BEDFORD, Pa. (WTAJ) — A man who hoarded and abused dozens of dogs in his Bedford County home is appealing his sentence.

Nyal Piper was sentenced to 90 months to 40 years in state prison after pleading no contest to 50 charges for animal abuse and neglect. He filed a post-sentence motion asking the judge to reconsider that sentence, which was denied.

Now, Piper is appealing.

Piper and his attorney argue in the appeal that the judge's sentence was focused on punishment, not rehabilitating Piper, who is 83 years old. They said that sentence is a "de facto life sentence" given Piper's age.

The motion also argues that the judge ignored expert testimony about Piper's mental state, claiming the judge gave Piper his own diagnosis.

Piper is asking to serve less time, and in county prison, or f

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