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Family of three arraigned on animal cruelty charges in Saginaw County

Updated: Jun 8, 2022

- Michigan, USA -



~ Update: June 8, 2022


On June 1, 2022, Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello sentenced 80-years-old PATRICIA ANN PARKINSON to five years’ probation for keeping nearly 50 dogs in two homes that were in deplorable condition.


While on probation, PARKINSON “is prohibited from owning or assuming responsibility for any animal, nor can she live with anyone who has animals”, reports MLive.


Judge Borrello also ordered PARKINSON to pay $1,702 in restitution broken down as follows:

$1,097.00 to Great Lakes Pet Emergencies on 1221 Tittabawassee Road, Saginaw.

$ 605.00 to a specific veterinarian.


Additionally, PARKINSON was ordered to pay $198 in fines and costs, and a monthly supervision fee of $30, which increases to $60 if she’s placed on an electronic tether.




~ Update: April 13, 2022


A one-day bench trial held on April 6, 2022, before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello, has ended with the conviction of 80-years-old PATRICIA ANN PARKINSON.

After the six-hour trial, Judge Borrello found PARKINSON guilty of cruelty to or abandonment of 25 animals, a seven-year felony.


The conviction comes nearly two years after Saginaw County Animal Control officers executed a search warrant on PARKINSON’s home in the 1400 block of Marquette Street in Saginaw.


Saginaw County Animal Care & Control officers and a veterinarian testified for the prosecution.


PATRICIA ANN PARKINSON will be back in court on May 4, 2022, for sentencing but that will not be the end for her.


In fact, she also faces a charge of cruelty to two to three animals in a separate case for which trial is set to begin on May 18, 2022.


MLIVE reports that after the verdict, PARKINSON’s attorney, Alan J. Butler, said: “Patricia is an elderly individual who was depending on others for her care and the care of these animals. It was our defense she wasn’t in a state to care for these animals.”


Butler declined to comment further as PARKINSON’s daughter, 58-years-old KIMBERLY ANN SCHOLLAERT, is a codefendant in this case and since she is awaiting trial, Butler did not want to affect that case.


In March 2022, a judge ordered SCHOLLAERT sent to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti where staff are to assess her competency to stand trial.


Another person involved in this case, 82-years-old DONALD J. SCHOLLAERT, also charged with cruelty to 25 or more animals, had his case dismissed on March 3, 2022, after a District Court judge found the defendant had “a mental deficiency that impaired the extent of understanding or capacity to make informed decisions.”





~ Original story:


An investigation which began in August 2020, into dogs living in an uninhabited house, has now resulted in three people facing animal cruelty charges.


The Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office has identified the individuals as 82-years-old DONALD J. SCHOLLAERT, 80-years-old PATRICIA ANN PARKINSON, and their daughter, 58-years-old KIMBERLY ANN SCHOLLAERT. The trio were arraigned in Saginaw County District Court early October.


The daughter is charged with two counts of cruelty to ten or more animals, a four-year felony.


Her parents are charged with cruelty to twenty-five or more animals, a seven-year felony, and cruelty to two or three animals, a one-year misdemeanor.


As reported by MLive, on August 6, 2020, Saginaw County Animal Control officers executed a search warrant on PARKINSON’s home in the 1400 block of Marquette Street in Saginaw.

Some Michigan State Police troopers also responded to the scene and along with animal control officers they entered the residence wearing hazardous material suits.


Officials discovered one dead cat, one dead dog, and eighteen live dogs.


MLive reports that Animal Control Director Bonnie Kanicki said: “Quite an extensive amount of resources went into this incident” and added that Buena Vista Township police, firefighters, Mobile Medical Response, and Code Enforcement personnel were also involved.


From the investigation it emerged that a property in the Saginaw Villas mobile home park in Buena Vista Township was also involved in this case.


Officials then executed a warrant on a trailer in the 2900 block of Apollo Drive where they found and seized twenty-six dogs. The majority of the furbabies were Chihuahuas and Chihuahua-mixes, with one Cocker Spaniel.


Kanicki explained: “It appeared (the family) were living in both residences. The second one, the trailer on Apollo, was condemned. They had to move out in the moment because it was determined to be so dangerous and uninhabitable.”


Kanicki then said that all forty-four dogs were in “immediate need of a safe environment.”

According to Kanicki, “The dogs were left to free roam in these two residences. (The suspects) were not running a kennel or selling them for profit. They were just allowing them to free roam and breed randomly in these homes.”


All the furbabies were seen by veterinarians and received treatment. They were also sterilized and brought up to date on vaccinations. Thirty-four of them were placed in local animal rescues and the other ten were transferred to Bay County Animal Services & Adoption Center to be adopted out.


Unfortunately, this is not the end of it. In fact, in January 2021, just as officials thought they were ready to conclude the investigation, a new tip came in reporting that KIMBERLY ANN SCHOLLAERT had obtained three more dogs and that she had gone back to the condemned trailer on Apollo Drive.

Once again, officials obtained a search warrant which was executed on January 12.

Thankfully, the three dogs found in the mobile home were removed.


Kanicki expressed gratitude toward the community that stepped in to help and said: “The community responded by providing an abundance of donationsblankets, treats, dog food, bones.”


As for the trio’s court appearances, DONALD J. SCHOLLAERT has a preliminary hearing scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, October 26, 2021; KIMBERLY ANN SCHOLLAERT’s preliminary hearing is set for the afternoon of Monday, November 1, 2021, and PATRICIA ANN PARKINSON is expected to be in court on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 23.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.


Pictures of the dogs shared from MLive.



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