S. Ore. woman pleads guilty to animal abuse, avoids jail

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A southern Oregon woman who had nearly 60 animals removed from her property last winter has been sentenced to perform 240 hours of community service and pay the veterinary bills.

The Mail Tribune reports (https://is.gd/ntfow9 ) that Vanessa Hughes of Applegate received the penalty after pleading guilty to second-degree animal abuse.

Prosecutor Marco Boccato said the roughly two dozen dogs removed from the property had been denied veterinary care, and were living in unsanitary conditions without clean water. He said dozens of tropical birds in an aviary lacked food and had inadequate shelter for the winter months.

Defense lawyer Michael Kellington said he grew up with Hughes and knew her as someone who cared about animals. He said the conditions he saw on the property appeared to be adequate.

The animals removed from the property have been placed in homes.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/