BUXTON – The Buxton police chief and the York County district attorney plan to meet to discuss the court agreement that freed defendants in a high-profile animal cruelty case – an outcome that has infuriated animal welfare authorities.

Chief Mike Grovo said he has talked with District Attorney Kathryn Slattery about a meeting.

“We are going to meet and talk things out,” Grovo said Tuesday.

Slattery was unavailable for comment Wednesday. A spokeswoman in her office said Wednesday a meeting would be scheduled for an unconfirmed date in April.

Grovo and animal welfare advocates are upset with the handling of a March 17 agreement in York County Superior Court involving the former owners of a Buxton kennel charged with 25 counts of cruelty to animals. The charges stemmed from a raid in August 2007 in which 250 puppies and dogs were seized. Authorities claimed many of the animals were diseased and mistreated.

Defendants John and Heidi Frasca, now Massachusetts residents, each pleaded guilty to five counts of cruelty to animals. The case was deferred for 17 months, when all charges will be dismissed. Under the terms of the court agreement, the Frascas must complete 60 hours of community service and they will be allowed to possess four animals.

The district attorney’s handling of the kennel case drew fire at a press conference Grovo called in Buxton Friday. Several authorities involved in the case complained they weren’t informed of the court hearing.

“I’m outraged and disappointed I was never notified,” Grovo said at the press conference. “I felt we were shut out.”

In a prepared statement released Thursday, Slattery wrote that the case had been pending since November 2007. “Since then they have not been involved in further instances of this type nor any type of criminal activity. The combined criminal and civil sanctions imposed on them have been substantial including the loss of their property.”

Patsy Murphy, executive director of the Animal Refuge League Of Greater Portland in Westbrook, which cared for 106 of the seized dogs, expressed dismay at the lack of notification and disposition of the case.

“As an organization, we are deeply discouraged and disappointed,” Murphy said Wednesday. “We do not believe the punishment fits the crime, and the legal system failed the Buxton dogs.”

Other animal welfare advocates were also upset.

“We were shocked,” Norma Worley, who retired in January as director of the state’s animal welfare program at the Department of Agriculture, said.

Kelly Hill, an emergency veterinarian in Scarborough, said she was disgusted with results of the court hearing. “They got away scot-free,” Hill said.

The Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk was one of the shelters involved with caring for the seized dogs. On Friday, Steve Jacobsen, executive director of the society, said Maine has good laws regulating treatment of animals.

“We did our jobs. It’s disappointing that the courts did not do theirs,” Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen echoed Grovo’s outrage. “We’re all very sad,” he said.

Katie Lisnik, Maine director of the Humane Society of the United States, said she, too, wasn’t contacted about the court date. Lisnik said the decision in the case was a “total shock.” She said she had believed that animal cruelty was taken seriously in Maine.

Worley said Friday the kennel had two types of mange and ringworm.

“We had to dress in Hazmat clothing,” Worley said.

Grovo said many of the dogs had dental problems besides testing positive for giardia and the mange.

“If not seized, many of the dogs would not have survived,” Grovo said.

“This sort of animal cruelty should never be allowed to happen again,” Monique Kramer, a veterinarian in Fryeburg, said in Friday’s conference.

Worley had hoped for prosecution and said the case cost the state $460,000.

“We were looking for restitution,” Worley said.

The only reward is that dogs were placed in wonderful homes, Worley said.

Genie Boone of Westbrook, who adopted two dogs – Olivia, a poodle mix, and an 8-year-old Brussels Griffon named Rosie – said Rosie “lived the nightmare for four years.”

Boone said Rosie had mange, giardia, severely matted fur and needed teeth extracted. Boone, who looked after Rosie first as a foster caregiver, said Rosie doesn’t trust anyone.

“She’s scared to death all the time,” Boone said. “Rosie will never, ever be the same.”

Olivia, now 31?2, was just a young puppy in 2007 and is fine other than having a heart murmur.

The Frascas lost their home and kennel on 24 acres in a bank foreclosure auction in 2008 and the kennel was demolished to make way for a housing development.

Grovo said the meeting with Slattery would likely include a state veterinarian, Dr. Christine Fraser, who also worked on the case.

“My goal is to make sure it never happens again,” Grovo said. “We’re going to take all animal abuse cases seriously.”

The dogs rescued from the Frasca kennel have found new homes near and far. Genie Boone of Westbrook provided a safe haven for Olivia, a poodle mix, left, and a now 8-year-old Brussels Griffon named Rosie. Photo by Rich Obrey