Maryland woman pleads to three counts of animal cruelty involving cats that died

A Washington County woman pleaded guilty recently to three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty related to three of the 11 cats that were seized from her home earlier this year and died, according to court records and officials involved in the case.

Pamela Joy Reno, 66, pleaded guilty on Oct. 31 in Washington County District Court to unlawfully causing or authorizing the infliction of unnecessary suffering or pain to three cats: Joey, Mocha and Stella, according to court records.

Those three cats were among four cats that died, Assistant State's Attorney Danielle Lackovic said Thursday.

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Judge O. John Cejka Jr. gave Reno three consecutive 90-day sentences — a total of 270 days, but suspended the incarceration time, according to court records.

Cejka ordered Reno to be on three years of supervised probation, during which she is not to care for, own, or have custody or control of any animals, according to court records. The Humane Society of Washington County may make "reasonable inspections" of Reno's home to make sure no animals are present during her probationary period, according to a probation docket for the case.

Lackovic said Reno, at her plea hearing, paid $780.55 in restitution to the humane society for medical care for Joey, Mocha and Stella.

Reno also is to get a mental health evaluation and follow recommended treatment, according to court documents and Lackovic.

Per the plea deal, 19 other counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty were dismissed.

Reno's public defender could not immediately be reached for comment.

The humane society "would like to thank the agencies that assisted with this case and the families who opened their homes to the animals we were able to save," Executive Director Colin Berry said in an email.

Berry has previously said that two cats were euthanized and two others died from medical issues.

The remaining seven cats had been adopted, Berry said in mid-April.

Summary of conditions found in home where cats were seized

A field-services officer from the humane society, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office and an assistant state's attorney arrived at the Mason Dixon Road home near the Pennsylvania state line on Feb. 2 to execute a search and seizure warrant due to evidence of animal cruelty.

In the charging documents filed March 29, field services officer Isaac Mowery describes trash piled 3 to 5 feet high in a home that also had bugs all over and an odor that was "overwhelming" and burned the throat when trying to breathe.

Crystal Mowery, who was field services director for the humane society at the time the cats were seized, previously told The Herald-Mail the humane society filed charges against the woman because of the cats' physical conditions and their living conditions. The humane society serves as the county's animal control authority.

A field services officer donned a hazmat suit and respirator to enter the home.

Many of the cats had dental and flea-related issues and several were underweight, court records state.

One cat had an old scar on her left cornea and another had such damage to the left eye that the charging document noted it would need enucleation — removal of the eye.

There was no running water or working outlets in the home and there was a large hole in the living room floor with about an 8-foot drop to the basement, according to charging documents.

Reno is listed as the owner of the property, according to information at the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation's website.

The director of Washington County permits and inspections at the time, who also was the county's code official, said in an April email that county permitting staff were working with the property owner to resolve the issues.

"The County has no outstanding service requests regarding the property and no further information concerning its current condition," according to an email sent Thursday from county spokesperson Danielle Weaver.

Whether Reno is still living there was not immediately known.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown-area woman pleads to cruelty involving cats that died