Woman avoids charges by giving up dog breeding
By Marc Benjamin / The Fresno Bee
03/13/08
A Fresno County woman has agreed to give up breeding dogs in exchange for dismissal of animal cruelty charges related to a dog-breeding operation at her Dunlap ranch.
Mary Aline Wittmer, 63, also agreed to give up all but two dogs. She will be allowed to keep two dogs as household pets as long as they are fixed, have surgical procedures to prevent them from barking and have microchips implanted.
Dog breeder faces charges of cruelty to animals
By Marc Benjamin / The Fresno Bee
01/10/08 23:42:48
A Squaw Valley dog breeder is being arraigned in Fresno County Superior Court today on animal cruelty charges connected to her breeding operation.
A complaint against Mary Aline Wittmer, 63, was filed this week by the Fresno County District Attorney's Office. She is being charged with two misdemeanors: impounding dogs without sufficient food and water, and improper care of animals.
The case came to the attention of local officials last year when a Ventura County dog rescue sent a letter to the District Attorney's Office and Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
The group had received four of Wittmer's poodles suffering from various illnesses.
Madeline Patterson, who runs the rescue, said she spent months getting the dogs healthy enough to adopt.
Patterson said she believed Wittmer should have faced more than misdemeanor charges.
"But if that's what it takes to get her to give up the dogs, I don't care if she spends one minute in jail," Patterson said.
Wittmer's lawyer, Eric Schweitzer, said the case stems from a series of neighbor disputes. "The reports of animal cruelty are unfounded," he said. "You are looking at a very contentious neighborhood, and we would certainly like for things to calm down and let everyone get back to their normal peaceful course of business."
Schweitzer said he wants court supervision in the case instead of a conviction, and that Wittmer is willing to work with authorities. "We feel that Ms. Wittmer has been slandered by some animal rights wackos," Schweitzer said.
Last year, an inspection team that included Supervisor Bob Waterston and county Health Department and sheriff's officials inspected Wittmer's property. At the time, Waterston described the property as clean.
Since then, Wittmer's American Kennel Club breeding privileges were stripped for 10 years for poodles and Labrador retrievers.
The reporter can be reached at mbenjamin@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6166.
Apr. 20, 2007
A Southern California dog rescue group wants a Fresno County dog breeder charged with criminal neglect after it received four of her standard poodles suffering from various illnesses. Veterinarian Brad Patterson of Camarillo sent a letter to Fresno County supervisors and the Fresno County District Attorney's Office seeking charges against Mary Wittmer, owner of High Standard Ranch in Dunlap.
Fresno County officials say they're investigating because of several e-mails complaining about the ranch, but they have filed no charges -- and aren't even sure whether charges are warranted. A veterinarian joined county officials Thursday to ...
