The Caledonia woman facing well over 100 misdemeanor counts for failing to properly care for the dogs, cats and a pig at her shelter and homes plead no contest to three of those charges in exchange for two years probation and agreeing to not own any animals.
Debra Gray, 56, appeared in court Tuesday for what was listed as a status conference but was actually a hearing for the court to accept her plea and hand down a sentence. Gray plead no contest to three misdemeanor counts of failing to provide adequate shelter, and Racine County Circuit Court Judge Charles Constantine sentenced her to the two years of probation. 168 charges were dismissed.
Additionally, Gray accepts the court’s order to undergo counseling. If Gray is compliant with counseling, and her therapist believes she is at a point where she can care for animals once again, Gray could be allowed as many as two pets, but she can never again operate a shelter, store or business with animals.
Caledonia police seized 63 dogs, 8 cats and a pig from the Orphan Kanines kennel at 1922 Kremer Avenue in May 2014. They took another 12 dogs and a second pig from a residence Gray owns on Main Street in the village. Gray charged with 85 misdemeanor counts of intentional mistreatment of animals and 1 count of operating an animal shelter without a license. A couple of weeks later the state filed an amended complaint with 85 misdemeanor counts of intentionally providing inadequate shelter to an animal.
Since then, all animals who were deemed healthy enough have been adopted into new homes.