Ex-animal sanctuary director learns sentence for animal neglect

MIAMI COUNTY — A former animal sanctuary director neglected her own animals and today she learned her punishment.

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Sophia Kartsonis, the former director of Our Farm Sanctuary, was in a Miami County courtroom on Thursday for her sentencing. She previously pleaded no contest to six counts of animal neglect.

“I will impose a 90-day jail sentence on every count,” Judge Anthony Kendell said.

On top of the jail time, Kartsonis will also not be allowed to own any pets for the rest of her life and she is required to get mental health help, as she claimed stress and anxiety were part of the reason the conditions got so bad.

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She resigned from her position as director at the sanctuary after the Miami County Animal Control searched the property in July and seized dozens of cats from the property, six of which were her personal pets.

“I didn’t know the conditions were that bad,” Carin Dillard, a former volunteer at the sanctuary, said.

Dillard volunteered there for nearly a year. She spoke to News Center 7 in July about the conditions that two of the cats were in. She said that even after seeing some of the conditions firsthand, she was surprised at some of what she heard in court.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, a gag order had been placed on the investigation up to this point. It has since been lifted and new images of the conditions are able to be shared.

While in court, News Center 7 learned that Kartsonis wouldn’t allow volunteers to certain parts of her house, so they wouldn’t see these conditions.

“In May of 2024, another volunteer entered in and was taken aback basically by the conditions,” Kendall said.

Dillard witnessed the firsthand and was relieved by the sentencing.

“The most exciting part is that she can never overlook the companion for an animal again,” Dillard said. “That’s really what I wanted.”

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