Son: Mom ran pet 'concentration camp'
Source: Agencies |
November 16, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A MOTHER of seven is accused of running a house of horrors for pets at her suburban home, forcing her children to help torture them and burying at least 20 dogs in her backyard - animals neighbors now fear were beloved pets that mysteriously disappeared over the years.
Sharon McDonough pleaded not guilty last week to six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty on suspicion of abusing five dogs and a cat found crammed into cages, covered in feces and urine, their coats matted with filth. A judge has taken away custody of the 43-year-old woman's six young daughters.
McDonough's neighbors began fearing their missing pets met a worse fate than the abused animals after her son led officials to a backyard filled with the shallow graves of 20 dogs.
Douglas McDonough, 21, who turned his mother in to authorities on November 5, called the home "a concentration camp for the animals" in comments to reporters after the arrest.
"She would have the oldest kids hold down the dog while we duct-taped his mouth and she would hit him," he said, adding that he and his sisters were all forced to take part in the abuse.
On Tuesday, a judge removed the six girls - ages 18 months to 13 years - from the custody of McDonough, who is widowed.
Court-appointed attorney James D'Angelo, called the counts a "low-level offense."
"She's not charged with killing animals and is entitled to a presumption of innocence," he said.
Sharon McDonough pleaded not guilty last week to six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty on suspicion of abusing five dogs and a cat found crammed into cages, covered in feces and urine, their coats matted with filth. A judge has taken away custody of the 43-year-old woman's six young daughters.
McDonough's neighbors began fearing their missing pets met a worse fate than the abused animals after her son led officials to a backyard filled with the shallow graves of 20 dogs.
Douglas McDonough, 21, who turned his mother in to authorities on November 5, called the home "a concentration camp for the animals" in comments to reporters after the arrest.
"She would have the oldest kids hold down the dog while we duct-taped his mouth and she would hit him," he said, adding that he and his sisters were all forced to take part in the abuse.
On Tuesday, a judge removed the six girls - ages 18 months to 13 years - from the custody of McDonough, who is widowed.
Court-appointed attorney James D'Angelo, called the counts a "low-level offense."
"She's not charged with killing animals and is entitled to a presumption of innocence," he said.
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