About 20 protesters supporting the animals currently with the Columbiana County Humane Society stood in front of the county municipal courthouse on Thursday morning prior to a hearing regarding the seizure of animals from Alchemy Acres in Perry Township. (Photo by Deanne Johnson)

LISBON – The 197 animals seized on July 10 by the Columbiana County Humane Society from the Alchemy Acres Animal Sanctuary facility on Depot Road in Perry Township can now be placed up for adoption to new homes.

Four members of the Sacco family, who serve on the board of Alchemy Acres, agreed in Columbiana County Municipal court to surrender the animals. They further agreed to give a list of all animals belonging to Alchemy Acres and allow their properties to be checked for any additional animals. Other than personal pets, the family will not be allowed to have other animals or be involved in animal rescue operations for five years.

Although no criminal charges have yet been filed, the Saccos — Stephen, Julie, Emily and Katie — agreed to each plead no contest to one count of neglect of companion animals when the charges are filed, which is expected in the next few days. The Saccos will have fines and jail time suspended provided Judge Katelyn Dickey goes along with the agreement, which was read by Special Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Holland, who appeared with an agent of the Columbiana County Humane Society.

Following the hearing, which was scheduled as a probable cause hearing, Holland said it was a case of people who had started out caring for animals, but got to the place where they could no longer care for the animals they rescued and just continued to take them in anyway. He described the conditions the animals were kept in as poor and said the animals lacked proper veterinarian care.

In the agreement Holland said they will not pursue any charges against anyone else on the board of Alchemy Acres or the volunteers involved in the organization.

“That is, I believe the Saccos are taking responsibility for their own actions, trying to keep other people out of it and I respect that, I respect that,” Holland said. “It’s really hard to say, ‘I am wrong’ and those individuals said today ‘I am wrong.'”

During the court hearing, Holland said he once represented Alchemy Acres in 2008, but not the Saccos. He believed the agreement reached between himself and the Sacco’s attorney Christopher Amato resolved the case by allowing the Humane Society to rescue the animals, by changing the behavior of those involved, stops further violations, and by sending a message to the community. Amato declined to comment following the hearing.

Of the animals rescued on July 10, it was noted 167 of the animals were dogs and cats, while the remaining animals were rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas and birds. Not all the animals belonging to the non-profit animal rescue were reportedly kept at Alchemy Acres.

A group of protestors, many with ties to the Columbiana County Humane Society, appeared outside the courthouse prior to the hearing. Some claimed they had had longstanding concerns about at least one of the people running Alchemy Acres Animal Sanctuary, the number of animals being housed at the location, which was a no kill shelter, and the conditions there.

djohnson@mojonews.com