In a dramatic conclusion to a troubling case, Rose Anne Romano, a DeSoto County breeder, will spend two years in prison due to multiple animal neglect and fraud charges. The story of her puppy mill at “Strawberry Farms” first caught the public’s attention back in 2021, when shocking reports detailed the appalling conditions in which the animals lived—an investigation that began thanks to a series of concerned calls from the community.
After pleading guilty to her charges, including confining animals without food and water, Romano was sentenced and is now on probation for eight years following her prison term. The rescue of 55 dogs, along with a few other critters like a lizard and a snake, has given these animals a second chance at life. Reports suggest they’ve all found new homes—with a twist that even the snakes are no longer slithering around alone!
Susan Brodowsky from DeSoto County Animal Services expressed relief that these animals were taken from such dreadful conditions, and now they’re thriving in loving homes. It’s a positive end for some of the most vulnerable in our society, reminding us all that with a little compassion, we can overcome even the direst of circumstances. Who knew the rescue narrative could involve reptiles too?