Cynthia Bemis and Cynthia Trapani called themselves animal rescuers and housed more than 170 dogs at a Mojave compound. Late Monday afternoon, a jury said they were not rescuers -- they were animal abusers.
Bemis, 61, and Trapani, 48, each were convicted of animal cruelty -- 14 felony counts for Bemis, six felony counts for Trapani. Each could face prison sentences of as long as nine years.
The verdict came after two days of deliberation.
Bemis has been accused of animal cruelty in three different counties.
Both were arrested two years ago after Kern County Animal Control officers raided the Mojave compound on which they lived with more than 170 dogs.
They said they were saving the animals from euthanization, but humane officers said many of the dogs were suffering under deplorable conditions.
''It was a continuing enterprise of dogs that were horribly neglected,'' said Deputy District Attorney Andrea Kohler. ''When dogs were seized, they accumulated even more … there was a lack of veterinary care. Some were emaciated, or near-emaciated.''
Animal Control officers visited the Bemis-Trapani compound several times before the arrests, each time warning the two Cynthias the dogs needed to be better treated.
When sufficient changes were not made, the two were arrested in May 2007.
Their defense at trial was that they were doing the best they could with limited resources.
Trapani also was accused of battery on an Animal Control officer. She was convicted of the lesser crime of resisting arrest.
Sentencing was set for June 17.
