A summary charge is the lowest type of criminal offense one can be cited for in this country's criminal justice system. If you were cited for animal cruelty and wish to fight the charge against you, most likely you will be mailed a hearing date with the time and location to appear concerning the charge from the court clerk.I suggest that if you want to be proactive, go down to the court house and make an inquiry with the criminal clerk's office as to the status of the matter pending against you. You might want to consult with a criminal defense attorney about the charge against you rather than represent yourself.