A husband and wife in southern Erie County were arraigned Thursday evening on hundreds of charges in connection with the seizure of animals from a farm. Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane says 74-year-old Bonnie George and 77-year-old Donald George of Brant have each been charged with one count of 2nd-degree obstruction and 207 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance) under New York Ag & Markets Law.
Keane says the investigation began after a dog control officer received an anonymous complaint about animals living in unsafe conditions. The complaint was forwarded to the SPCA Serving Erie County for further investigation. On November 19th, SPCA investigators conducted an inspection on the farm on Brant-Farnham Road, where they saw neglected animals and unsanitary conditions. The following day, SPCA investigators executed a search warrant at the property and seized a total of 216 animals.
Both suspects are accused of failing to provide necessary food, water and care to 207 of the farm and domestic animals found on their property, which included 119 goats, 47 chickens, 18 ducks and geese, 11 cats, six sheep and six dogs. The animals were allegedly found in unsanitary conditions without proper access to food and water. Investigators also allegedly found multiple dead animals on the property, which included goats, deer and fowl. The two also allegedly intentionally obstructed the administration of law and prevented a public servant from performing an official function. SPCA investigators allegedly saw two horses on the property during their inspection. When the search warrant was executed, the horses were no longer on the property, and both suspects allegedly refused to provide information on their location, preventing investigators from performing a health and welfare check on the animals…