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Patrick Lee Plunkett and Dixie Anna Plunkett, 76, of 1140 Germania Road were arraigned in 73rd District Court last Friday on charges of cruelty to 10 or more animals, a four-year felony, and kennel facility violations, a 3-month misdemeanor.

The co-defendants demanded a preliminary examination on the felony count, which is scheduled on July 11 at 9 a.m. They requested a court-appointed attorney, and were released on $1000 personal bond.

Authorities removed 60 animals, including 38 dogs, 20 birds and two cats from the Plunkett residence on June 19, after the county animal control officer received complaints of ringworm in puppies purchased from the family, and saw unsanitary conditions during an inspection.

Animal Control Officer Jim Matson reported stacked cages crowded with small dogs and soaked in urine and feces. He said dogs were also running loose in the house that was littered with urine and animal droppings.

Sanilac County Humane Society President Carol Schmidt, who assisted at the scene and is now caring for the dogs at her home, said the dogs' matted hair contained feces and maggots. She reported two puppies removed from the residence have since died of parvovirus, a highly contagious virus that strikes puppies, and an older dog also died. She also said two puppies purchased from the Plunketts that were part of the original ringworm complaint also succumbed to parvo.

Patrick Plunkett acknowledges there were too many animals, but said the dogs meant everything to his mother.

"It's not what they claimed," said Plunkett, who denied he stacked cages, and claimed there were two dogs per cage at the most. He also said dogs were in the cages when Matson made his inspection, because he was about the mop floors. Otherwise, he said the dogs had the run of the house and the enclosed courtyard that he built for the animals. He also claimed he cleaned cages every three or four days, but admitted it was hard to keep up. He said his mother, who uses an oxygen machine to help with her breathing spends hours trimming the dogs' hair with a small scissors because the electric clippers broke and they can't afford new ones.

"I agree, some of the dogs were matted, but they're low to the ground...She tried to keep them clean, but she couldn't keep up with them," said Plunkett.

He added, "She loved those animals. They were all she had. They were her whole life."

Plunkett acknowledged "there were too many (animals). But she had a hard time letting go. My mom couldn't refuse anyone (who brought dogs to the house or just dropped them off)...These are her babies...She didn't sell them to make money. This wasn't a puppy-mill."

He said they started selling the dogs because there were too many to care for and too expensive.

Plunkett said he moved into the house about a year ago to help his mother, said he spent hours each day taking care of the animals.

"I would never hurt an animal. I can't see this (cruelty charges). Nothing was ever done intentional. We're not like that...We're not terrible people."

But the Plunketts won't get any sympathy from Mike Roberts of Port Sanilac, who was responsible for one of the complaints against the Plunketts. He and his wife bought a puppy for their 21-year-old son who's learning disabled. The puppy was diagnosed with ringworm and later died from parvo.

Roberts said the puppy was going to replace the family's long-time pet dog that died. How, because of the puppy was infected with parovirus, the family's been advised to not bring another puppy onto their property for at least three months.

"He's never cried like that," Roberts said about his son when the family pet died. "I wanted to get him another dog...I hope they get the full four years."