Pet Adoption League founder arrested after struggle at Yukon shelter

South Huntingdon resident Barbara Flanigan has been arrested again after yet another confrontation with the animal rescue organization she founded, days before the organization was set to move out of her life.

Flanigan, 71, allegedly trespassed in the headquarters of Pet Adoption League and threw a punch at league Director Sarah Jo Smith, according to court papers filed by state police.

The league had a 99-year lease allowing it to rent its Spring Street location for $1 a year from Flanigan, who founded the shelter about 30 years ago. Her house is next to the shelter, and the two buildings share a driveway.

The league board fired Flanigan in 2013, leading to a bitter ongoing feud.

The Pet Adoption League recently agreed to move out of the shelter and find a new home. Volunteers were preparing for the move Saturday when Flangian arrived, according to Smith

“She was down there that day, walking back and forth, screaming ‘losers, losers,’” Smith said.

Eventually, Flanigan went inside the building, according to Smith.

She is under court order not to enter the building except to conduct inspections, which can happen at most once every 45 days. Flanigan must issue written notice a week in advance before conducting an inspection, which she had not done Saturday, according to police.

“I told her to get out, she refused to leave,” Smith said. “She started swinging at me. I had like 10 people there to witness it.”

Flanigan allegedly blocked the doorway as Smith attempted to close it. Smith said she blew an air horn in Flanigan’s ear during the struggle.

Flanigan said the staff and volunteers were taking items which did not belong to them. She did not offer details of what was being taken.

“I’m not going to go into this,” Flanigan said. “It’s a legal matter, and I have no comment.”

Smith denied the accusation.

“We’re only taking what belongs to the nonprofit — blankets, cages, stuff like that,” she said.

State police arrived and arrested Flanigan, charging her with burglary, criminal trespass and two counts of harassment. She is free on a $75,000 unsecured bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 22 before District Judge Charles Moore.

Flanigan and Pet Adoption League have been involved in dueling lawsuits for years.

Westmoreland County Judge Richard McCormick ordered Flanigan not to enter kennel property after accusations that she trespassed there and harassed its staff and volunteers. Flanigan was sentenced to 10 days in jail in 2017 after repeated violations of that order.

The league plans to build a new shelter on 10 acres it recently bought on Bells Mills Road in Wyano. In the meantime, it will set up a temporary office in a trailer on a 3-acres it owns on Spring Street.

The league is mostly moved out of its old home, Smith said. On Wednesday, the organization will hand over the keys to its attorney, who will return them to Flanigan.

“It’s sad that this is how it ends,” Smith said.