Woman faces felony charges in pet cruelty case

WISCASSET – A 78-year-old woman remains free on $1,000 bail on five felony counts stemming from the seizure of 71 pets from her Somerville home.

The Lincoln County district attorney filed charges of aggravated animal cruelty against Fern Clark based on evidence found during a Jan. 19 raid that suggested cruelty to four dogs and a cat. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on each count.

Animal welfare officials targeted Clark’s home after a Massachusetts woman who was arrested in Salem, N.H., with at least two dead dogs in her vehicle said she was rescuing animals from a puppy mill in Somerville.

Clark, appearing unkempt and feisty, told Judge Ralph Tucker on Wednesday that she did nothing wrong and deserved to have the animals returned to her.

“I never meant to hurt my dogs, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar. I was not breeding [the animals] and I was not a puppy mill,” she said.

Tucker suspended the hearing after questioning whether Clark understood the charges she faces. “I think you need to have legal counsel before proceeding with this hearing. I’m talking about five felony charges,” the judge said.

Clark had appeared with her son Matthew Clark for a hearing to determine whether she could regain custody of the 66 dogs, four cats and a bird.

Tucker ruled that the animals, now in shelters in the Portland area and Boothbay Harbor, would remain in state custody for the time being.

In support of the cruelty charges, state veterinarian Chris Fraser provided autopsy findings on two dead dogs that he said were found in Clark’s freezer. One died of mammary cancer and the other of an infection, Fraser said. Two of the five animals in question had periodontal disease and the cat had oral ulcers.

Under her bail conditions, Clark is barred from keeping animals. Her next appearance on the criminal charges is set for April 8.