Court bars man in cruelty case from owning animals

PAW PAW (AP) — A court says a southwestern Michigan man who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after authorities removed more than 100 dogs and other animals from his rural home is barred from possessing animals.

WOOD-TV reports that a Van Buren County judge recently set those conditions for Donald Smith.

Smith was also sentenced to two days of time served in jail and 40 hours of community service.

Smith and his wife were charged in June after animal control officers took 108 dogs, six cats and a horse from their Lawrence Township home.

They entered guilty pleas to one count of animal cruelty each as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Authorities have said many of the animals were underweight and had fleas or deformities.