Nicole A. Geno, 23, and Edward J. Dygert, 24, both currently living on Grove St. in Ilion, were charged with three counts each of misdemeanor cruelty to animals for allegedly intentionally leaving their three dogs in a condemned building, depriving them of necessary food and drink said Ilion's Captain Laurie DeVaul.
The three dogs -- a yellow Labrador, chocolate Labrador and black Labrador -- were found in a severely neglected state, emaciated, extremely thin, underweight and dehydrated. The dogs are currently being housed at the Herkimer County Humane Society.
Geno and Dygert were arraigned before Ilion Village Justice Donald Pearson, where they both entered not guilty pleas. They are scheduled to reappear in Ilion Village Court on February 15 at 4 p.m.
The arrests were the result of an investigation initiated by Ilion Animal Control Officer Richard Pettengill. On Jan. 4, Pettengill responded to a call that three dogs were running loose in the West River Street area. When he arrived, he found three Labs near starvation.
Pettengill brought the three Labs to the Herkimer County Humane Society, where they were thoroughly examined by Dr. Herald Fischer of the Herkimer Veterinary Associates.
A normal, healthy Lab, according to the American Kennel Club, should weigh anywhere from 60 to 80 pounds, depending on height and sex. Upon arrival to the Humane Society, the three full-grown dogs weighed 40, 34, and 27 pounds.
The ribs, hip bones, and spine of all three dogs were protruding, a sign of long-term, severe neglect, Fischer said in his report.
"They looked literally like skeletons with hair," DeVaul added.
It was found that the dogs had been consuming anything they could to stay alive, including Styrofoam and bits of tar paper, DeVaul said.
Fortunately, a month later, all three dogs are recovering with few side effects, said Dottie Gaffey, with the Humane Society.
"It's hard to tell if they will all make a full recovery but I think they'll be OK," Gaffey said. "Right now they are progressing well."
In the first week they gained 7 pounds each. As of Thursday, they weighed 57, 49, and 44 pounds.
The three have also been renamed by the Humane Society to signify the start of a new life for them, Gaffey said.
The smallest, a 2-year-old black Lab who is a son of the other two, is now called Leland, the middle sized, 3-year-old, yellow female is Lacey, and the father, a 3-year-old chocolate Lab, is Lane, though more often referred to as "Papa Bear."
The Humane Society volunteers are keeping a close eye on the three, who are on strict food and drink regimens.
"In such severe neglect cases, when an animal is so far underweight, precautions must be taken when feeding them and weight gain must be carefully monitored and controlled," Gaffey said. "Not doing so could literally kill them."
Gaffey said the possibility of adoption will be unknown until the case with Geno and Dygert is resolved. Should they be put up for adoption, though, the Humane Society will be careful they are placed in good homes, she stressed.
While ideally Gaffey would like to see all three adopted together, she does not expect it and will not push for it. Case UpdatesTwo weeks after former dog owner Nicole Geno received her sentence for a conviction of animal abuse, fellow owner Edward J. Dygert received his sentence for conviction in the same case.
Village Justice Donald Pearson sentenced Dygert, 24, of Ilion, with three one-year conditional discharges, ordered him to pay restitution to the Herkimer County Humane Society for the three dogs' care and fined him for each of the three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty - the same sentence that was received by Geno two weeks ago, said Assistant District Attorney Prescott Klosner. Dygert pleaded guilty to all three counts in a February court appearance.
Dygert and Geno will split the restitution costs to the humane society, a bill totaling well more than $1,500, which will reimburse the shelter for money spent on food, visits to a veterinarian and other general care expenses.
In addition, Dygert will not be allowed to own or care for an aminal for the duration of the conditional discharges, Klosner said.
The charges and sentencing of Geno and Dygert are the result of Ilion Animal Control Officer Richard Pettengill's startling January discovery of three nearly starved dogs who had been locked in an abandoned Ilion residence. The dogs, a family of Labrador Retrievers, were severely malnourished and emaciated. Pettengill immediately brought the dogs to the Herkimer County Humane Society where they underwent three months of extensive care and an intense feeding regimine to repair their health and bring them back to their normal body weights.
All three dogs have since been adopted from the humane society and are reportedly doing well, with only one of the three dogs suffering lasting consequences of the severe malnourishment endured. | Source: Herkimer Telegraph - July 22, 2005
Update posted on Jul 24, 2005 - 11:43PM |
A month after three long-neglected dogs were given a clean bill of health and adopted into loving families, one of their two former owners has been sentenced in Ilion village court for their abuse.
Village Justice Donald Pearson sentenced Nicole Geno, 23, of Ilion, with three one-year conditional discharges, ordered her to pay restitution to the Herkimer County Humane Society for the three dogs' care and fined her for each of the three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, said Assistant District Attorney Prescott Klosner. Geno pleaded guilty to all three counts in a February court appearance.
In addition, Geno will not be allowed to own or even possess an animal at least for the duration of her three one-year sentences.
Also arrested and charged with three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty for the dogs' treatment was Edward J. Dygert, also of Ilion, who is scheduled to be sentenced July 19, Klosner said.
The charges and sentencing stem from the grim January discovery of three dogs near starvation in an abandoned Ilion residence. The dogs were immediately taken to the Herkimer County Humane Society where they underwent intensive care to regain their health and restore their normal body weights. The process took about three months.
All three dogs have since been adopted out of the Humane Society and are reported as doing well by shelter staff, with only one of the three Labrador Retrievers suffering lasting consequences of the severe malnourishment.
The restitution Geno must pay to the Humane Society will cover the medical, feeding and general expenses associated with the animals' care. | Source: The Evening Telegram - July 6, 2005
Update posted on Jul 6, 2005 - 5:43PM |
Geno and Dygert both pleaded guilty to three counts each of misdemeanor animal cruelty, said Assistant District Attorney Prescott Klosner. Village Justice Don Pearson ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Such an investigation will involve the probation department checking up on Geno's and Dygert's criminal backgrounds, if any, and determining an appropriate sentence, Klosner said.
The sentencing date is set for April 12 at 4 p.m. | Source: Herkimer Telegram - Feb 16, 2005
Update posted on Feb 20, 2005 - 8:43AM |
The dogs were weighed again on February 3, and even more weight was added to the trio. "Lacy is now 49 pounds, Lane 57 and Leland 44," Dottie Gaffey of the Herkimer County Humane Society said with a huge smile. "They are doing great."
And emotionally, Gaffey said, the dogs do not appear to have been scarred by their experience. "They are very lovable, affectionate, playful animals and they do not appear to be afraid of humans at all," she said.
Although the dogs are responding well to their care, they still have to be monitored closely, especially Lane, who is being watched for kidney problems. "We still have to measure and monitor his water intake, but other than that, they did not seem to have suffered any permanent effects from the experience," Gaffey said.
The the three dogs will remain at the shelter until the court case has been settled. Once that occurs, the dogs will be spayed and neutered and put up for adoption.
The couple accused of neglecting the dogs are scheduled to appear in Ilion Village Court on February 15 before Judge Donald Pearson. | Source: Little Falls Times - Feb 11, 2005
Update posted on Feb 12, 2005 - 1:15AM |
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