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Couple Admit to Animal Cruelty Charges Involving Dozens of Cats

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP — A couple in Luzerne County pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges involving dozens of cats. The SPCA of Luzerne County told us that ...

KINGSTON TOWNSHIP -- A couple in Luzerne County pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges involving dozens of cats.

The SPCA of Luzerne County told us that for decades Robert and Marilyn Dale bred Manx cats from their home near Harveys Lake. But over the past few years, living conditions for the cats deteriorated to the point where more than 50 of the cats needed to be taken from the home.

Robert and Marilyn Dale left a magistrate's office in Trucksville after pleading guilty to five counts of animal cruelty. They were charged in December with 112 counts after the Luzerne County SPCA removed 56 cats from their home near Harveys Lake.

"The cats were in cages that had no water, no food, and the litter boxes were overflowing," said Garry Taroli, attorney for the Luzerne County SPCA.

Graphic pictures were shown as evidence of the conditions the cats were found in. Most of them are now at the SPCA near Wilkes-Barre.

"It just became a situation where I think the cats they had there, they weren't able to keep up with them. Mr. Dale got ill. He has the onset of some form of dementia," said Stephen Menn, the Dales' attorney.

While the couple did not want to comment, their attorney spoke for them.

"It was a difficult situation for them. They love their animals. They had no intent on hurting their animals."

More than 20 of the cats have been adopted or re-homed through other shelters. The SPCA of Luzerne County says they have more than 30 who still need homes."

As part of the couple's plea agreement, they can never breed cats again and are only allowed three cats of their own.

"I think everybody's in agreement, even the Dales are in agreement, that the cats needed to be taken and cared for properly at this time," Menn said.

The couple from the Harveys Lake area faced the possibility of paying $30,000 in fines and restitution to the SPCA. Under the plea deal, they'll pay just over $1,200.

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