In a resolution to a case of animal neglect involving 78 dogs, Lisa Cober of Norton Shores has been ordered to pay north of $36,000 in restitution to the shelters that took in the animals after their seizure from her home. The ruling, issued by Muskegon County Judge Matthew Kacel, denied Cober's defense that the influx of donations to the animal shelters should be credited against her restitution responsibilities, as FOX 17 reported.
Amidst the legal fray, Cober's attorneys argued, unsuccessfully, that contributions made to Big Lake Humane Society and Harbor Humane Society during the period when the animals were under their care should detract from the amount Cober was mandated to pay, both animal shelters faced significant strain with Big Lake shutting down for over a month to curtail the spread of distemper. This lethal ailment claimed the lives of several dogs taken from Cober’s residence. Cober was initially charged after police uncovered the dogs living in squalid conditions within her premises, a situation that prompted charges of animal neglect mlive communicated.
Harbor Humane Society alone assumed care of 20 seized dogs, six of which later succumbed to illnesses. At the same time, Big Lake Humane Society became a temporary home to 18 dogs, three of which perished due to distemper. In total, Cober will compensate Big Lake Humane Society $21,958 and Harbor Humane $15,474 to cover costs ranging from veterinary care to adoption services for the dogs affected by the diseases from Cober's Canines, as Woodtv noted.
Jen Self-Aulgur, Executive Director of Harbor Humane Society, expressed relief over the court's decision saying, "We firmly believe that when people donated money towards the care of animals at Harbor Humane Society, they did it to help all the animals, and not to give Lisa Cober an excuse not to pay the restitution," as per an interview with Woodtv. Alexis Robertson, executive director of Big Lake Humane Society also conveyed her contentment with the judge’s ruling and underscored the necessity of progressing beyond this case to amplify the push for stronger animal protection laws and ensure accountability for those inflicting harm on them.
The sentence laid upon Cober, following her plea deal this past March, includes 5 years of probation and 100 hours of community service and prohibits her from owning any animals the sentence stemming from the dreadful discovery last January when Cober was found harboring numerous canines under dire conditions, leading to the death of eight puppies on-site and necessitating euthanasia for two due to an outbreak of distemper, details which were relayed by Woodtv.
