ZANESVILLE – A Norwich woman has been charged after a large-scale animal neglect case involving more than 100 animals was investigated in Muskingum County.
Marsha Lee Hatfield, 61, was indicted July 30 on 140 charges, all of them are for cruelty to companion animals (animal cruelty) and are all fifth-degree felonies. All charges also had forfeiture specifications.
Hatfield pleaded not guilty Aug. 5. A trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 27 with presiding judge Kelly Cottrill. She was briefly booked into the Muskingum County Jail July 30.
On June 16 and 24, the Licking County and Muskingum County humane societies and Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office worked together on a two-part seizure operation during which more than 100 animals were rescued, including chickens, cats, exotic birds and several dozen dogs, after they were found living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
Many of the animals were found standing in crates full of urine and feces or without food and water. Five deceased dogs and one cat were also found wrapped in plastic bags in a freezer. One dog found in poor health was ultimately euthanized.
Dog breeds found at Hatfield’s South Cove Lane residence include Aussie, Frenchie, Wheaten terrier, Jack Russell, Bichon Frisé, Pomeranian, Pomsky, Shih Tzu, Yorkie, great Dane, Maltese, Chinese crested, Samoyed, sheepdog, dachshund, poodle, terrier, chihuahua, sheepdog and cattle dog, along with many beagle, pug, pit, bulldog, terrier and black lab mixes.
Cats breeds and colors included shorthair, brindle-patterned, buff-colored, black and grey. The three exotic birds included an orange, yellow and green conure parrot; white and yellow cockatiel; and blue macaw.
More than 20 chickens, four dogs and the macaw had been previously returned to Hatfield.
The seized dogs were split between the Licking County Humane Society and Muskingum County K-9 Adoption Center.
The Licking County Humane Society was previously awarded 41 of the 42 dogs that it originally took to its shelter in June. Eleven of them were adopted by mid-July.. Many of the dogs sent to the Muskingum County K-9 Adoption Center have since been rescued too.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@usatodayco.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Norwich woman charged with 140 counts of animal cruelty; October trial set
Reporting by Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
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By Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder | USA TODAY Network
