A Vanderburgh County woman will be allowed to keep just 5 dogs as part of a settlement in a hoarding case.
Attorneys say Martha Crosley agreed to relinquish 16 of 21 dogs that a judge ordered returned to her in July.
Numerous animal rescue groups obtained a temporary injunction to stop the judge’s order.
Crosley had previously surrendered 53 dogs and 23 cats from her so-called “animal sanctuary” to Evansville Animal Control and It Takes a Village Canine Rescue.
In a news release from Jackson Kelly PLLC, attorney Susan Odoyo (uh-DOY-oh) said the settlement would ensure that 92 animals will -- quote -- “never again be subjected to the living conditions Ms. Crosley provided.”
The release said the 5 dogs being returned to Crosley either lacked legal adoption contracts or had health or behavioral problems making them difficult to adopt.
Crosley is prohibited from taking in any more animals for 16 months. She also faces inspections from Animal Control, and she must serve 100 hours of community service.
Attorneys for the rescue centers and shelters – including the Vanderburgh Humane Society, the Henderson Humane Society, and agencies as far away as Georgia, Louisiana, and Nebraska -- encourage the public to contact their elected officials to help advocate for tougher laws against animal hoarding.