2 Charged With Animal Cruelty After 165 Animals Removed From Shelter

In May, 165 animals were removed from a nonprofit shelter in Columbia. On Tuesday, two of the shelter's board members were each charged with 50 counts of animal cruelty.

Scott Pascucci, 48, and Julie Mazurkiewicz, 46, both of the 8500 block of Davis Road, oversaw operations at the Animal Welfare Society of Howard County. Howard County police allege they failed to provide veterinary care to the animals, allowed unsanitary living conditions and caused pain and suffering.

Acting on a tip, police went to the facility on May 10 and removed the animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and turtles. The animals were taken to the county's animal control facility for evaluations and care. While more than 100 have since been adopted, some remain available for adoption. However, police said, some had to be put down.

Pascucci and Mazurkiewicz were arrested at their home Tuesday morning and each was later freed on $25,000 bond. Each count carries up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail.