WMWV – 93.5

One of the dogs seized from Christina Fay’s Wolfeboro mansion in June ~ Photo by Meredith Lee/The HSUS

Wolfeboro, NH – The woman, who stood accused of neglecting over 80 Great Danes at Wolfeboro Mansion, has been found guilty. According a press release from the United States Humane Society and Wolfeboro Police Judge Charles Greenhalgh convicted Christina Fay on all 10 counts of animal cruelty.

Judge Greenhalgh noted that a veterinarian experienced in investigating animal cruelty cases testified that “the conditions within the Defendant’s home [were] the worst she had ever seen.”

The 20-page order issued by the court stated:

“The totality of evidence, including pictures, video and testimony from witnesses in or around Defendant’s home, between the beginning of May and June 16, 2017, consistently show the same conditions. These included an accumulation of feces and urine, which was not cleaned and built up over time to a point that made walking in the home difficult. In addition, there was a pervasive ammonia odor, so strong that veterinarians and others with experience working in kennels, and with large groups of animals, were unable to remain in the home without taking frequent breaks to get fresh air. The dogs were forced to live in filthy, unsanitary conditions. Some were lying for many days in their own feces and urine and it was covering their coats.”

New Hampshire law states that upon a person’s conviction of cruelty, the Court has discretion to determine the fate of victimized animals. The Court will determine the matter of disposition of the dogs and restitution at the sentencing hearing.

Lindsay Hamrick, New Hampshire state director for The Humane Society of the United States, said: “Given the facts of the case and the compelling evidence the State presented, Judge Greenhalgh was right to find the defendant guilty of animal cruelty. The suffering these animals endured at Fay’s hands could have been alleviated much sooner or prevented if New Hampshire had stronger commercial breeding laws.” Senate Majority Leader, Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, with bipartisan support from half of the state’s senators, has introduced legislation to address these issues.

Wolfeboro Police Chief Dean Rondeau of the Wolfeboro Police Department said: “We are thrilled The Honorable Judge Greenhalgh handed down a conviction of 10 counts of animal cruelty. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to prosecutors Simon Brown and Timothy Morgan, as well as The Humane Society of the United States, Conway Area Humane Society and Pope Memorial SPCA for their incredible work and dedication to rescuing and seeking justice for these Great Danes.”

In June Police seized 75 Great Danes from Fay’s Wolfeboro home as well as 9 Danes at a Bartlett residence also owned by Fay after a complaint filed against Fay’s business De La Sang Monde Great Danes.

According to the Associated Press Lawyers for Fay say they’re disappointed in the verdict and plan to appeal. Fay’s lawyers said in a statement they’re disappointed in the court’s analysis of the facts and the law used to reach the verdict. They said Fay’s primary concern is the welfare of her dogs, and that she looks forward to the next step in the process. Fay is set to have a sentencing hearing scheduled within 30 days.

Fay will be scheduled for a sentencing hearing within 30 days.

GORHAM — U.S. Forest Service snow rangers hope Mount Washington’s first avalanche of the season will be a catalyst for a newly launched initiative to teach school kids and the public how to be safer on the highest peak in the Northeast.

Frank Carus, the lead snow ranger, said two climbers were uninjured after triggering “a small avalanche” on Dec. 1 in Central Gully in Huntington Ravine, on the northeast side of the mountain.

Between 80 and 100 avalanches are reported on the mountain annually, he said.

“The slab was up to 18 inches thick and it looked like a pretty small avalanche, just a ribbon of snow,” Carus said.

Dec. 1 is when Carus, three fellow snow rangers and avalanche dog Lilly take over primary search-and-rescue operations in both Huntington and Tuckerman ravines from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

It was in Huntington Ravine on March 1, 2013, that an avalanche last claimed a life on Mount Washington — James “Jimmy” Watts in Pinnacle Gully.

Carus said the Dec. 1 avalanche had the same potential as the one that claimed Watts’ life because even “small avalanches can be particularly dangerous in early season conditions in that you can get driven into boulders poking out of the snow.”

The snow rangers took to social media last week and decided to use the avalanche as an opportunity to talk about the White Mountain Avalanche Education Fund.

Established seven years ago, the fund pursues “avalanche knowledge” and delivers “avalanche education” by providing scholarships for participation in a certified avalanche course, clinic or seminar.

Scholarships are open to students in grades six to 12 from the northeastern United States; from school systems in Coos, Carroll, and Grafton Counties in New Hampshire and Oxford County in Maine; as well as from active volunteer mountain rescuers.

The fund has also been working to develop educational material “to benefit youth and adult residents, or those visiting the mountains of New Hampshire.” An initial public outreach workshop was recently held in Portland, Maine.

Carus said the goal is to offer similar workshops in the Granite State and complete a “snow-science curriculum for schools that will tie in science and math with the changes that the snow goes through and touch on back-country avalanche conditions.”

Carus recommends checking the daily condition reports from the Mount Washington Avalanche Center.

On Mount Washington, avalanches happen with “regularity,” he said, adding some are caused by storms, not human beings.

Story courtesy of John Kozial, Union Leader…