A county judge Wednesday sentenced Elvin L. High, a former dog breeder and twice-convicted animal abuser, to fines and probation for animal cruelty.

A jury convicted High in January on one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty. In related charges, Lancaster County President Judge Louis J. Farina found him guilty of six summary counts of animal cruelty for cropping his dogs' ears without a veterinary license.

Farina fined High $1,100 and sentenced him to a year of probation. Farina also ordered him not to engage in commercial breeding. However, High's West Hempfield Township business, Highgrade Kennels, 4406 Marietta Ave., has been idled since last May, when the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement revoked his kennel license for repeated regulation violations related to unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

Two of High's dogs were seized last April by humane police officers, who testified both animals needed immediate veterinary care. High was charged with misdemeanor-level animal cruelty for not providing the ailing dogs with medical care.

The jury convicted High of animal cruelty in the case of Zeus, a Neapolitan mastiff, who was starving and suffering a seizure when he was removed from High's care. High later had Zeus euthanized.

But the jury did not find High guilty of animal cruelty in the case of Sally Jane, a French bulldog, who, according to testimony, had raw skin from infection and straw embedded in infected wounds on her ears.

Farina's sentence seemed lackluster to those involved in prosecuting High, who was convicted of animal cruelty in 2002 as well.

"We are extremely disappointed in the judgment, especially considering High is a repeat offender," said Kerry Flanagan of Humane League of Lancaster County, which bore financial responsibility for housing, maintaining and veterinary care for High's dogs since they were seized.

After High's trial in January, Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson asked Farina to prohibit High from owning any animals for 2½ years, as law permits Farina to do.

Although Farina said he received lots of mail from different organizations about High's conviction, he did not bar High from keeping animals. In fact, he reverted ownership of Sally Jane back to High.

"We requested this prohibition in light of the facts and the verdict," Wilson said Wednesday. "The court rejected our request and allowed (High) to keep all three of his family dogs and regain ownership rights of (Sally Jane), which he must sell for monetary gain."

Sally Jane has been living with a Humane League foster family since recovering from her afflictions.

High is not responsible for any costs related to extensive emergency vet care his dogs received, their follow-up care or boarding expenses.

In October, High requested a special exception from West Hempfield Township zoning officials to open a new stud service business at his property, even though township officials said he operated his previous kennel business for 21 years without township approval. High later withdrew his request.

High is now limited by township ordinance to owning no more than three dogs.

E-mail: slindt@lnpnews.com