Chesterfield woman convicted of hoarding back behind bars | News

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) -- A woman already convicted for hoarding nearly 60 animals was back in court Wednesday, for violating her probation.

Patti Wheeler was originally sentenced back in 2010 for the crimes.

In December, prosecutors say Wheeler rented a house. When she left, the landlord called animal control who found giant litter boxes, cat food, a trapping device, and piles of cat carriers. 

In fact, on the same day prosecutors say Wheeler took 10 cats to the clinic where she was working and told them they needed now homes.

In March, they found her in a hotel with 2 cats. Wheeler's attorney says those cats were her son's. Still, as a condition of her probation she wasn't supposed to be caring for them at all.

Wheeler's attorney says she has nothing now. She lost her job, her house, even her license because of this. She says she's a lovely person whose actions were misguided.

The judge told Wheeler he was disappointed and that she knew what she was doing was wrong.

You may remember, Wheeler actually worked with a veterinarian. Her initial probation conditions included an exception that still let her work with animals under the care of a veterinarian.

Her initial probation conditions included an exception that still let her work with animals under the care of a vet. That exception was revoked, basically eliminating all of her rights to be near animals.

Wheeler was also asked to get mental health help.

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