[August 12, 2011] Brunswick couple plead guilty to 33 of 98 charges of animal cruelty Tweet Aug 12, 2011 (The Frederick News-Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Brunswick couple who kept more than 100 animals in their home until the pets were seized by Frederick County Animal Control officers in May will serve no jail time as part of a plea agreement reached Thursday. Ivan and Patsy Issette, of the 100 block of East A Street, pleaded guilty to 33 animal abuse charges and were ordered to serve 1,080 days' probation -- with 18 months supervised -- after Associate Judge W. Milnor Roberts suspended a nearly three-year sentence and the state dropped 65 charges against the couple as part of the agreement, Assistant State's Attorney Colleen K. Swanson said. The probation order forbids the couple from keeping animals in their home for 1,080 days -- nearly three years. Ninety-five dogs and seven birds were found in the couple's home when Frederick County Animal Control officials raided their house in May. Animal excrement covered the floors, 6 inches deep in places, Swanson said. The agreement included one count of infliction of unnecessary suffering and 32 counts of failure to provide adequate veterinary care, Swanson said. During the 18 months of supervised probation, the Issettes must undergo psychiatric evaluations and complete any treatment assigned by their probation officer. Completing assigned treatment could extend beyond the probationary period, Swanson said. The Issettes -- Ivan, 63, and Patsy, 65 -- had no prior criminal record. They were also ordered to pay $755 restitution to Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital, where Animal Control took the animals for assessment. The Issettes' lawyer, Dino Flores, said his clients always intended to take care of the animals, which started out as a few and multiplied unrestrained. The Issettes spent $11,000 on dog food in 2010, he said. "They got into a situation they could not handle," he said. It started with a well-meaning desire to save the animals from being put down, Flores said. "They couldn't live with that," he said. "They loved animals." Swanson said that whatever the couple's original intention, the result was harmful to the animals. According to veterinary records, the Issettes had not sought any treatment for the dogs since 2004, and the animals had not been allowed outside the filthy house, she said. "The animals were in dire condition," Swanson said. Animal Control found the animals infested with fleas, suffering from skin conditions and a lack of socialization. Swanson called it a clear case of animal hoarding. Animal Control put down one dog almost immediately; 32 others that could not be saved or rehabilitated for adoption were put down later, Swanson said. The number destroyed accounted for the number of charges to which the couple pleaded guilty, she said. "It's a tragic situation," Swanson said. "In terms of outcome it's a very sad case." Since their arrest, the Issettes have been remodeling the interior of their home, Flores said. The couple invited Animal Control to see the work they have done to improve the house. "They have really done a major turnaround," Flores said. "They've been helped by Animal Control to get their life back." Swanson said Animal Control will be allowed to conduct random, unscheduled inspections during the probation. To see more of the Frederick News-Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fredericknewspost.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Frederick News-Post, Md. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]