5 neglected, emaciated dogs seized - Sterling, CO

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2005

County: Logan

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Lorraine M McCay

On December 6, 2005, the local Humane Society reduced dog cruelty allegations for five pit bulls against a Sterling woman who appeared in court. Lorraine McCay faced five similar counts of animal neglect that stemmed from three Logan County Sheriff's tickets issued to her back on Nov. 2, 2005.

Visiting senior Judge Irving Ettenberg granted the prosecution a month's delay for it to talk with the county's Humane Society, case files for the defendant showed.

McCay, 43, had no phone number listed and couldn't be reached for comment about the misdemeanor citations deputies handed her at her County Road 26 address. But Sterling veterinarian Bill Fredregill, who checked the dogs, lessened the gravity of the accusations. He noted the agency agreed to briefly shelter some of them. "When we looked at them, it was more an appearance of need than intentional cruelty," said Fredregill, who also is president of the society. "We thought this was a case of common sense, rather than cruelty."
Both he and agency personnel said the canines, some of which have names for luxury cars like "Lexus" and "Escalade," had no signs of mistreatment like wounds.

The local agency, which has an agreement with the city for animal control, said tests of the confiscated pets revealed no signs they were fighting dogs. "These were nice, happy, well-adjusted pit bulls," the vet said, describing them as skinny. "They were making good human contact."
Agency employee Twila Gockley referred questions to sheriff's personnel, who met a Journal-Advocate request for a copy of the November incident report.

It said Deputy Rick Jandegian cited McCay for dog neglect incidental to his checking a burglary complaint at her address. While investigating, he described seeing five emaciated pit bulls for which he summoned animal agency workers. He said the official decided to remove them for their poor health. Jandegian said he noticed three house dogs were "extremely malnourished,'their backbones and ribs visible. Two others penned outside were similarly underfed, he remarked. The vet portrayed McCay as a single mom of limited means without a car. He said that's why the agency decided giving her donated dog food for the mixed batch of bitches and dogs. Female dogs had names like "Shasa" and "Angel," the tickets noted.
County prosecutors referred questions to supervisors, who were said to be unavailable for comment about the postponement's purpose.

McCay appeared without council in court, and the judge set her next pre-trial appointment for Jan. 9, 2006.

References

• « CO State Animal Cruelty Map
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