(Photo's courtesy of News Net 5)   Alex Czifrak, age 63 and his wife Patricia Czifrak, age 58 face animal cruelty charges after a tip call was received on the 5 On Your Side Whistleblower Hot Line on July 31st. Undercover video showed Alex Czifrak taking hundreds of dollars for puppies kept inside his home. When investigators searched the home last week they found 31 dogs – dehydrated and underfed with no air conditioning and cages stacked on top of each other. The dogs were left without access to water, without access to change of air, excessive heat, excessive matting where the urine scaled their skin and left open sores and wounds, and severe parasite infestation.

On Monday, July 31st, the Czifrak's were charged with animal cruelty. The animals are now recovering at The Medina County SPCA. The Czifrak's each will be arraigned on 12 counts of animal cruelty. If found guilty, they could face up to $750 in fines and 90 days in jail.

Update 8/14/06:

Alex Czifrak pled not guilty at his hearing today.  Trial is set for October 5, 2006.

Update 10/6/06:

The Czifrak pled guilty before Municipal Judge Dale Chase.  They also withdrew a motion to have the dogs returned to them, thus relinquishing them to the Medina County SPCA.  They pled guilty in exchange for dismissal of an additional 6 counts of cruelty.  The Medina County SPCA prosecutor, Jeffrey Holland said he will recommend the Czifrak's be put on 5 years probation and to ask the judge to forbid them from owning another animal.  Holland also wants the Czifrak's to pay restitution of more than $9,000 to the SPCA.

The SPCA will spend another $5,000 to neuter the dogs in preparation for adoption.  10 puppies were born since the seizure bring the total to 42 dogs which will be up for adoption.

     (Photo's courtesy of News Net 5)

Reference:

News Net 5