Sentencing for animal abuse/neglect delayed

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Story Published: Nov 6, 2009 at 4:48 PM PST

By Kristina Nelson, KCBY News

COQUILLE, Ore. - Everything was set for a North Bend woman to be sentenced on Friday after she was found guilty of abusing and neglecting horses on her property.

But the case took an unexpected turn when the prosecution expressed concern the woman might be running a kind of puppy mill as well.

Friday, Bobbye Cikanek was in a Coos County courtroom for her sentencing hearing.

The 64 year-old was found guilty on one count of animal abuse in the first degree and ten counts of animal neglect in the second degree by a jury after her two day trial in October.

Coos County Deputy District Attorney Shani Krumholz, requested Cikanek receive the maximum term of probation, and not be allowed to own any more livestock during the probation term.

But then added the prosecution's concerns about Cikanek's fourteen dogs.

"Puppy mill situation. If Ms. Cikanek can't care for horses financially, were concerned she might not be able to take care of puppies," said Krumholz.

According to Cikanek, she breeds and sells those pug puppies as part of her monthly income.

"All in all it's not an awful lot of dogs, it's just a small amount. Most of them are not going to be staying there anyway because they're puppies for sale," expressed Cikanek.

This revelation effectively put an end to the sentencing proceedings, as a seemingly agitated Judge Michael Gillespie expressed doubts about her claims and requested that Cikanek bring proof of how much profit she has made off the sale of the puppies.

Cikanek now will have to be back in court on November 20th.

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