PORTLAND — Maine’s highest court has affirmed a Franklin County court’s ruling that an Industry woman must pay $18,000 to the state after it seized 26 cats from her home.
The seizure preceded Julia Peck’s conviction on animal cruelty charges. The Franklin County District Court prohibited Peck from owning any animals except two spayed or neutered cats after she was charged in March 2012. The court cited the “very poor health” of the animals in making its judgment. Documents say the state spent about $36,800 to treat, house and care for the cats.
Peck appealed and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling on Tuesday. The supreme court’s ruling states that it found that the lower court “properly recognized Peck’s financial limitations” in making its ruling.
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