Nyal Piper, a man sentenced to a minimum of seven and a half years in state prison, for the extreme abuse and hoarding of nearly 100 animals in his Bedford County home, is appealing his sentence, arguing that the term is a “de facto life sentence” given the fact that he is 83-years-old. In December of 2023, rescue workers and state police found approximately 90 dogs, eight cats, and one turtle in the Pipers’ home, kept in “squalid conditions” with cages stacked floor to ceiling, and a six-inch layer of feces on the floor. Five of the animals had to be euthanized due to their condition. He and his wife Renee Piper both were charged in this case, and in September of this year each was sentenced to 90 months in state prison. Piper and his attorney argue the sentence is excessive given his age, focusing on punishment, rather than rehabilitation. The defense also claims the judge ignored expert testimony about Piper’s mental state during the sentencing.
Saturday 7th February 2026
