Andrea Rosebrock 
Sandra Irene Cortes, 44, of Annandale, VA, founder of Assisi Animal Rescue Organization, along with an associate, was arrested and charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty last year after a two month investigation into her organization. In July dozens of diseased and malnourished dogs were found in their custody. Some of the animals were standing in their own waste without food or water, and three dogs, abused before they died, were found buried in fresh graves.
Cortes was convicted on 27 charges of animal cruelty and at the end of December she was finally sentenced and Judge Peter W. Steketee in Prince William County General District Court was not playing around either.
She was sentenced to three years and three months in jail and ordered that she not have any contact with animals for 10 years. Cortes will also have to pay more than $13,000 in restitution to the county and one of the dog owners.
Cortes’ attorney, Chris Feldmann, has filed an appeal, of course. Guess it’s ok for her to neglect, abuse and kill dogs but God forbid she actually have to be punished. After all, they were “just dogs.”
Read the original story I posted in July for a little more background on the horrendous cruelties – HERE. Then tell me why she shouldn’t punished to the fullest extent of the law. I think it’s far beyond time we see the judicial system handing down stiffer penalties against these people who treat innocnet and defenseless animals with such cruelty and wanton disregard.
Yes she should be punished more, considering the blatant disregard of the courts to cease their *rescue* earlier. I think her appeal is a joke. And hopefully the judge will laugh it out of the courtroom.
I am glad for the sentence she got. She got hammered.
i certainly hope she is incarcerated at the moment and not out on bail awaiting her ‘appeal’.
saddest thing is that the animals have no appeal.
using the name of St. Francis of Assisi…mmmm….would love to be the proverbial ‘fly’ on heavens gate when she gets there…..any punishment here on earth is way better than the one that awaits …
I bought a dog from her, back in June and the I knew in the back of my head there was something wrong with that place and that woman and her friend. There was broken glass all over the place that the dogs were walking on and playing on top of, the weman were smoking inside the house with no windows open, threre were 8-10 kids in the house, it smelled like pee. IT WAS HORRENDOUS. I could not take the dog back to that place! So I gave her cash on the spot and the dog, Cameron, who is my sweetheart, has had non stop problems. I mean so bad, that when I call my vet, they know me by my voice. I have spent thousands of dollars and counless hours trying to nurse that poor dog back to health. Its not fair, she should spend the rest of her life in a little dog cage with no food or water and left to sleep in her waste just like those poor dog she did that too. I hate her for what she did.