A new contender for the Hell Isn’t Hot Enough ‘Award’
By Gina Spadafori
October 27, 2008
We’re going to see more of this as the economy continues to crash. This person doesn’t “love his dogs” as he claims. He’s a sick, irresponsible bastard who deserves the hottest flames of hell. From Ohio:
YOUNGSTOWN — A professional sign in front of High Caliber K-9 advertising the services it offers was in stark contrast to the dead and starving dogs found in the backyard of the dog kennel [... offering ...] dog training, grooming and boarding [...] “doggie day care,” underground fencing, dog importing and stud service.
[...]
Kyle Ziegler and Joe Borosky, Animal Charity humane agents, went to the business Wednesday afternoon after a woman called and complained that she couldn’t get her dog back from the man operating the place. The agents knocked but no one answered, so they got permission to look from the next-door neighbor’s backyard.
[...]
“We found seven dead and eight skinny, neglected dogs,” Borosky said. “We’re filing 15 counts of animal cruelty and animal neglect against the owner.” Records show the business is operated by Steve Croley. He was expected to be arraigned today in municipal court.
When asked if Croley had any explanation for dead and starving dogs, Borosky quoted the kennel operator as saying: “Times are hard, I can’t afford to feed them. I love my dogs.”
Here’s the rest of the article. Except, well, they weren’t his dogs alone. They belonged to other people … some of whom are now finding out that the family pet put into this man’s care is dead. We’re already gotten an e-mail from one person who left a dog for training. Their dog was starved to death!
This cannot be minimized. This man deserves more than a slap on the wrist. He deserves some serious jail time for the dogs he allowed to suffer and die, and the heartbreak he has caused. He should never, ever be allowed to have so much as a goldfish in his care.
Hell isn’t hot enough, not by half.
Update: One of the families who lost a dog just let us know they are meeting with the Youngstown city prosecutor Joseph (Jay) R. Macejko this afternoon. Contact information is here for Mr. Macejko. Please let him know that this man needs to be charged with some pretty serious crimes. (Actually, I’d suggest a well-written and polite fax will be the best, complete with all your contact information so they know you’re “real.”)
Update No. 2: Over on SmartDogs, Janeen has a thoughtful post on the reason a search warrant was … warranted. And why when you choose to save an animal without going through the proper channels you risk the legal case, and why. Go read.
Seems he can afford the fancy website -
http://www.highcaliberk9.com/1.html?sm=60899
Comment by mikken — October 27, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Ugh. Now I must go take a shower to get the slime off me from looking at it.
I wonder if poor York, the dog listed “for sale” was among the survivors?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 27, 2008 @ 11:14 am
Thanks, Gina, for letting people know about this horror. Only a national spotlight has a chance of pressuring the prosecutor into taking this seriously. The townsfolk are already making excuses for the bastard who did this (see the comments on the article). The photos with the article are almost beyond belief, but these horrors keep happening. It happened in Ohio in 1996, when a Collie breeder starved his Collies to death:
http://www.bannetstane.co.uk/h.....happen.htm
The photos at this link will haunt you forever, so think twice before you look. But someone has to look at these horrors and raise a national outcry, or the suffering of the dogs and other pets will never stop.
Comment by Susan — October 27, 2008 @ 11:14 am
I refuse to believe that someone getting paid for board and training can’t afford Old Roy. It may not be the best food on the market, but dogs don’t starve on it either.
Heck, I’ve known folks who were struggling who made a deal with a restaurant to look the other way while they intercepted scraps for their dogs. This guy could have sent dogs home, but starved them so he’d keep getting paid. And he let food go bad, while starving dogs. (I doubt the “mush” was in the runs, since the dogs are being aggressive about eating now.)
Comment by compcat — October 27, 2008 @ 11:21 am
Disgusting! I dont understand what goes through someones mind when they neglect and starve an animal. He will likely just get a slap on the wrist, knowing the legislation in Ohio… Had he drove a car drunk now that would get him some time, but starving dogs to death.. uggg!
Comment by Saint Lover — October 27, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Well, he’s only getting charged with the four dogs that you could see from the neighbor’s fence. The animal charity that went to investigate used bolt cutters on the fence and went on the property without a warrant.
Apparently, someone paid him $400 dollars just last week.
http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/33243389.html
Comment by compcat — October 27, 2008 @ 11:35 am
My dog was murdered by this man. We are from NY and went to Ohio yesterday and saw my dog weighing only 50lbs when his healthy weight was over 100lbs. He is a rottweiler.
The DA’s office is starting to drop the charges.. Please let’s do whatever we can to help bring my Nitro’s misery to justice.
