A 56-year-old Waianae woman was sentenced to a deferred one-month jail term Wednesday after being found guilty in Kapolei District Courtof six counts of animal cruelty.
Ruth Lum pleaded no contest to the charges relating to six of nine dogs found in poor shape after being left without food or water for about a month in Waianae Valley. She was then sentenced by Judge Dean Ochiai.
Under the terms of the sentence, Lum will not need to serve the jail term if she passes a one-year probationary period without any incidents. Ochiai ordered her to pay $3,346 in restitution at $30 a month to the Hawaiian Humane Society for care of the animals.
Lum also must perform 180 hours of community service. Ochiai said he will recommend to the Hawaii Judiciary’s Community Service Sentencing Branch that she fulfill her community service as a Humane Society volunteer.
She will also not be allowed to own any pets while on probation and the Humane Society will be allowed to make unscheduled checks of her home during that time.
Lum faced a maximum penalty of up to a year in prison and a $20,000 fine on each count.
"This is not a case where … animals were left alone for just a few days," said Deputy Prosecutor Nicole Kalakau. "This is not mere neglect, this is outright disregard for the health of these animals."
Humane Society field services manager Delvin Honda said nine dogs were left without food or water for up to a month at a remote Waianae Valley property in June.
Lum was prosecuted for the six dogs in poor shape that had to be nursed back to health by the Humane Society. She was not prosecuted for the dog that was found dead and two other dogs that were better shape than the others.
Deputy Public Defender Chad Enoki said Lum sincerely cared about the animals and had paid a young man to care for them. Without Lum’s knowledge, the man ceased doing so, he said. Saddled with other personal issues, including the need to suddenly care for an in-law, "she just found herself spread too thin with her responsibilities," Enoki said.
Lum sat with her head buried between her hands during the proceedings. "I do love them," she said, when she addressed Ochiai. "I was raised around animals all my life."
—-
CORRECTION: Ruth Lum was sentenced Wednesday to a one-year probation with a one-month suspended jail term. If she stays out of trouble during probation, she will not need to serve the jail term, but her conviction for six counts of animal cruelty will remain on her record regardless. There was no plea agreement between Lum and city prosecutors. An earlier version of this story said there was a plea deal and that she would be able to have the conviction removed from her record.
