(SUMMERDALE, Ala.) - The animal cruelty charges against Sharon and Roberta Dueitt have been upgraded from misdemeanors to felonies. Each will now be charged with 20 counts of felony animal cruelty, and police expect between 80 and 100 more misdemeanor charges to come.
A felony charges that the abuse was intentional, and in a meeting Wednesday authorities decided to pursue that.
"We really believe we could prove that there was some intent behind this, some firsthand knowledge that these animals weren't being taken care of properly," said Officer Trent Dennis with the Summerdale Police Department.
In the meeting, Summerdale Police also decided to hand the case over to the Baldwin County District Attorney's Office for prosecution due to the severity and number of crimes. The felony charge comes with the possibility of increased jail time.
"Potentially up to five years on each felony count," Dennis said.
Nearly a week after hordes of dead and starving animals were found on the Dueitt's property, the Baldwin County Humane Society is juggling phone calls and letters of support. More than 70 people have filled out applications to foster or adopt animals, but it's still too soon.
"It's going to take weeks, maybe longer for some of them to be healthy," said BARC! Executive Director Sonja Presley.
Presley said some of the animals have microchips linking them to their rightful owners, but the Humane Society can't do anything until the paperwork is done in court.
"We will have to get, in writing, permanent legal custody of all the dogs and cats before we can begin re-homing them," Presley said.
The district attorney's office plans to file for custody from a judge if the proper paperwork is not turned in by the Dueitt's attorney Wednesday afternoon.
BARC! said they've had a lot of interest in the surviving dogs from the Summerdale property, but they also need supplies and homes for the dozens of rescued cats. Cat food and litter donations can be dropped off at the BARC! office on Magnolia Avenue in Fairhope.
The humane society also encourages people to foster or adopt the many animals they were caring for prior to the Summerdale case. You can adopt at the PetSmart Eastern Shore Center the first Saturday of every month.
