GERMAN – Appearing in court with the District Attorney’s Office the SPCA again requested the hand over of nearly 40 neglected dogs and again the defendant refused.

Following the appearance, temporary Town of German Judge Nelson Lucier of McDonough, told the defendant that by not handing over the animals, she would be responsible for the SPCA’s costs in caring for them. The woman accused in the case, Barbara Brentana, 51, of Burkholder Road, McDonough, has until next Wednesday, to pay the shelter’s more than $21,000 in costs.

Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee said, “We appreciate the SPCA stepping in to provide care for these animals and they deserve compensation.”

“It’s up to the judge to decide how much she has to pay. The judge decided that she had to return all of the amount spent since their rescue,” said SPCA Executive Director Carol J. Hedlund.