Two women from Canandaigua are facing animal cruelty charges after investigators found dogs in cages, cats in poor health, and four dead animals stored in a freezer.
Sheila S. LaFleur, 63, and Robin S. Burr, 61, were arrested on December 2 after the Ontario County Humane Society and the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at their home on Overlook Lane. The search followed a tip from an Ohio rescue group that had recently taken back two foster dogs and reported filthy conditions and untreated medical issues.
Investigators rescued 14 dogs and 3 cats from the home. Some of the dogs were confined in metal cages, while others roamed freely. All were found with signs of neglect, including flea infestations, fur loss, ear infections, and dental problems. Four dead cats were discovered in a kitchen freezer and have been sent to Cornell for necropsy to determine their cause of death.
The home’s conditions were so severe that the Canandaigua Code Enforcement Officer declared it uninhabitable due to hoarding.
LaFleur and Burr were both charged with animal cruelty, a class A misdemeanor. They were issued appearance tickets and released. All animals are now receiving care at the Ontario County Humane Society shelter.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].