The owners of Cool School for Dogs admitted in court Friday there is enough evidence to convict them of animal cruelty. With that in mind, Brad and Tammara Josselyn entered Alford pleas. The guilty pleas came two months after police found several malnourished dogs inside the couple's Johnson City business.
As part of the plea bargain, the Josselyn's were sentenced to three years probation and 200 hours of community service. They also have to pay restitution to the Johnson City-Washington County Animal Shelter. For the next three years, the Josselyn's cannot board, train, or rescue dogs. However, they can continue to care for the eight personal pets they currently own. Still, animal control officers can check-in on those animals at any time.
"I think we were disappointed that justice wasn't a little bit more severe," animal lover Brenda Mooneyhan said after the hearing.
She was just one of several people who showed up in court to show their support for the animals. After all, Mooneyham adopted one of the dogs found inside Cool School for Dogs.
"It's hard to see animals treated that way," Mooneyhan said. "People need to be held responsible for what they do."
As for the Josselyn's, after entering their pleas, the couple issued a statement through their attorneys.
"This event in our lives has been one of the most shocking, destructive, and heartbreaking situations we have ever experienced," attorney Matt Bolton read from the prepared statement.
The Josselyn's said they naively trusted their niece to care for the animals at Cool School for Dogs.
"We were misled, lied to and manipulated in continuing that trust," Bolton read. "We can truthfully state without reservation that we never intentionally harmed any dogs in our care."
Police said they found the malnourished dogs inside the Cool School for Dogs after the niece in question, Ashli Thomas, filed a false police report there. On January 19th, she told police a man came into the business, stabbed her, and then stole a dozen dogs. According to Johnson City police, Thomas later told investigators she made up the story. Today those “stolen” dogs remain missing.
"We do not know where our missing dogs are and would like to appeal to anyone that might have a lead or information to contact the authorities," Bolton continued. "If you have found one of these dogs and are caring for it, the dog will not be removed. We would just like to know it is safe."
Although Thomas appeared in court Friday, she waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The Washington County Grand Jury will now hear her case. Thomas is charged with eight counts of animal cruelty along with filing a false report.
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