Judge orders pets of Topsfield pair forfeited to state

CALAIS – A 4th District Court judge Friday ordered that the 31 dogs and two cats that belonged to two Topsfield women be forfeited to the state.

In August, the state seized the cats and dogs after allegations arose that Melinda Piche and Jaclyn Hagar had failed to provide proper medical care and had forced the animals to live in unsanitary conditions.

In his ruling, Judge John Romei said the animals, which were seized from the women’s home, were “deprived of necessary medical attention and humanely clean conditions, which gave them little or no hope of becoming or remaining parasite-free.”

The women’s attorney, Ronald Bourget of Augusta, said late Friday he had not yet seen the order. He said once he had read it he would discuss it with his clients to determine whether they will appeal.

The state began its investigation in February after it received a complaint from a woman whose daughter had bought a shepherd puppy from the women for $280.

An affidavit on file with the court said the dog was missing hair, was dirty and had worms.

On Feb. 9, state humane agent Jennifer Howlett went to Piche and Hager’s home. She issued a notice to comply after she found problems with some of the animals.

The state returned again in July.

In August, state humane officers executed a search warrant and seized the cats and dogs.

Last month, Piche went to court to try to get the animals back.

Piche raised huskies that were working sled dogs and Hager owned Labradors, Great Danes and shepherds.

In his order, Romei said that the women were instructed by a veterinarian and Howlett that the kennel area where the dogs were kept and the doghouses needed to be sterilized to prevent the dogs from being infected by parasites.

“Ms. Piche and Ms. Hagar failed to take adequate steps to sterilize the kennel and no steps were taken to sterilize the doghouses,” the order said. “In an effort to save money the dogs were treated by their owners for parasites by being given an arbitrary and inadequate amount of horse dewormer.”

When the state executed the search warrant, the judge said, efforts had been made by the owners to repair the doghouses, but the animals continued to live in filthy, parasite-infected conditions.

The judge said the dogs’ water was filthy, and parasite-infested fecal matter was allowed to remain in the kennel area for significant periods.

“According to Dr. Christine Frazier, a veterinarian employed by the State Animal Welfare program, failure to treat the dogs for parasites could lead to their death and the infection of other animals in the kennel,” the judge wrote.