WARREN, Pa. — The idea behind restitution in criminal cases is good.

Rather than the conditions of a sentence just being punitive, there’s a restorative element to restitution — making a victim or entity whole.

But when the victim is a nonprofit with ongoing costs and expenses — and there are questions about the defendant’s ability to pay — the organization can be left in a bind for years.

Such is the case for the Paws Along The River Humane Society in the wake of sentencing in two animal abuse cases.

The most recent case of a dead puppy — and a severely malnourished puppy (who is still waiting for a new home) — being found in a Prospect Street basement resulted in restitution in excess of $6,000.

Paws Executive Director Karen Kolos told the Times Observer that “when an award is granted by the court, that does not mean that Paws will get the money in one lump sum.”

Kolos said the funds are usually paid in installments.

“It depends on what is set up by the courthouse,” she said. “Most likely it is from $50 to $100 per month. A $6,000 restitution could take up to 60 months or five years to be paid, if and only if they pay at $100 per month.”

Kolos said that funds donated to the organization were used to cover vet bills, an expenditure that “is not going to be realized for years.”

And if the payment isn’t consistent, the term can drag out even longer.

A case with $42,000 in restitution, Kolos said Paws Along The River saw the first restitution payment come in at $20 and the second one for $50.

“We won’t see his money for a lifetime,” she said. “It’s important for the public to know we don’t receive this money but we have to spend it and pay the bills for all the animals that need care.”