A former Troy resident accused of multiple counts of animal abandonment following an incident last year involving 17 puppies at a Lincoln County animal shelter avoided jail time after striking a plea deal.

Sarah Jane Goodman, 44, of Post Falls, Idaho was accused of one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals - abandoning any animal and 16 felony counts of the same charge. She pleaded not guilty Feb. 18 in Lincoln County District Court and was ordered held in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $10,000 bail, but she has since posted that bond.

Defense attorney Maury Solomon and Deputy County Attorney Lauren O’Neill worked out an agreement that saw Goodman plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, first offense.

Goodman admitted to negligently putting the animals at risk, but indicated she didn't mean to hurt them. She made no statement to the court.

Judge Matt Cuffe in late April sentenced Goodman to two one-year suspended sentences, not counting the 14 days she was in custody following her arrest. The terms will run consecutively. Goodman must pay $850 restitution to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. She must also pay fines and fees of $335.

Following an investigation by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Deputy Andrew Smith, a warrant was issued on July 23, 2024 for Goodman’s arrest.

According to the charging document, county dispatchers got a call in the early evening hours of Feb. 1, 2024, about a passerby finding one to a dozen puppies in taped-up boxes in front of the Tobacco Valley Animal Shelter, which served as the county animal shelter.

Deputy Brandon Huff responded, spoke with shelter staff as well as Smith and learned that there were 17 dogs in the boxes.

Less than two hours later, an individual called dispatchers and said she recognized the vehicle and puppies from a social media post. She identified the individuals as Goodman and her son.

Animal shelter employees provided two videos showing a man believed to be Goodman's son carrying the boxes of puppies to the front of the building. The videos also showed a gray 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck that the son was seen walking to and from. Smith reported Goodman owned such a vehicle.

He also reported traveling to a residence on Milnor Lake Road, Troy, the following morning in an attempt to speak to Goodman or her son. He didn’t find either person, but spoke to Goodman later that morning.

According to Smith, Goodman allegedly admitted she and her son dropped the puppies off at the shelter. She said she was unable to care for the animals and was unsuccessful at selling the puppies on Craigslist. She told Smith that the three litters of puppies were seven, nine and 10 weeks old.

Smith wrote in his report that he believed Goodman and her son abandoned their responsibility of the puppies because the shelter wasn’t scheduled to open until 10 a.m. the next day, Feb. 2, leaving them helpless, overnight, without food or water on a night when the low temperature was 25 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Smith also worried that predatory animals such as coyotes, wolves, bobcats and mountain lions could have found the puppies and injured or killed them.