Seventeen living animals were rescued from a home in Ontario County after authorities found them suffering in filthy, unsafe conditions. Four dead cats were discovered in a freezer. The surviving dogs and cats were flea-infested, losing fur, and struggling with untreated infections and dental disease. The home itself was so overwhelmed with hoarding and neglect that town officials declared it uninhabitable.

Despite the severity of this case, the two individuals responsible, Sheila S. LaFleur and Robin S. Burr, currently face only misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

This is not justice.

Fourteen dogs and three cats endured obvious neglect. Four additional cats lost their lives. According to the Ontario County Humane Society, animals were found confined in metal cages or roaming through hazardous debris. Some had been fostered out from an Ohio rescue and returned in worse condition. All animals required immediate medical attention.

When multiple animals suffer prolonged neglect, and when deceased pets are found stored in a household freezer, misdemeanor charges are not enough. These crimes reflect patterns of cruelty that call for stronger accountability and stronger deterrence.

We are calling on the Ontario County District Attorney to upgrade these charges to felony animal cruelty under New York law. Felony charges are appropriate when animals experience serious physical harm, prolonged neglect, or death as a result of their treatment.

We also urge county leadership to publicly affirm that cases involving large numbers of suffering animals will be prosecuted with the seriousness they deserve. Our community cannot allow extreme neglect to be treated as a minor offense.

The rescued animals are now safe at the Ontario County Humane Society, where they are receiving veterinary care and a chance at a real life. They deserve justice for what they endured. And Ontario County deserves a legal system that recognizes the gravity of animal cruelty.

Sign this petition if you believe that severe animal abuse must be treated as the serious crime it is. Tell Ontario County prosecutors to upgrade the charges now and send a clear message that cruelty has consequences.

Photo Credit: KATV