A Carbon County veterinarian was found guilty of 10 counts of animal cruelty, in the case of nine horses, a pig and calf who were found on property he owns in Lower Towamensing Township.

The hearing for Dr. Clyde "Renny" Shoop took nearly seven hours District Justice William Kissner's court Tuesday. The verdict came shortly before 9 p.m.

Shoop was facing 11 counts after neglected starving horses were taken from his property this winter. However, his ex-wife Kim pleaded guilty to one count.

Shoop will pay restitution in the $17,000 to $18,000 range, plus fines that go with each count. He will not face jail time.

Represented by Attorney Brett Riegel, he said he will appeal the ruling in Carbon County Court.

Testimony included Trooper Erin Cawley of the Pennsylvania State Police, animal officer Donna Crum, another veterinarian, Dr. Justin Cunfer of Blue Mountain Veterinary Clinic, Kim Shoop, two neighbors to the property and their son, Brad.

The longtime veterinarian operates Poco West Equine Animal Services in Jim Thorpe.

Police have removed 16 horses from the property since Jan. 20, when they received a tip about a farm on Sunny Rest Road with emaciated and dead horses.

The person who called police said a dead horse was seen in the pasture, as well as several emaciated horses roaming the property.

Three of those have had to be euthanized, and the others have a wide range of medical problems, according to officials with the animal rescue where the horses were taken.

On Jan. 22, police searched the property, and found nine of the 16 horses in critical condition.

Five of the most critically injured horses - one adult male, one adult female, one juvenile female and two juvenile males - were taken from the property, according to court documents.

Those five were taken to a veterinarian in the Quakertown area. Only three of the five would survive, with two having to be euthanized, according to Last Chance Ranch in Quakertown, who assisted in the rescue.

They also found at least five dead horses - two hidden beneath wooden pallets, one beneath a burned mattress, and two in a pit with the remains of other burned animals.

Police said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is still investigating whether the Shoops will be charged with improperly disposing of those remains.

On Jan. 26, officials from the Last Chance Ranch returned to the property and took seven more horses. One of those had to be euthanized.

Four remaining horses were removed Feb. 1.

Before Clyde Shoop's hearing began, Kim Shoop pleaded guilty to cruelty of one of the horses and a turkey. Kim lived on the property but ownership of the horses was not clear when charges were filed.

Her fines will total $2,140.78.

See Wednesday's print and digital versions for complete story.