MUSKEGON, Mich. — A West Michigan woman who pleaded guilty to animal abuse after nearly 80 dogs were rescued from her Norton Shores home will avoid jail time.
Lisa Cober was charged back on Jan. 31, 2023, with abandoning/cruelty to 25 or more animals which is a felony charge.
She pleaded guilty as charged to Judge Matthew Kacel back in March. Judge Kacel accepted her guilty plea.
At her sentencing hearing, the prosecution argued Monday Cober has a pattern of behavior and said there is no accountability.
"I do not think Miss Cober should have a dog," the prosecution argued. The state asked the judge to ensure she is connected with counseling; otherwise, the state said, "We are going to be back here in a short time."
Cober's defense argued, "There's nothing really here that says she's engaging in deliberate animal cruelty."
Her attorney asked the judge to sentence her to probation.
The judge gave her the opportunity to speak in court.
She read from a prepared statement, and read it through tears at times.
"What you have seen on TV or heard on social media is a small snippet of what it was. They only saw it at its worst," Cober said. "I know I messed up by taking on too many dogs and too much for a single person to do alone."
Judge Kacel considered her psychological assessment as part of the sentence.
Cober ultimately received a sentence of 5 years with 100 hours of community service.
As part of her probation, she won't be able to have any animals for the term of that probation.
The court ordered her to undergo counseling, and restitution is still on the table.
Cober bonded out shortly after her initial arrest for $1,000 and has had hearings continued and pushed back for nearly a year.
In 2023, the Norton Shores Police Department in tandem with other agencies seized 78 dogs from Cober's Canine Rescue in Norton Shores, which Lisa founded.
Police said the dogs were living in deplorable conditions which were unsanitary and overcrowded.
The home used as the rescue was found with "feces covering the flooring of the residence, as well as counter spaces, doors, kennels and walls," according to a probable cause document.
At least 25 of the dogs at the home appeared to be sick or injured, according to observations by Dr. Houser, DVM of Glen Park Animal Hospital.
The probable cause document goes on to say that Cober admitted that at least eight puppies had died, and two had to be euthanized in her care since the beginning of January.
50 of the dogs were taken to Pound Buddies where Director Lana Carson said several of the dogs they took in were sick. Carson said the dogs had to be quarantined, making it complicated for the shelter.
Carson said the rest of the dogs went to the Muskegon Humane Society and Harbor Humane Society in Ottawa County.
13 ON YOUR SIDE heard from numerous people after Cober was charged who claim they adopted animals from her that got very sick. That includes a Muskegon family who said they paid $1,400 in vet bills after adoption from Cober's Canines.
Cober told police she was unaware of the total number of dogs in her home, telling the detective that she knew there were at least 22 puppies, but did not know how many other dogs there were.
After the dogs were removed from the home, Norton Shores building inspectors declared the residence uninhabitable.
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