Horse neglect - Pompey, NY

Thursday, Mar 15, 2007

County: Onondaga

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Joan Gronau

A Pompey woman accused of animal abuse was charged in court on March 21. Joan Gronau was arraigned on eight charges of animal cruelty, including improper confinement, improper sustenance, and unjustifiable injury.

The charges stemmed from a flood on Thursday, March 15, during which the SPCA was alerted to the abuse. SPCA workers and firefighters responded to a call about horses that were trapped in floodwaters when Limestone Creek ran over its bank. The 5 animals were in distress when rescuers showed up, and neighbors told them that this wasn't the first time. Neighbors told rescuers the horses always looked "malnourished and not healthy." The SPCA alerted police and found out Gronau was the owner.

Wednesday's hearing began the first of the official charges. Pompey Court officials declined to give further information and said the District Attorney's office and the judge in the case didn't want to divulge anything further.

At the scene of the flood, rescuers were able to save 4 out of 5 of the horses. A yearling died before workers showed up, and the other disoriented horses didn't want to leave its side. Eventually, the dead horse was brought ashore and then a boatload of hay was taken out as bait to try and entice the other four horses onto land. The horses took the bait and were hauled to shore and placed in a waiting trailer where they were checked by a veterinarian. Hypothermia was a big concern.

References

• WSTM - March 21, 2007

« NY State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Onondaga County, NY

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.