hire lawyer
By DEBORAH M. MARKO
Staff Writer; dmarko@thedailyjournal.com

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MILLVILLE -- A city woman could face jail time if found guilty of a second set of animal cruelty charges filed against her, a Municipal Court judge warned Monday.

For the second time in three months, D Street resident Kelly Long faced Judge S. Kemble Salvo about the state of animals in her care.

Salvo warned Long the penalty for a second offense would be more severe than the $500 in fines he imposed upon her the first time the Cumberland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals filed charges, but didn't specify how much time behind bars might result. In October, the judge found Long guilty of failing to provide sanitary living conditions and proper vet care.

She faced similar charges at Monday's hearing.

In a brief statement, Long told the judge all the animals seized from her home last month were strays. She had trouble accessing veterinary care because she doesn't have a car, she said.

"I was trying to nurse them back to health on my own," Long said.

Instead of pleading her case, Long told the judge she planned to hire a lawyer. Salvo rescheduled the hearing for later this month.

During Long's first offense encounter with the SPCA, investigators confiscated about 20 cats, five parakeets, a puppy and an assortment of gerbils and hamsters from her rented D Street home.

At the time, the judge gave the SPCA the authority to reinspect Long's residence any time during a 180-day period.

During a surprise visit last month, according to the SPCA, investigators found similar conditions. They confiscated six cats, 15 kittens and a multitude of hamsters, gerbils and mice. The cats were later put down due to severe respiratory infections.

After her court appearance Monday, Long said she was going through a difficult time and was facing bankruptcy. Her husband is working, and Long said she's looking for a job.

Long still has two cats on the property that SPCA officials didn't confiscate.

They would have, investigators said, but the felines were too quick.

Long has been paying off her municipal fines but has not made a $50-per-month restitution to the SPCA. Salvo advised her to start making the payment beginning Friday