Tiffany Bourdeau appeared in court Nov. 19 to change her plea to guilty.

She was charged in late August with a felony count of aggravated animal cruelty after a complaint led the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office to seize 37 dogs and other animals from her residence in Sun Prairie.

She has forfeited ownership of all of the animals but one, a chihuahua named Chewy, under an Oct. 1 stipulation.

She does not currently have possession of Chewy and his status is in limbo until sentencing but the prosecution is arguing that she be prohibited from having animals, including Chewy.

Under state law, the charge applies to a person who “purposely or knowingly inflicted cruelty to animals on a collection, kennel or herd of 10 or more animals.

A person convicted of aggravated animal cruelty faces a fine up to $2,500 a prison sentence of up to two years or both.

Sun Prairie animal cruelty suspect forfeits all but one animal

In a felony case with restitution, the court has the option to impose a six year deferred sentence, which is what the prosecution is recommending in the case to ensure Bourdeau doesn’t have ownership or possession of animals for at least six years, according to Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki. That’s more than the maximum allowable two years for a suspended sentence on this offense.

The prosecution is also seeking restitution for the cost of the care of the seized animals. That amount has not yet been calculated and will be addressed at sentencing.

During the hearing, she said that she had more than 10 animals the day law enforcement entered her house, some kenneled with two per crate, and there was significant feces and urine in the house.

Bourdeau told Judge John Parker that she hadn’t cleaned yet when law enforcement arrived and she wasn’t of clear mind that day since one of her dogs had recently died.

Parker asked if felt she understood what was happening during the Nov. 19 hearing.

Sun Prairie woman charged with animal cruelty

She said she had some hesitation because she felt the court hadn’t heard her side of the story yet and she’d been getting threats of violence so she was trying to move out of town.

Parker asked if she was changing her plea because of the threats to which she said kind of and she wanted it to get it over with and not waste the court’s time.

“I just don’t want to go to jail,” she said for violating any bond conditions of being around animals since her mother has animals.

Parker said that she was sharing her thoughts but didn’t want to reject the plea agreement and take her case to trial.

He ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and her sentencing will be January.

Maclean Cameron Animal Adoption Center took in the animals involved with Bourdeau’s case and as of Nov. 19, all were in a healthy status, according to Larry Evaro, the center’s operations director.

He said all of the animals are either in their new adopted homes or currently in foster care awaiting alter surgery at six months old.

Most of the initial foster families chose to keep the animals and have adopted them, Evaro said.

Katie Ober, Maclean’s executive assistant, said that eight of the animals are in foster care waiting to be altered and then they will be officially adopted by their fosters.

They have one dog left at the center who is not in a foster-to-adopt and is available, the rest have been adopted, Ober said.

Bourdeau posted a $1,000 bond and made an initial court appearance on Aug. 29.

Judge John Parker imposed a bond condition that she was not to possess any animals at this time and if she was found in possession of animals, an arrest warrant would be issued.

During the hearing, she asked the judge to allow her to have her therapy chihuahua, which she said she needed for her seizures, PTSD and anxiety and it was recommended by her neurologist.

Claire Lettow, a defense attorney representing Bourdeau for the initial appearance, said that she didn’t want to see Bourdeau’s health decline without her service animal.

She said she didn’t have documentation, but that Bourdeau had shared that information shortly before hearing.

Parker said he’d take that under advisement, but wanted to see documentation before making a decision.

Valerie Winfield of the Cascade County Attorney’s Office objected with serious concerns of the safety of the service animal. She said if the court were to grant that, the state would ask for Bourdeau’s doctor and a veterinarian to testify in court to the need and safety of the animal and that they be allowed access to her home to monitor the animal’s wellbeing.

Parker said during the August hearing that he would think it over, but if the case remained in his court, it was likely that Bourdeau would have to talk with her doctor about another method of treatment for her condition other than a service animal, given the facts presented in the case so far.

On Oct. 1, Bourdeau, her attorney and the County Attorney’s Office signed a joint stipulation in which Bourdeau forfeits the rights to all animals other than her therapy chihuahua named Chewy.

That meant the county, through Maclean, which has housed the seized animals since Aug. 27, was free to adopt out those animals.

In the document, she admits to keeping the animals in what is considered “cruel” under Montana law.

The County Attorney’s Office is “not in any way agreeing” to returning Chewy to Bourdeau in the agreement and the county will retain physical custody of the chihuahua unless otherwise directed by a judge.

As part of the agreement, Bourdeau must pay $430 monthly, until the case is resolved, to the county for Chewy’s care. If she does not deposit the funds within five days of the due date for any reason, she forfeits ownership of the chihuahua, under the agreement.

CCSO seizes 37 dogs, other animals, in cruelty investigation

Deputies were dispatched to 1323 Eisenhower Ave. in Sun Prairie for a report of animal cruelty for a welfare check.

There had been several other calls to the property since July 7, but according to Sheriff Jesse Slaughter those didn’t rise to a level that deputies could take action.

County Attorney Josh Racki said the Aug. 27 call was the first that had risen to his office.

When deputies arrived at the property on Aug. 27, they spoke with Bourdeau, who agreed to let them look at the property and take photos.

She granted permission for deputies to enter the residence and inside, deputies found nearly 30 dogs, some in kennels and some loose. Kennels were stacked and had feces and urine in them, according to charging documents.

The floor was covered in fecal matter and Bourdeau pointed out a deceased dog on the living room floor, covered by a blanket, and told deputies it had recently passed, according to charging documents.

Based on the poor living conditions of the animals and the dead dog on the living room floor, deputies applied for a search warrant, which was executed around 6 p.m. Aug. 27.

During the search, 37 living dogs in various states of health were seized and nearly all of them were covered in feces, according to court documents. Two lizards and a hedgehog were also seized.

Deputies learned that three dead dogs were buried on the property and sought an amended search warrant, which was executed on around 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28 and those three dogs were found and seized, as were eight cats, three lizards and a snake, according to court documents.

A veterinarian was called to the property to assess the living conditions and the animals.

The vet stated, “it is absolutely cruel to have these animals in these small kennels, covered in feces,” according to court documents, further stating the living conditions were “disgusting,” “uninhabitable” and “inhumane.”

The animals are being sheltered at the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center and the county is accepting donations through the Sheriff’s Legacy Foundation, either online or at the sheriff’s office, to help cover the cost of shelter and care for the animals.