Before the preliminary hearing, Widmyer, her attorney Timothy Gordon, and Franklin County Assistant District Attorney T.R. Williams agreed to a plea bargain that reduced the charge from a second-degree misdemeanor to a summary charge.
Ommert specified that Widmyer must complete her community service at an accredited, not-for-profit humane society.
Arrangements are being made for Widmyer to serve out the order at the Washington County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hagerstown or at the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter in Chambersburg.
The cruelty to animal charge was filed after an investigation by Georgia Martin, humane society police officer for Antietam Humane Society in Waynesboro, Pa.
According to Martin's report, a dog named Rascal was found in a dumpster in the rear of the Antrim Way Car Wash last Oct. 25.
The small tan male hound mix was bound at all four feet and around the mouth with bailing twine, put in a black plastic bag with a paper cat food bag over top. Both bags were tied to the neck of the dog with bailing twine, the report said.
The dog was traced to its owner in the Cearfoss area by its rabies tag.
The owner turned Rascal over to the humane society and he was adopted into a good home, Martin said.
During the investigation, Martin learned from one of Widmyer's neighbors that she had made threats against the dog.
