28 German shepherds being held as evidence in animal cruelty case can now be adopted out

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THE DOGS TO BE ADOPTED OUT. WMUR'S CHERISE LECLERC EXPLAINS. <CLIP 16, 13:42 "WELL DOGS LIKE SUMMER HERE HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN IN LIMBO - BUT VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS HERE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM, SOCIALIZING WITH THEM TO GET THEM READY FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES." OC: 13:53> 22 MONTHS SPENT BEHIND CAGES - CONSIDERED EVIDENCE IN AN ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE -- BUT TODAY - THE FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN FOR THESE DOGS <CLIP 10, 00:43 "WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE TODAY." OC: 00:46> SPCA STAFF GETTING WORD TODAY IN AN EMAIL THAT FORMER OWNER - JENNIFER CHOATE SURRENDERED THE DOGS. SHE'S EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY ON OCTOBER 11TH TO TWO COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY -- IN DECEMBER OF 2017 - 36 OF HER DOGS WERE KILLED IN TWO SEPARATE FIRES IN BRISTOL... WEEKS LATER NEARLY TWO DOZEN OTHER GERMAN SHEPHERDS WERE FOUND WITH NO HEAT OR FRESH WATER IN HER ALEXANDRIA BARN. CHOATE'S ATTORNEY TELLING NEWS9 IN PART - "ALTHOUGH SHE MAINTAINS HER INNOCENCE REGARDING THE CRIMINAL ACCUSATIONS, SHE HAS AGREED TO RESOLVE BOTH THE CRIMINAL CASE AND THE CIVIL CASE THAT THE NHSPCA BROUGHT AGAINST HER." PART OF THAT AGREEMENT MEANS CHOATE WILL áNOT HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 600-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION TO THE SPCA FOR THE DOGS' CARE. SHE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BREED DOGS FOR FIVE YEARS. ULTIMATELY - SCPA STAFF SAY - THE DOGS PAID THE PRICE - BEING HELD IN THIS SHELTER FOR SO LONG. <CLIP 10, 6:16 "THEY DID PAY FOR IT, MULTIPLE TIMES. AND QUITE HONESTLY THEY PAID FOR IT EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN THEY HAD TO BE PUT BACK IN THEIR KENNELS." OC: 6:21> THIS CASE HAS BEEN THE SPCA'S MOST EXPENSIVE - AND HAS DEPLETED THEIR SOS FUND WHICH HELPS WITH EXPENSES.. <CLIP 10, 7:20 "IF INDIVIDUALS ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING SUPPORT THESE GERMAN SHEPHERDS, BECAUSE AGAIN WE STILL HAVE TO SPAY AND NEUTER THEM, WE STILL HAVE TO PREPARE THEM FOR ADOPTION. IT'S NOT OVER

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Twenty-eight German shepherds were released from protective custody Wednesday in an animal cruelty case.After nearly two years in limbo, the former owner of the dogs officially surrendered them, freeing the dogs to be adopted out.In the meantime, volunteers and staff members have been working with them, socializing the dogs to get them ready for their forever homes.The dogs spent 22 months in cages, considered evidence in an animal cruelty case, but on Wednesday, the future opened for them.New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staff got word Wednesday in an email that former owner Jennifer Choate had surrendered the dogs.Choate is expected to plead guilty Oct. 11 to two counts of animal cruelty. In December 2017, 36 of her dogs were killed in two separate fires in Bristol.Weeks later, nearly two dozen other German shepherds were found with no heat or fresh water in her Alexandria barn.Choate’s attorney said in part, “Although she maintains her innocence regarding the criminal accusations, she has agreed to resolve both the criminal cases that the NHSPCA brought against her.”Part of that agreement means Choate will not have to pay $600,000 in restitution to the SPCA for the dogs’ care. She will not be allowed to breed dogs for five years.Ultimately, SCPA staff say, the dogs paid the price, being held in the shelter for so long.“They did pay for it, multiple times. And quite honestly, they paid for it every single day when they had to be put back in their kennels,” Executive Director of the NHSPCA Lisa Dennison said.This case has been the SPCA’s most expensive and has depleted their SOS Fund, which helps with expenses. “If individuals are interested in helping support these German shepherds, because again, we still have to spay and neuter them, we still have to prepare them for adoption. It’s not over yet,” Dennison said. If you would like to help with the cost of care and to help insure their recovery, please make a tax-deductible contribution to the SOS Fund by going to www.nhspca.org. A direct link to the SOS Fund can be found hereGifts to the SOS Fund can also be made by phone at 603-772-2921 ext. 106or by mail: New Hampshire SPCA, PO Box 196, Stratham, NH 03885.For information on adoption, visit https://nhspca.org/adoptable-animals/how-to-adopt/.