66 Animal Cruelty Counts Earns Rockville Woman Jail Time

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ROCKVILLE, MD — A woman convicted on 66 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after dozens of dogs were found in her Rockville house had a 16-year prison sentence suspended and will instead spend 180 days in jail, a judge has decided.

Catherine Ting Tiong, 47, was sentenced to 16.25 years in jail based on 90 days for each count, to run consecutively, with 16 years suspended, according to a statement from the Montgomery County state's attorney. She must also pay a $1,000 fine and will be under supervised probation for three years with mental health services and allowed no pets during that probation period.

Tiong reportedly rescued the animals from facilities in the Northeast, running an animal shelter in her home, authorities said. She was charged in January in the case of 66 dogs that were seized Jan. 1 from her Glen Mill Road home.

Katherine Zenzano, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center, previously told Montgomery Community Media all the dogs are in the legal custody of the shelter at its Derwood facility. Three of the 66 dogs that were seized on New Year’s Day were later euthanized.

Animal shelter officials said on Facebook Friday that Tiong's sentencing closes part of the case, and they shared photos of the many dogs at their new homes.

There are still three of the Rockville 66 available for adoption: Mr. T, Kipling, and Watson. If you are interested in adopting one of the remaining Rockville 66, visit the shelter at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood and speak with an adoption counselor.

The shelter's phone number is (240) 773-5900.

"The story of the Rockville 66 started with cruelty and neglect, but we are glad that it is ending with love, snuggles, and families," the shelter posted.

A search warrant was executed Jan. 1 at Tiong’s residence on Glen Mill Road one day after animal services officers went to the home about a dog bite report.

According to a news release, three of dogs were in extreme pain from medical ailments and had to be euthanized. Officers said the seized dogs were in various medical and behavioral conditions; some required special adopters to help the animals cope.

Tiong reportedly told investigators she ran Forever Homes Animal Rescue, Inc. and most of the dogs at her home came from shelters in the Northeastern United States. Most of the dogs were kept in soiled crates, officials said, and were suffering from a variety of ailments in most cases caused by neglect.

»Photos from Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center