A Bedford Township couple has pled no contest to animal cruelty in an agreement to avoid a jury trial. Eighty-two-year-old Nyal Piper and his 63-year-old wife Renee Piper were scheduled for jury selection yesterday in Bedford County Court. Instead, the two pled guilty to 20 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animal torture, 20 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, and 10 summary counts of failure to keep dog licenses. The other charges they faced, were dismissed. With this plea, the Pipers left their sentences open to the court. The maximum sentence on each felony count is seven years. The two are to be sentenced on September 26th. The couple were charged last March after 90 dogs, eight cats, and one turtle were recovered from deplorable living conditions in their Bedford Township home.
Thursday 12th March 2026
