Woman Pleads Guilty for Neutering Neighbor's Dog

Woman Pleads Guilty for Neutering Neighbor's Dog


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Amanda Butterfield ReportingA woman who went to jail for having too many dogs and having a neighbor's dog neutered won't fight the charges against her. Janet Lane agreed in court today she will enter a conditional plea.

Janet Lane: "You know, we could fight it."

But Janet Lane doesn't want to because she admits she did what she is accused of.

Loni F. DeLand, Lawyer: "The factual basis for the charges are true and she's never denied that."

Back in 2004, Lane had a neighbor's dog neutered without them knowing. Her lawyer says she did it because the dog kept coming onto her property. She was charged with criminal mischief, but never went to court, so a warrant went out for her arrest. That warrant came back to haunt her when just weeks ago she was busted for having too many dogs at her home.

In a past interview with KSL, she admits to that too.

Janet Lane: "I knew the legal limit was two dogs, and I had more than two."

Lane spent two nights in jail for these cases.

Janet Lane: "I can not go back to jail... (crying)."

To avoid ever going back to jail, here's what Lane has agreed to: She will pay a $500 fine and $586 in restitution; she'll have a mental health evaluation; and she'll apologize to the owners of the dog she had neutered.

Loni DeLand: "She felt bad about what happened."

If she does this and stays out of trouble for 18 months, the case will be dropped.

Loni DeLand: "Therefore, she will not have a criminal record."

Though Deland didn't want Lane to talk on camera, he says she will continue to work with dogs, but only within the boundaries of the law. Janet Lane will enter that plea at the end of May.

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