The 14-year-old female boxer mix was found on Stony Kill Road on April 29, 2004 and turned over to the dog control officer who in turn brought the canine to the Kingston Animal Hospital. Her owner, James A. Baracca, 54, of Accord, was charged April 30, 2004 by Ulster County sheriff's deputies with misdemeanor failing to provide proper sustenance to an animal.
When the dog was first brought to the animal hospital she only weighed 24 pounds and had to be carried in and out by staff.
Assistant District Attorney Peter Graham, who will prosecute the case, said he will go to court for the first time on June 1. He said the case will be in front of Judge Ronald Keillor.
"This is a very serious case," Graham said. "The (Ulster County) District Attorney's Office wants to prosecute it fully." He added that if Baracca is convicted the District Attorney's Office will seek substantial jail time for the man. Case Updates| A man accused of starving his dog has been let off without so much as a slap on the wrist. James A. Baracca, 54, a resident of Rochester Township in New York, has been ordered to forfeit the dog in question, but he's being allowed to keep his other two dogs on the condition that a law officer periodically inspect them. Baracca was charged in April with failing to provide proper sustenance to an animal after his emaciated 14-year-old female boxer mix, Sadie, was found on a road in Ulster County. Animal control officials turned the dog over to Kingston Animal Hospital, where it was reportedly determined that her condition was caused by starvation. At the time, Sadie only weighed 24 pounds, and it was uncertain whether she would survive. Fortunately, Sadie's condition began improving, and she's been adopted by responsible caretakers. But charges against Baracca were dropped, leaving animal advocates to wonder whether this tragic situation will repeat itself. | Source: ALDF - June 29, 2004
Update posted on Nov 1, 2005 - 5:15PM |
The 14-year-old boxer-pit bull mix was returned to the Kingston Animal Hospital earlier this week and then placed in a foster home, Veterinarian Arnold Rugg said Friday. He said the dog continues to improve and has gained five pounds since the first time she was brought to him. The dog now weighs 29 pounds, Rugg said, adding that she is starting to show signs of interest in what is going on around her and acting more like a dog should.
The dog's owner, James Baracca, 54, of 8 Stony Kill Drive, Accord, was charged April 30 by Ulster County sheriff's deputies with misdemeanor failing to provide proper sustenance to an animal. Following a court date on May 10, Baracca went to the animal hospital and reclaimed his dog.
The attorney prosecuting the case then asked a judge this week to return to the dog to the veterinarian's care, a move the judge approved, according to Jill Shufeldt, the dog control officer for the towns of Rochester, Rosendale, New Paltz and Esopus. She added that charges are still pending against Baracca.
The dog, whose name is Sadie according to a friend of the Baraccas, was found on April 29 and brought to Shufeldt who in turn brought her to the Kingston Animal Hospital. When she was brought to the animal hospital she was emaciated and found to have Lyme Disease and was reportedly dehydrated.
Rugg said Sadie's age and Lyme Disease could have contributed to her condition but those are things that should have been treated medically. He said he suspects the family did not know the dog was sick. Rugg went on to say that his practice deals with a lot of senior animals and that at times people do not realize their animals are sick. He said part of his job is to educate people to know what to look for.
When Sadie was first brought to Rugg he ran tests on her and said he could find no other cause for her condition other than starvation.
"I feel kind of bad for the dog and the people and the situation," Rugg said.
Baracca is scheduled to return to Rochester Town Court on June 1, 2004 | | Update posted on May 22, 2004 - 4:19PM |
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