Woman Accused Of Animal Cruelty After Nearly 200 Rabbits Found In Brooklyn Junkyard
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Only days before Easter, a New York City woman is fighting animal cruelty charges after authorities seized 176 rabbits they claim she kept in a filthy junkyard.
Dorota Trec was arraigned on Friday in Brooklyn Criminal Court, the New York Post reported.
Activist Natalie Reeves notified authorities about the rabbits, some of which police said were suffering from syphilis and bite wounds, in January. Animal welfare authorities then took the rabbits away.
Trec claims animal rights activists are on a "witch hunt'' against her, and she's suing Reeves.
Prosecutors are demanding Trec pay for the animals' care in city facilities -- $40,000 -- or sign over ownership.
Reeves didn't comment on the suit, except to say it doesn't make for a happy Easter.
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