BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County District Attorney's Office announced that 24-year-old Kerisa J. Schmitt, formerly of Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty last week in Cheektowaga Town Court to ten counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance.
The district attorney's office said that on December 14, 2023, officers from the SPCA Serving Erie County responded to Schmitt's residence on Colton Street to perform an animal welfare check and while outside of the home, officers saw numerous farm animals inside of a small garage in unsanitary conditions through a window.
Investigators later returned with Cheektowaga police to execute a search warrant.
According to the district attorney's office, Schmitt failed to provide necessary food, water and care to 156 farm and domestic animals on her property, which included:
- 117 chickens
- 18 ducks and geese
- 15 rabbits
- Two goats
- Two dogs
- One cat
- One pig
The district attorney's office said prosecutors requested that the court sentence Schmitt, who relocated to West Virginia, to a period of probation. Schmitt received a one-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
As part of the plea, Schmitt was ordered to forfeit custody of all of her animals and the judge issued a “no animal” order, which prevents her from owning or caring for any animals for the next five years.
“I want to thank our partners at the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this investigation and the care they have provided to the many animals rescued from this home."
