BENNINGTON, Vt., July 14 (UPI) -- Two New York sisters pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges for keeping more than 80 cats, 13 of which had to be euthanized, in two cars.
Bertha A. Ryan, 62, and Regina Millard, both of Troy, N.Y., each pleaded guilty in a Bennington, Vt., court to 13 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to an animal, one count for each cat that had to be euthanized, the Bennington Banner reported Wednesday.
Both women were given an 18-month deferred sentence and ordered to undergo mental health treatment and counseling during their probation period.
Bennington police called to a local grocery store parking lot in October to investigate reports of people sleeping in cars found the women with more than 80 cats in two cars.
All the cats were in need of medical care and were sent to a Bennington animal hospital and shelter where some had to be euthanized, authorities said.
New York police say they found and seized 50 more cats from Ryan's home in Troy.
The two women were looking for no-kill shelters for the cats, Ryan told the Banner.
Her brother-in-law began hoarding the cats, she said, and she was attempting to find homes for the animals.
