Attorney, Norwich woman speak out on animal cruelty case
NORWICH, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – One of the women arrested and charged in the Norwich animal cruelty case, which New York State Police say over 50 animals were neglected and uncared for, has opened up about the situation to News 34 along with her attorney.
47-year-old Lauren McKendry and 24-year-old Fiona Taylor were arrested and charged days apart by NYSP on Feb. 18 and Feb. 14 respectively for their alleged roles in the eventual removal of 56 animals from their farm in North Norwich; each charged with 16 counts of felony Agriculture Markets Law Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and 65 counts of misdemeanor Agriculture Markets Law Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals for the Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance.
Both are scheduled for an appearance in North Norwich Town Court on Feb. 26, and McKendry, as well as the attorney representing both women in the case, have spoken with News 34 regarding the situation.
Joshua Haar is the attorney representing McKendry and Taylor. He believes the charges brought against his client are not accurate to the situation.
'Felony Aggravated Cruelty to Animals charges are used in cases involving dog-fighting, cock-fighting, or intentional injury and infliction of pain (hitting dogs with hammers, etc.),' Haar told News 34.
'NYSP presents no factual claims that either defendant personally struck, injured, or otherwise intentionally inflicted pain on any of the animals,' he added.
Haar says the reason for the felony charges may be due to the alleged severity of the neglect that led to injuries to the animals, which included horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats. McKendry's perspective is that if no photo evidence exists, it simply isn't true.
'The animals left behind on the Wednesday raid include two of our thinnest, who were both recovering under veterinary supervision from an illness that ripped through our herd over the summer,' she said.
'Anytime officers came out, the animals visibly had food, water, and veterinary records were offered.'
McKendry claims they were never even arrested; simply brought to the NYSP station to 'collect paperwork.' She says the number of animals NYSP provided is also inaccurate and makes her 'fear for their safety.'
'On Wednesday, they removed four chickens from our basement we had moved there because they were struggling with the extreme cold. Immediately prior to the officers return on Friday, we had fed our remaining eight chickens and three ducks in the coop. These animals were not listed and we tragically found bodies in the coop after the officers left,' she told News 34.
She believes this alleged misconduct can affect other farmers in the future.
'If this can happen to us, it can happen to any of us,' McKendry said.
McKendry shared these photos with News 34 of her horses feeding on hay.
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