Photo by AlbinoFlea.

Nico Dauphine, the former National Zoo researcher who last month was convicted of attempted animal cruelty for intentionally leaving out food laced with rat poison for feral cats who roamed her Meridian Hill Park neighborhood, was sentenced yesterday to 180 days, suspended, along with 120 hours of community service.

Dauphine was found guilty Nov. 1 in D.C. Superior Court on charges that stemmed in May when other residents of neighborhood said they saw her leave out dishes of cat food tainted with the poison. Residents of that stretch of 15th Street NW often leave out food for the roaming felines, which, while wild, help keep down the local rat population.

The Washington Humane Society, which was among the leading voices against Dauphine during the investigation and trial, praised the sentencing.

“Justice was served today. Every animal, regardless of breed, age, condition or any other factor, deserves protection from cruelty and abuse,” Lisa LaFontaine, the group’s president, said in a press release yesterday.

During the investigation, then-DCist editor Aaron Morrissey wrote that Dauphine’s views toward feral cats apparently predated this case, noting that she had penned an academic paper about the effects of feral cats on other wildlife. (The paper appears to have been removed from the website of Georgia College.) In addition to the suspended sentence and community service, Dauphine was also sentenced to 12 months of probation in which she may not interact with any felines.