Breeder sentenced to 5 years probation

CLEARWATER - Huddled outside the courtroom with dogs in hand, dozens of people who fostered the animals seized from a Tarpon Springs breeder gathered outside the Pinellas County Courthouse Friday morning, waiting for Teresita Hughes' sentencing.

A judge sentenced Hugues, 71, to five years probation.

The Suncoast Animal League rescued 121 dogs from Hughes' Tarpon Springs home last year—
Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Pomeranians.

Annette Dettloff helped rescue the dogs.

"Joyous. We fee like this is a great feeling. We've waited a year and a half and now we feel like justice has been done for these dogs, for the foster parents and the league," Dettloff said.

Volunteers said they found the dogs in filthy conditions, many of them with health issues.

"Awful. It was so unbelievable and very sad," Dettloff said. "The smell was the worst part the smell was ungodly."

Hughes was running a breeding business, selling the dogs online. Over the last year and half Hughes and her attorney have fought, and at one point she did get some of the healthiest animals back. However the animal league has refused to give up.

"When we walked into that house on April 7, 2008, this was our goal," said Rick Chaboudy of the the Suncoast Animal League.

A judge ordered Hughes to pay fines and court costs. She can open a kennel again, but no more than 20 animals and it will be heavily monitored.

"And yes she intends to again be a breeder and that's with the approval of both Suncoast and the state attorney's office," Hughes' attorney said.

Some that attended the sentencing were hoping for a tougher sentence, but the Suncoast Animal League was given possession of all the dogs.

"We can actually give these dogs a last name and thrilled to do what we did," Chaboudy said.

Amy Reinhard fostered one of the dogs.

"When we picked the up when we first got them they were stiff and scared and afraid and it took months and months of work with them and now they sleep on the bed," Reinhard said.

This means many of the foster parents can now officially adopt the animals. The rest will be looking for new homes.