The former owner of an animal shelter in Schuylkill County now faces dozens of counts of animal cruelty. The woman's boyfriend has also been cited.
Virginia Justiniano owned a shelter called Cats with No Name near Pine Grove. Her boyfriend, Andrew Oxenrider lived at the shelter with her. On Thursday, both were at a magistrate's office in Tremont to face drug charges. That's when they learned that police have filed more than 100 counts of animal cruelty against each of them.
On her way into court, Justiniano spoke with Newswatch 16. "I believe the media has been misleading and I have no other comment," she said. She then added, "I'll let my past actions speak for themselves."
Justiniano and Oxenrider were arrested last month. Police followed the arrests by going to the shelter near Pine Grove. Investigators found cats and other animals that were dead, dying or starving. They found pallets filled with donated cat food, and they accuse Oxenrider of selling that cat food.
"When drugs come into play, it takes everything to a demise, and that's what happened here," said Mark Resue of the Pine Grove Township Police.
A group from the SPCA helped police build the cruelty case against Justiniano and Oxenrider.
"We cannot find any excuse for this to happen," said Beth Hall of Deer Lake. "In my opinion, it was like a kitty concentration camp - frozen cats, dead cats, starving cats."
"It blows my mind!" echoed Kristen Overkott of Atlas. "She was fully aware of what was going on and she had all the proper materials - medications, food, everything - to keep these cats healthy, and just seemed to refuse to do so."
A hearing on the cruelty cases will be held next month in Schuylkill County. Justiniano and Oxenrider face fines and jail time if convicted.
Virginia Justiniano owned a shelter called Cats with No Name near Pine Grove. Her boyfriend, Andrew Oxenrider lived at the shelter with her. On Thursday, both were at a magistrate's office in Tremont to face drug charges. That's when they learned that police have filed more than 100 counts of animal cruelty against each of them.
On her way into court, Justiniano spoke with Newswatch 16. "I believe the media has been misleading and I have no other comment," she said. She then added, "I'll let my past actions speak for themselves."
Justiniano and Oxenrider were arrested last month. Police followed the arrests by going to the shelter near Pine Grove. Investigators found cats and other animals that were dead, dying or starving. They found pallets filled with donated cat food, and they accuse Oxenrider of selling that cat food.
"When drugs come into play, it takes everything to a demise, and that's what happened here," said Mark Resue of the Pine Grove Township Police.
A group from the SPCA helped police build the cruelty case against Justiniano and Oxenrider.
"We cannot find any excuse for this to happen," said Beth Hall of Deer Lake. "In my opinion, it was like a kitty concentration camp - frozen cats, dead cats, starving cats."
"It blows my mind!" echoed Kristen Overkott of Atlas. "She was fully aware of what was going on and she had all the proper materials - medications, food, everything - to keep these cats healthy, and just seemed to refuse to do so."
A hearing on the cruelty cases will be held next month in Schuylkill County. Justiniano and Oxenrider face fines and jail time if convicted.
