A Trumbull County woman will avoid prison after admitting she left two dogs to die of neglect in a Ravenna Township mobile home last year.
Judge Laurie J. Pittman sentenced Sarah J. Seni, 36, to four years probation, the first year under intensive supervision, during a June 8 sentencing hearing in Portage County Common Pleas Court. Pittman said as part of her sentence, Seni is not allowed to possess any animals for five years.
Pittman also fined Seni $300 and $306 in court costs.
According to the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation began in June 2025 when the Portage Animal Protective League’s humane officer conducted a welfare check at a trailer Seni owned in Birchwood Manor mobile home park off Dawley Road.
After seeing flies on the trailer’s windows, the humane officer found the dogs’ bodies together in a hallway. They were decomposed and infested with insects. Feces were spread all over the floor and empty bowls were scattered around, the prosecutor’s office said.
The dogs were identified as Harley, a 7-year-old pitbull mix, and Sophia, a 4-year-old doberman pinscher. Harley’s remains weighed only 13 pounds and Sophia’s 18 pounds, the prosecutor’s office said. Sophia still was wearing a collar with a tag that read “Mama says I’m special.”
A necropsy found that Sophia had eaten a foam-like material she found in the home before dying of starvation and dehydration. Prosecutor Madison Sivy said during the sentencing hearing that the material was from a mattress.
Douglas Kehres, Seni’s attorney, said he does not believe Seni intended to harm the dogs.
“Obviously, this was a terrible situation,” he said, adding that Seni has no prior criminal record and was facing the possibility of losing her home.
Sivy, however, said she finds it difficult to believe under the circumstances that what happened was unintentional.
“What you don’t do is allow dogs to die in a trailer,” she said. “It’s just disgusting, your honor.”
Seni told Pittman that she has undergone mental health treatment, has remained sober and has goals in her life, including volunteer work.
“I have taken responsibility for every action I have done,” she said.
In response, Pittman said she cannot imagine allowing her own dogs to die from starvation and dehydration.
“I have two German shepherds that I love very much,” she said.
Seni pleaded not guilty to two counts of fifth-degree felony cruelty to a companion animal, the only charges in a grand jury indictment.
Pittman also ordered that Seni undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any resulting recommendations. Pittman agreed to a request by Seni that supervision of her probation be transferred to Trumbull County, where she now lives, if Trumbull officials accept.
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Woman gets probation for fatal neglect of 2 dogs in Ravenna Twp.
Reporting by Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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By Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier | USA TODAY Network
