Two dogs play at OC Animal Care in Tustin on Friday, May 31, 2019. The dogs have been two of the greater than 140 that have been faraway from a home in Orange the day gone by. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An legal professional and his spouse who had about 140 dogs taken from their home in a gated group in Orange pleaded responsible Friday to animal cruelty and have been sentenced to 90 days in jail, however the punishment was suspended in the event that they clear probation efficiently.
Edward Reitkopp, 70, and his spouse, Josephine Giametta Reitkopp, 69, pleaded responsible to a rely every of animal cruelty and a misdemeanor rely of failing to look after animals. They have been each placed on two years of formal probation, in response to court docket information.
The dogs have been faraway from the defendants’ home within the 3800 block of East Woodbine Avenue on the finish of May 2019 by Animal Care officers, Lt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department stated once they have been cited.
“I don’t know how people lived in that home, the smell was so disgusting,” McMullin stated on the time.
“The house was pretty empty in terms of furniture” because the dogs got free rein all through, McMullin stated.
“The heroes of the day were the people who had to go inside and get the dogs out,” McMullin stated of Animal Care staff.
An nameless tip to police led investigators to the home, McMullin stated.
McMullin stated 136 dogs have been taken from the filthy circumstances, however Jessica Novillo of Animal Care stated it was greater than 140.
Reitkopp was an legal professional for a Cerritos agency who centered on labor and employment points. His license to follow regulation is now inactive..
Orange police stated they have been contacted by animal care officers about 2:20 p.m. May 30, 2019, after an nameless tip of doable animal cruelty. The residents allowed officers to enter the home and conduct a welfare test on the animals.
The dogs have been all small breeds, largely Shih Tzus and Maltese poodles, McMullin stated. It appeared a number of the dogs have been breeding as “there were a couple of fresh litters upstairs,” McMullin stated.
“Some had matted hair, some looked skinnier than others and some looked shaken and scared,” McMullin stated of the dogs.
