Operators of unregistered animal rescue plea guilty to cruelty
ALBANY COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – New information on an animal cruelty case where authorities removed over 100 animals from an unregistered rescue organization. The operators pleaded guilty and NEWS10 has the latest on the plea deal and those animals.
One of the rescued animals, Sprite, was in such bad condition when that search warrant was executed at “Empawthy Rescue” that officers initially thought the small puppy was dead.
Operators Andrew Tremblay and Jennifer Uhl each pleaded guilty to 10 counts of animal cruelty – satisfying all 102 animal cruelty charges each of the defendants faced.
The animals were rescued on January 17. Andrew Fiumano was the lead investigator and said they were most shocked by the scale of the rescue hoarding situation.
“Crates and cages stacked on top of each other. Animal feces and waste on the floor, vomit, animal food all over the place. The air was very noxious. There were high levels of ammonia inside. So overall, it was a very overcrowded and unsanitary condition for the animals to live in,” said Fiumano.
Humane officers and Colonie Police found 16 deceased animals at the Cohoes home, along with 102 live animals, including 47 dogs, 52 cats and three ferrets. President and CEO of Mohawk Hudson Humane Society Ashley Jeffrey Bouck said the non-profit has spent over $300,000 on this one case, covering things like medical costs, food, and overtime for staff.
“So this was a humongous undertaking. It was a lot of personal resources, a lot of financial resources,” said Jeffrey Bouck.
As part of their plea deal, Tremblay and Uhl will not be able to own or reside with or harbor any animals for 10 years. They cannot be involved in any type of animal rescue organization for the duration and they will be on probation for three years.
“People that they mean well, but they are in over their heads or they are trying to benefit from the situation,” said Fuimano.
They will be sentenced next month, where they will receive the actual order to be placed on from patient and any fines and fees that may be associated
Mohawk Hudson Humane Society said just seven of those animals are still in its care.
“Just a huge thank you to our Capital Region community, opening your homes and your hearts to animals who really needed you the most,” said Jeffrey Bouck.
As for Sprite, the puppy made a full recovery and has been adopted. However, two are still up for adoption and are available now, just in time for the “Clear the Shelter” special running this weekend.
Mohawk Hudson is offering 80 percent off adoption fees, now until Sunday at 4:00 P.M.
“We are here to help. We have a ton of experience, running an animal shelter and placing animals and if somebody is in need, and we have the capacity here to help them, we are going to do what we can to help them,” said Fiumano.