Pet store owner gets 30 days for mistreatment

WESTMINSTER, S.C. - A Toccoa pet store owner Thursday was sentenced to 30 days in jail after more than 200 animals were seized from her South Carolina home last month.<br> <br> Evelyn M. Nelson pleaded guilty to three counts of mistreating animals before Judge Will Derrick, the Oconee County Magistrate Court&#39;s office said Thursday.<br> <br> Nelson was ordered to serve 30 days in prison on one count and was given the option of paying $2,175 in fines or serving an additional 60 days on the other two counts, the magistrate&#39;s office said.<br> <br> Oconee County officials seized 102 dogs, 93 birds and 15 cats from Nelson&#39;s home Feb. 7. Nelson, who was hospitalized at the time, operates Sandie&#39;s Pets and Supplies in Toccoa.<br> <br> Some of the dogs and cats were adopted and the birds were turned over to bird sanctuaries.