Pets Taken From Montco Woman Who Tried To Poison Them

POTTSTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County woman who was found not guilty by reason of insanity for trying to poison her pets last year has lost her bid to regain the animals.

The judge has ordered Linda Muchnick, 57 (above), to forfeit more than a dozen cats and one dog to the SPCA, basically allowing the shelter to begin finding new homes for the animals.

But Muchnick, who tried to poison the animals and herself in August 2009, says the fight to get her pets back is not over.

"I've done the hard road to show my character for 16 months, and still I love my babies," she told KYW Newsradio.  "I'm going to appeal this, I'm going to do my best because that's what I believe is the right thing to do."

During her trial, Muchnick said that she attempted to euthanize the animals because she was worried she was about to lose her home and didn't trust that they would be cared for in an animal shelter.

Montgomery County prosecutor Abby Silverman argued against returning the 16 cats and one dog to Muchnick, saying she lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Pottstown and that may drive her to try to hurt the animals again.

The SPCA says it has cost them more than $32,000 to shelter the animals during the 16 months that Muchnick's case was in progress.

Muchnick has thirty days to appeal the judge's ruling.