Blair teacher charged with animal cruelty

Blair Spanish teacher Maria Yordan-Torres was arrested for animal cruelty on Thursday, Jan. 19 and was held on $15,000 bond. She was released the next day after posting bond, according to a Montgomery County Police Department press release.

Yordan-Torres was charged with 21 counts of "unnecessarily failing to provide the animal with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or protection from the weather" and 11 counts of "inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal," according to the report.

Yordan-Torres refused to comment for this article.

The teacher was first given a civil citation in April 2005, after the Montgomery County Police Animal Services Division had responded to a call concerning an abandoned dog outside of Yordan-Torres's residence. Although the dog showed signs of physical neglect and malnourishment, one beagle and fourteen Coton de Tulear dogs were found to be in satisfactory condition within her home. Five months later, during a random check at her address, officers found the dogs to be in unsanitary crates but were assured by Yordan-Torres that the situation was temporary and that the dogs were awaiting new owners, according to the press release.

In late Dec., officers returned for another check of Yordan-Torres's home and discovered a dead dog lying in her front yard and a second malnourished dog, both of the Coton de Tulear breed, according to the press release. A necropsy found the dead dog to be malnourished and neglected.

The report stated that Animal Services officers obtained a search warrant and transported 27 Coton de Tulear dogs and one beagle to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. Many of the dogs were underfed and some required shaving due to damaged coats. The dogs have been groomed and given medical treatment and are available for adoption at the shelter.

Yordan-Torres was running a dog-breeding facility in her home, stated the release.