By Cortney Casey
C & G Staff Writer

MOUNT CLEMENS — The owner of a Sterling Heights kennel faces up to two years in prison after pleading guilty to a trio of animal cruelty charges June 9.

Flanked by attorney Domnick Sorise, Lorri Elizabeth Nichiow-Brubaker, 49, entered a guilty plea to three counts of animal cruelty-second offense, two-year felonies, before Judge David Viviano in Macomb County Circuit Court.

Nichiow-Brubaker is the owner of Lornich Kennels on Mound, near 15 Mile, where Sterling Heights police officers returning four escaped horses April 20 allegedly discovered deplorable conditions, including dirty, inaccessible drinking water and dog food strewn on the ground and mixed with feces.

Returning with a search warrant a few days later, the officers seized about 70 ailing animals — mostly dogs — which local animal rescue agencies and veterinary facilities took in and nursed back to health.

As part of her plea, Nichiow-Brubaker agreed to surrender her kennel license to the court and cease conducting kennel business permanently. She also gave up all rights to the seized animals, freeing them up for formal adoption.

As the plea did not involve a sentencing agreement, Nichiow-Brubaker’s penalty is up to Viviano’s discretion and could include prison and/or probation, said Assistant Prosecutor James Langtry.

“The judge accepted the plea, but he gave no indication as to what kind of sentencing will be imposed,” he said. “We’re confident that whatever sentence the judge chooses to impose will be the right one.”

Nichiow-Brubaker must pay $17,500 in restitution, $8,000 of which is due prior to her July 24 sentencing. Of that, $3,700 is money owed from a previous misdemeanor animal cruelty conviction in June 2005, said Langtry.

The funds will be distributed among the parties that assisted following the animals’ seizure, he said.

“All of these different animal agencies, as well as veterinarians, donated their time to work on the sick animals,” said Langtry. “This is an attempt to recoup some of those expenses, the burden that was placed upon them.”

Langtry said the Prosecutor’s Office is pleased with how the case played out.

We’re satisfied that it’s over,” he said. “Our whole goal from the outset was to have these animals placed as quickly as possible into loving homes and to put her out of business. This resolution accomplishes those two things.”

Nichiow-Brubaker spoke little during the hearing, only asking Viviano to repeat himself a few times as he recited her rights. When he asked her to explain what she did that made her guilty of the charges, she responded, “I did not provide good care for three animals — three dogs — at my kennel.”

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith previously stated that though the cruelty extended far beyond three animals, his office chose the three strongest cases to prosecute because, as the sentences would run concurrently, it would be somewhat redundant to pursue charges on all of them.

Viviano indicated that Nichiow-Brubaker’s plea marked an end to the case, and prosecutors will not be able to press any further charges related to the April incident.

Sorise, who declined to comment following the proceedings, told Viviano that Nichiow-Brubaker planned to move out of Macomb County to live with her parents.

Harrison Township resident JoAnn Skalecki and her son, Kevin, were in the courtroom to watch the hearing, clutching photos of their beloved shih tzu, Tiffany.

JoAnn Skalecki said she “leased” Tiffany from Nichiow-Brubaker for five years with the promise that Tiffany would produce four puppies for Lornich Kennels. After the puppies were delivered, Skalecki was to receive the dog permanently, she said.

Tiffany lived with the Skaleckis except when she was in heat, at which time she would be dropped off at Lornich, usually for about three-day spans, said Skalecki.

But after Tiffany repeatedly failed to conceive, even after artificial insemination attempts, Skalecki said Nichiow-Brubaker confiscated the dog and issued an ultimatum.

She said, ‘You spoiled her; that’s why she’s not conceiving,’” Skalecki recalled. “(She said), ‘You can have her back for $2,200.”

When Skalecki said she didn’t have that kind of money, Nichiow-Brubaker threatened to euthanize Tiffany, Skalecki said.

“I never saw her again,” she said of Tiffany, her eyes filling with tears.

According to Kevin Skalecki, Nichiow-Brubaker always met them in the driveway or at the front door, never allowing them to see inside her home or the kennel area. Tiffany always smelled rancid when she returned from her time at Lornich — so much so that they had to roll down the windows as they drove home, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Cortney Casey at ccasey@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1046.