A nationally recognized German Shepherd breeder who was convicted in 2008 of stealing a Norwalk couple's dog because it was going to be neutered has been granted a special probation program on animal cruelty charges.
Dawn Marie Pieger, 47, of Stratford, was arrested last December after police found 13 purebred dogs living in poor conditions in her facility.
She was granted psychiatric accelerated rehabilitation on Monday, according to The Connecticut Post. The rehabilitation allows Pieger to plead not guilty to animal cruelty charges while being placed on two years' probation.
She was ordered to pay $24,000 in restitution to the town of Stratford for treating and taking care of dogs. A hearing has been scheduled for May 8 on a lawsuit by the town to take the dogs from Pieger.
