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.

[Bella_Bru]

Dearest Senator, you'd never catch either riley or myself disagreeing with you on that one.

[riley1992]

ROTFL. I was surprised I had to scroll down as far as I did to find the first one.

[sinkspur]

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

No. Defending a couple of derelicts for starving three dogs tells me YOUR priorities are out of whack.

I've met few humans I'd defend before my dogs.

[mamelukesabre]

Whoa there! No one was talking about children. This is about dogs. Two completely different things.

[riley1992]

And you are one sick person and I hope to God you have no pets.

[southern rock]

Hey, the article also states that they lived in a trailor park. Perhaps you would like to make fun of that as well. Go on, fire off all your ammo. It won't change the fact that amimals are legally property, and that the "humanification" of amimals is basically a 20th century fad created by Disney cartoons depicting talking animals.

Let's maintain perspective here.

[riley1992]

So you believe that it's 'legal status as property' means you can freely do whatever you want to it, no matter how cruel and unjustified?

[Ditter]

If I heard the tv news story correctly, this guys job is taking care of the police dogs in his town. He needs to be fired among other things.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Reminds me of the old saw; "it bodes ill for the State when a dog lays dying at it's masters gate."

[Senator Pardek]

Dagnabbit - itz just a dawg, fer cryin' ot loud!

[StoneColdGOP]

Disturbed is any sick SOB like you that takes up animal abuse as a recreational past time.

I've met lots of humans in my time, and a lot are miserable pieces of crap (like you). But I've never met an animal that chose to be a jerk.

[southern rock]

I've been disappointed, often, by humans, but never by an animal.

Here comes a car. tomakaze and my dog are in the street. Who do I rush out to save from the car?

I'd shoot the sunsabi**hes.

I've met few humans I'd defend before my dogs.

And yet, you still apparanty desire to be taken seriously around here. Hmmm....

[Ditter]

I agree dogs & children are 2 different species but cruelty is the same no matter what helpless creature is being abused. Parents who neglect their children are treated too lightly for me too.

[riley1992]

Hey, the article also states that they lived in a trailor park. Perhaps you would like to make fun of that as well. Go on, fire off all your ammo.

Actually, you just stole my thunder. That is exactly what I was going to do.

Let's maintain perspective here.

I haven't lost perspective. I understand the use of animals for labor and have no problem with that. Cruelty just to be cruel? That I have a big problem with and I think when it comes down to brass tacks, so do you.

[Sungirl]

Oh God in heaven....WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??

[sinkspur]

Hey, the article also states that they lived in a trailor park. Perhaps you would like to make fun of that as well.

Some things can be assumed.

Do you live in a trailer park?

[mamelukesabre]

You are correct about there being some very cruel people out there. And as I noted in my post, I am GUESSING here. It just seems far fetched that this is a case of pure meanness. I think it is more likely that it is a case of what I described. I think they simply have trouble coping with the day to day stress and life in general.