A woman who was found guilty of housing dozens of filthy and sick Great Danes in her New Hampshire mansion will serve no jail time, but is responsible for paying back nearly $2 million for their care until they find new homes, a judge ruled Thursday.
Christina Fay was sentenced on 17 animal cruelty charges.
Prosecutors initially had recommended a yearlong jail sentence, but Judge Amy Ignatius said last month she favored her serving as little as a month in jail."In light of the willingness to engage in meaningful therapy, I am willing to suspend all of the time," Ignatius said Thursday, prompting gasps from the courtroom.
She said Fay can keep only two dogs. A dog which seriously injured a caretaker will be euthanized and new homes will be found for the remainder of the animals. Some of the dogs died before the trial.
"I lost everything I love," Fay, 60, said after the court session. She said was "gutted" by Ignatius' ruling.