Dog-hoarding couple must wait for decision on reduced sentences

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This article was published 02/02/2015 (4260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Gull Lake couple who hoarded dogs in conditions so bad half of more than 60 dogs had to be put down won’t find out today whether their sentences will be reduced.

At the end of a morning appeal hearing, lawyers for Peter Chernecki and his wife Judith were told a decision could be made later this week.

Last year the 64-year-old Chernecki was sentenced to four months in jail while his 63-year-old wife was fined $21,500 in fines. The couple was also banned from owning or possessing animals, except for two cats, for five years.

The couple are only appealing the fine and the amount of time they can’t own dogs. Peter Chernecki has already served his jail sentence.

Defence counsel Bradley King said the fine was “crippling” because she is unemployed while both sentences were out of the normal range of sentences.

But Crown Attorney Shaun Sass said the sentencing judge took everything into consideration including the conditions the animals were in.

Court was told the couple were charged after 64 dogs were removed in July 2010. Thirty-four of the dogs had to be put down.

Most of the dogs lived in a 672-square-foot cabin with a floor of excrement, mud and straw.

Kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca