Animal Cruelty Suspect Gets 20 Hours of Community Service

Jessica Yazmer, a Canton woman who was accused of animal cruelty after an incident that caused a public outcry in July, was ordered to perform 20 hours of community service Wednesday in Hartford Community Court.

Yazmer, 28, was not required to enter a plea or pay a fine under the community court process, according to a court official. She was scheduled to return Dec. 8 to show proof of community service. The manner of service was not specified by the court.

On July 5, police said 40 mistreated dogs and a few cats were discovered in Yazmer’s apartment on Center Street after a report of a dog fight.

Yazmer was listed on a pet adoption website as a representative for a Collinsville-based organization that rescued dogs from high-kill shelters in the South.

The dogs, including nearly 20 puppies, were discovered in life-threatening conditions, animal control officer Beverly LaPlume said. All survived and many were treated for worms and other conditions. Canton building officials ruled the apartment unfit for human occupancy on July 7.

Yazmer’s court appearance was postponed two times. In a court affidavit filed July 18, attorney Jon L. Schoenhorn said Yazmer, a 2001 Simsbury High graduate, was receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition.

and in Canton initially cared for the dogs and Roaring Brook, which provided care free of charge, handled some puppy adoptions but was soon was overwhelmed with requests.

Subsequently, the Simon Foundation in Bloomfield was handling all adoptions.