Two women in Canandaigua, New York, were charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in early December after police discovered four dead cats in a freezer and 17 other animals inside their “uninhabitable” home.
The Ontario County Humane Society announced on December 3 that they and the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office rescued 17 animals from a property on December 2, including 14 dogs and three cats. All of the rescued animals were taken to a local veterinarian for urgent medical care once they were removed from the home.
The dogs included a terrier, a spaniel and pit bull mixes of various ages.
The animal shelter said that Sheila LaFleur and Robin Burr, who both live in the home, were arrested and each charged with a misdemeanor for animal cruelty, according to the post. LaFleur, 63, and Robin, 61, were later released on bond, according to local officials.
The Sheriff’s Office learned about the inhumane living situation when they received an animal neglect complaint that “expressed concerns about unsanitary conditions and lack of medical care for animals at the home” from someone who had recently picked up two dogs that had been fostered at the property.
Local officers obtained a search warrant for the address and found the animals in need, and they ultimately took the 14 dogs into police custody.
“Some dogs were found confined in metal cages, while others roamed freely within the residence,” the Humane Society said in the statement. “Additionally, three cats were rescued. Tragically, four deceased cats were discovered inside a kitchen freezer.”
The four dead cats were taken to the Cornell Animal Diagnostic Center, where necropsies will be performed in order to determine their cause of death, per the Humane Society.
“Initial assessments revealed that the dogs and cats were flea ridden, suffering from fur loss, [had] dental issues, and ear infections,” the Humane Society said in the statement, referring to the animals’ checkups at the veterinarian. “All are currently receiving ongoing medical attention.”
Additionally, the shelter added that the Town of Canandaigua Code Enforcement Officer had “deemed the residence uninhabitable due to severe hoarding conditions.”
LaFleur and Burr are both set to appear in court to face their charges, according to The Finger Lake Times, WHAM, and WHEC. It is not currently clear if they have entered pleas or obtained legal representation at this time.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
2025 has been a busy year for the Ontario County Humane Society. Director Kurt Koczent told CNY Central that they have looked into 1,050 cases with “vast” issues in the past year.
The agency has taken in 270 animals in 2025 as of early December, while its animal control officers have made 31 arrests. Koczent explained that four of those cases were hoarding cases. This past year has seen an increase in animal neglect issues, as only 207 animals were taken in, and officers only made 30 arrests in 2024.
“Some of them are just ‘Our neighbor’s dog is barking, can you please investigate?’ And of course, that’s not illegal,” Koczent said of some of the calls the humane society has received. “Others are really horrific hoarding cases where the houses then become condemned.”
