Women found guilty of animal cruelty
Wendy Deinzer convicted of animal cruelty for conditions at Clayton Township farm by Paul Janczewski | The Flint Journal Monday March 10, 2008, 3:32 PM Wendy M. Deinzer told jurors she is an animal rescuer. But after hearing witnesses during several days of trial describe horses, goats, dogs and cats living in filth, without proper food, water and ventilation and often with infections at her Clayton Township residence, a jury convicted Deinzer of three counts of animal cruelty. Deinzer, 46, faces up to 93 days in jail, community service and the inability to own animals when sentenced April 16 by Central District Judge Mark C. McCabe. Assistant Genesee County Prosecutor Janet McLaren told jurors that Deinzer is not a person who rescues animals. "Wendy Deinzer is an animal collector," McLaren said. "And there's a huge difference. "If those animals could talk, they would be saying 'Get me out of here.'" Clayton Township Police were sent to Deinzer's farm, 1228 N. McKinley Road, shortly after 10 a.m. Aug. 10, to assist county Animal Control officials, who went there on a tip. Officials found dogs locked in cages filled with urine and feces in a closed barn with no water; goats in another shed without water; underweight horses and goats without food or water; and cats running amok. McLaren said maggots crawled around some dishes that actually had food. She told jurors that Deinzer had a similar problem in 2002 when Oakland County officials checked on animals under her care. McLaren said Oakland County officials made Deinzer go through programs aimed at educating her in the care of animals. Deinzer -*test*-('")ified in her own defense and told jurors the animals were cared for and that she believes she knows more about animals than the officials and a veterinarian, who spoke to her. "She has no excuse," McLaren said. "These animals deserve a better life than this." In all, officials removed eight horses, 14 dogs, two goats and about eight cats. A forfeiture hearing against Deinzer continues Thursday before McCabe on the fate of those animals, which could be returned to her. Saginaw attorney Andrew Janetski, who represented Deinzer, told jurors that officials caught his client on the same day that her mother died and she did not yet perform her animals chores. He said Deinzer knows how to care for animals and was addressing the problems. He also said some of the animals were in distress because they had only been there a short time. "She loves animals," he said. "She did not commit animal cruelty."
Wendy Deinzer convicted of animal cruelty for conditions at Clayton Township farm by Paul Janczewski | The Flint Journal Monday March 10, 2008, 3:32 PM Wendy M. Deinzer told jurors she is an animal rescuer. But after hearing witnesses during several days of trial describe horses, goats, dogs and cats living in filth, without proper food, water and ventilation and often with infections at her Clayton Township residence, a jury convicted Deinzer of three counts of animal cruelty. Deinzer, 46, faces up to 93 days in jail, community service and the inability to own animals when sentenced April 16 by Central District Judge Mark C. McCabe. Assistant Genesee County Prosecutor Janet McLaren told jurors that Deinzer is not a person who rescues animals. "Wendy Deinzer is an animal collector," McLaren said. "And there's a huge difference. "If those animals could talk, they would be saying 'Get me out of here.'" Clayton Township Police were sent to Deinzer's farm, 1228 N. McKinley Road, shortly after 10 a.m. Aug. 10, to assist county Animal Control officials, who went there on a tip. Officials found dogs locked in cages filled with urine and feces in a closed barn with no water; goats in another shed without water; underweight horses and goats without food or water; and cats running amok. McLaren said maggots crawled around some dishes that actually had food. She told jurors that Deinzer had a similar problem in 2002 when Oakland County officials checked on animals under her care. McLaren said Oakland County officials made Deinzer go through programs aimed at educating her in the care of animals. Deinzer -*test*-('")ified in her own defense and told jurors the animals were cared for and that she believes she knows more about animals than the officials and a veterinarian, who spoke to her. "She has no excuse," McLaren said. "These animals deserve a better life than this." In all, officials removed eight horses, 14 dogs, two goats and about eight cats. A forfeiture hearing against Deinzer continues Thursday before McCabe on the fate of those animals, which could be returned to her. Saginaw attorney Andrew Janetski, who represented Deinzer, told jurors that officials caught his client on the same day that her mother died and she did not yet perform her animals chores. He said Deinzer knows how to care for animals and was addressing the problems. He also said some of the animals were in distress because they had only been there a short time. "She loves animals," he said. "She did not commit animal cruelty."