SUNBURY, Pa. — Anne Gibbs walked into the Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury on Thursday to face charges of animal neglect.
Gibbs, 60. runs the nonprofit K-9 Hero Haven near Herndon, which takes in retired military and police dogs.
Gibbs entered Northumberland County's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or ARD program. That program is for first-time offenders. As part of the agreement, Gibbs must plead guilty to one count of animal neglect. She is prohibited from operating a kennel for ten years. In Pennsylvania, that is defined as having 26 or more dogs in a calendar year.
When Newswatch 16 stopped by K-9 Hero Haven in 2019, there were around 50 dogs at the facility.
Gibbs started the nonprofit in 2015. Most of the dogs at K-9 Hero Haven are adopted out to combat veterans or law enforcement families.
Gibbs was charged with 41 counts of neglect of animals and failure to keep kennels in a sanitary and humane condition last year.
According to court paperwork, several dogs at the kennel were living in unsanitary conditions, and humane officers said they needed medical care. Authorities took 12 dogs from the property.
Anne Gibbs must also pay more than $24,000 in restitution to the Pennsylvania SPCA.
Gibbs did not comment after her hearing.
See more pets and animal stories on WNEP’s YouTube playlist.