Head of Connecticut animal rescue group avoids prison
Litchfield (AP) — The head of a Connecticut animal rescue group has avoided prison time in an animal cruelty case involving 15 dogs left out in the cold.
Litchfield Superior Court Judge John Danaher sentenced 61-year-old Frederick Acker to two years of probation Thursday and ordered him to pay $13,481 to the town of Bethlehem for its costs in housing the 15 dogs seized from his property.
The judge also ordered Acker to submit to random inspections if he continues running an animal rescue group.
Acker was convicted earlier this month of 15 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and found not guilty of mistreating 48 other dogs.
Authorities seized the 15 dogs in November 2012 from a barn-like structure in Bethlehem owned by Acker.
Acker had faced up to 15 years in prison.
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