Man Sentenced For Starving His Dog

Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) ^ | June 19, 2002

[Shermy]

A Hannibal town justice Monday night sentenced a man to what one investigator says is among the toughest penalties faced by an Oswego County defendant in an animal cruelty case.

Darcy Noble, 33, of [ snip ] Road, Woodland Trailer Park, received three years' probation and was ordered to pay $675.15 in restitution. Justice Luther Dennison also ordered Noble not to own any animals for the next five years.

Noble admitted last month in court that he starved his dog earlier this year. The dog, a 3- or 4-year-old mixed breed, never recovered from the malnutrition so doctors euthanized it, said Officer Sheldon Furlong, an Oswego County Welfare Animal Cruelty investigator.

"The judge made a clear message that this will not be tolerated," Furlong said. "It was very clear the district attorney's office and the judge are fully enforcing the Agriculture and Markets Law against people who abuse and neglect animals that result in unnecessary pain, torture and death."

Oswego County sheriff's deputies arrested Noble and Mabelene E. Gigon, 31, in February after finding a dead German shepherd and two starving mixed breeds outside their mobile home, police reports said. The mixed breeds were euthanized after doctors said the dogs were traumatized and not recovering, Furlong said.

Sheriff's Deputy Daniel J. Ferazzoli, Furlong and a town animal control officer went to the home after someone reported the incident Feb. 3.

"We found one of the dogs frozen into the ground with a collar and chain still on it. It was chained to a tree and laying next to the dog dish, which was filled with leaves," Furlong said. "The dog had been starved to death. The other two were in pretty bad shape."

A veterinarian's report showed the dog weighed 20 pounds at death, or one-third of what it should have weighed, Furlong said. The report also said the 7-year-old German shepherd had not eaten in weeks or maybe months. It died of malnutrition and exposure to cold weather, Furlong said of the report.

Noble and Gigon were charged Feb. 9 with one count of failure to provide adequate sustenance to an animal, a misdemeanor in the Agriculture and Markets Law. That was for each of the mixed breeds. Gigon also was charged with a misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal resulting in the death of the German shepherd by starving it.

Noble and Gigon pleaded guilty to the charges last month in Hannibal Town Court, Furlong said.

Gigon's case was adjourned until July 2 because her presentence report was not complete, Furlong said.

[mamelukesabre]

It's not that the owner is unusually cruel, it's just that he owner has some problems dealing with stress and day to day life and has problems interacting with people and asking for help.

I am guessing of course

But we have all heard of those people that let their housework get get so far behind that they are emotionally unable to deal with the task or face it and they end up losing their kids, or their homes become condemned. I think this is a similar problem. The owner just was overwhelmed with the burden of caring for pets. It could be a money thing or just a mental health thing. Mental health is something we take for granted, and when someone suffers from poor mental health, we have trouble understanding what they are going through. I'm not going to judge this person. But if my hunch is right, I don't think it's proper to charge them with a crime for the death of a couple of dogs. THe lives of a couple of dogs is insignificant compared to the mental health of a human being.

[Salvation]

Please don't get me wrong here.

Man Sentenced For Starving His Dog

But where are all the sentences for those who commit abortions and kill humans?

[Bella_Bru]

Probably the only thing we agree on is the fact that animal abusers are absolute assholes.

[tomakaze]

RE:If someone kills my dog or cat, they are going to be eating dirt themselves.
 
and if I was on that jury, you would walk home a free man.

[riley1992]

THe lives of a couple of dogs is insignificant compared to the mental health of a human being.

That's very compassionate of you. Since you feel so strongly about his mental health, maybe you would like to see to it that he gets the treatment he so obviously needs in your opinion by paying for it.

[tomakaze]

RE:Here comes a car. tomakaze and my dog are in the street. Who do I rush out to save from the car?
 
I do just fine on my own, thanks.

[mamelukesabre]

Dogs are not people. Some people would say that you are as mentally disturbed as the folks that let their pets starve, and I think I almost agree.

[southern rock]

Have you lost your mind?

No. It's fastened in quite well thank you, and not being controlled by irrational emotions.

[Sungirl]

Darcy Noble, 33, of [ snip ] Road, Woodland Trailer Park, received three years' probation and was ordered to pay $675.15 in restitution. Justice Luther Dennison also ordered Noble not to own any animals for the next five years.

That's it????!!!!???

He should be doing some actual jail time and forbidden to own animals the rest of his life....this is crap.

[riley1992]

What 'irrational' emotions would those be? Take your time answering. I am going to go kick the hell out of my dog and then I'll be back.

[Bella_Bru]

I'm mentally disturbed because I don't keep my dog outside all the time chained to a tree?

Wow. Big man you are to defend animal abusers.

[sinkspur]

I'm not going to judge this person. But if my hunch is right, I don't think it's proper to charge them with a crime for the death of a couple of dogs. THe lives of a couple of dogs is insignificant compared to the mental health of a human being.

You're lucky I'm not in charge.

I'd shoot the sunsabi**hes.

[tomakaze]

RE:Bump for a little rational thinking on what is sure to be an irrational thread.
 
The same thing happened on the thread about the poodle (bison friz or something) killer in California.

[mamelukesabre]

Your priorities are all out of whack. It's only a dog.

[tomakaze]

RE:The dog's lack of human characteristics does not make it justifiable to do whatever the hell you want to it.
 
No, it's legal status as property does.

[Ditter]

Lets call the $675. a fine or court costs, but what ever it was for, it was not enough & neither was the 3 yrs probation. 3 years locked in at the pound doing dog cage cleaning would have been more like it.

I found a litter of puppies that had been dumped out in the country. 3 were already dead & the other 2 had to be euthanized due to starvation. For people who do things like this to children & animals, no punishment is too severe.

[Senator Pardek]

Whoever says FR does not have its share of filthy, ignorant, coonskin cap wearing, one-toothed, moonshine swilling, wife-beating, hillbillies is a liar.

[tomakaze]

RE:Probably the only thing we agree on is the fact that animal abusers are absolute assholes.
 
No disagreement there.

[mamelukesabre]

If you pretend dogs are human babies and have an illogical attachment to them as if they were your children, then yes, you are disturbed.

[Shermy]

Mentally ill? Maybe, but there are plenty of simply cruel, very cruel people out there. He had to have watched (and heard) his dogs die a slow, agonizing death.

The car guy in Cali took the lady's Bichon Frise from her lap and though the animal into traffic. The perp was cruel, but at least that incident came from a momentary flash of road rage. IMO he should get less punishment than this fellow.