A Pontiac woman charged in Macomb County with impersonating a veterinarian, animal cruelty and abandonment and operating an unlicensed animal shelter was offered a plea deal in Macomb County Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Karmen Schooly, 47, would plead guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty/abandonment of four to 10 animals and would serve 11 months probation on that charge. After completing 11 months of successful probation, she would also serve two years probation on an added misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty/abandonment of 2-to-3 animals.

Schooly is also charged with one felony count of unauthorized practice as a veterinarian/ health professional and one misdemeanor charge of operating an unlicensed animal shelter.

Schooly has until her scheduled pre-trial hearing on May 1 in front of Judge Julie Gatti to decide if she will accept the plea offer.

As part of the plea agreement, Schooly would not be allowed to own any animals not licensed by Oakland County Animal Control. She cannot replace animals should she no longer possess one of the animals licensed during probation. Schooly must also agree to random checks by local animal control to verify the wellbeing of any licensed animals in her possession.

Macomb County Animal Control Chief Jeff Randazzo said he agreed to Macomb County Assistant prosecuting attorney Lisa Lozen Blazevski offering the plea agreement because of the part that prohibits Schooly from owning unlicensed animals.

“That is the biggest piece of the agreement and the only way I would accept it,” said Randazzo. “The whole goal is for her not to have any contact with animals going forward.”

If Schooly opts not to enter into the plea agreement, a trial is scheduled for Aug. 5.

The charges brought against Schooly in Macomb County stem from a case involving six puppies from the Pontiac-based TriCounty Dog Rescue that were fostered by Alicia Coleman of Lenox Township in 2023.

Two of the puppies were ill, and when Coleman took the animals to her own veterinarian, the animals were diagnosed with canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease which attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract. If left untreated, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, damage to the intestines and immune system, and death.

Coleman testified in 42-2 New Baltimore District Court that Schooly refused to pay for any veterinary services for the puppies and that she would not allow Coleman to return the dogs to TriCounty Rescue. Coleman said Schooly provided her with several medications, many of them expired, that were not appropriate for treatment of parvovirus.

The two puppies were treated and recovered, and one of the seven puppies was later adopted. Coleman testified she tried to return the remaining six puppies to Schooly, but was told the animals could not be taken back. Coleman later took them to Macomb County Animal Control.

That agency took Schooly to court seeking reimbursement for the dogs’ care and in January 2024, Judge William Hackel III ruled she owed the county $70,255. Because she couldn’t pay the bill, the dogs were turned over to the county. Each was adopted after spending more than a year at Macomb County Animal Control.

Schooly still must pay that restitution to MCAC.

Randazzo said he has repeatedly requested the name of the veterinarian who allegedly gave Schooly the medications that she then gave to Coleman. To date, that information has not been provided to Randazzo or to prosecuting attorneys.

Schooly allegedly claimed that a friend of hers who is a veterinarian gave her the medications for animals at her shelter.

Schooly also faces two charges in Oakland County after the Pontiac home where she kept 38 animals was raided on Sept. 27, 2024.

County authorities removed 29 dogs and eight cats from a home on the 100 block of Argyle Street in Pontiac. One of the cats was so ill, it had to be euthanized.

She was charged with a felony, failing to provide adequate care to 25 or more animals, and a misdemeanor, operating an unregistered animal shelter.

On March 1, her case was dismissed by Judge Kwame Rowe over a technical paperwork error. but refiled by the prosecutor’s office. She is scheduled to appear before Sixth Circuit Court Judge Danial O’Brien on July 8.