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 11:40 am
We paid him tons of money he HAD the money
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 11:41 am
The dog in the photo on the website for sale was put to sleep because he was “aggressive” - but he wasnt - these are not just “normal” dogs - they are police and protection dogs as well.
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 11:42 am
I’m with Susan, I can’t believe there are people who defend this man’s actions by saying “he was going through a rough time.” If he truly was, then WHY did he make other peoples’ dogs suffer for it?? Perhaps the law can’t do much more than a neglect charge for his own animals, but I surely hope the people who boarded their animals there are able to file criminal charges.
Comment by JennyW — October 27, 2008 @ 11:51 am
The animal charity that went to investigate used bolt cutters on the fence and went on the property without a warrant.
Yes, but—the prosecutor is talking out of both sides of his mouth about this. He says it would have been legal for a private citizen to enter the property because of the acute distress of the dogs, but one of the investigators was a private citizen. And, gosh, the prosecutor sure doesn’t want folks getting all emotional about this. He’s far more upset about the entry onto the bastard’s property than he is about the horrors inflicted on the dogs.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008.....y-charges/
There are circumstances when a warrant isn’t needed to enter property—for example, if you see a badly beaten, starved, half-dead child lying in a yard. The prosecutor could have taken this approach but chose not to.
Comment by Susan — October 27, 2008 @ 11:52 am
The judges name is Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr
I found website with his email. Please email him.
http://www.neoucom.edu/CJCCOE/.....oning.html
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
This is Ohio State Attorney General, give her your opinions please Her name Nancy H. Rogers
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/contact/index.asp
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
It would be VERY nice if this man were forbidden from ever owning another animal…there’s obviously something very wrong with him and he’s incapable of caring for another living creature.
Comment by mikken — October 27, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
He said: “There was absolutely no way to justify the illegal entry that your agents conducted” and “there were no exigent [pressing] circumstances” as Owen asserted in her letter.
*******
so seeing 4 dead or dying dogs isn’t pressing circumstances? Seems the prosecutor wants in on the HIHE ‘award’ also.
Comment by straybaby — October 27, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
My husband is an attorney and I asked him about this. He says the best thing would be for them to change him with felony fraud for being paid and not performing the services he was paid for. In Ohio, dogs are considered personal property and a dead and dying one would not have the same protection as a child.
I am so sorry this has happened to these families and their companions. It makes my heart hurt. But unfortunately there is very little remedy available under Ohio law :(
Comment by Saint Lover — October 27, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Saint Lover, you have a smart husband. Felony fraud charges are an excellent idea—they will have much stiffer penalties than misdemeanor cruelty charges. Maybe a huge public outcry will convince someone in the Ohio court system to make this happen.
Comment by Susan — October 27, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
I guess he could also afford to advertise.
http://www.policek9magazine-di.....506/?pg=63
Comment by Dutch — October 27, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
We are trying to make a public outcry, please reach out to the court, DA, and AG.
This man murdered my poor boy, I am trying everything I can do. I have contacted every agency i could find.
Comment by Liztom — October 27, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
I have sent link to this blog and pointed out legal suggestions to the HSUS, Central Region office. This office includes Ohio.
Comment by glock — October 27, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
That is so sad, he should pay for what he had done !!!
Comment by Evelyn — October 28, 2008 @ 2:05 am
Out of context, but I know Gina will post this warning about Solid Gold product by Mars that was recalled due to possible Salmonella—sold in Walmart stores across 15 states. I believe it is cat food and can infect humans and animals. I am sick just reading about it from the FDA website. Uggggggggh-ye whatever!!!!
(:<(
Comment by Colorado Transplant — October 28, 2008 @ 5:29 am
another good reason to TAKE your dog to training and not SEND them for training—-especially to someone you do not know and only found thru an ad.
Would you do that with your kids—-well, it shouldn’t be done with dogs either. And yes, this guy should burn in hell.
Comment by dobermom x 3 — October 28, 2008 @ 5:32 am
Thanks for your support.
We did not find this man through an ad, we knew him for 2 years and we got our dogs from the breeder he worked with.
Comment by Liztom — October 28, 2008 @ 6:15 am
Liztom, I’m sorry for your loss.
Comment by Dutch — October 28, 2008 @ 8:24 am
Here is an update.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2008.....their-pet/
http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/33416344.html
Also if you go to video on demand there are 2 live news stories on this.
Comment by Liztom — October 28, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Just another reason to caution people about leaving their animals in the care of others.
Comment by Marjorie — October 28, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
Please visit our website for additional information.
Comment by Liztom — October 29, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
http://www.nitrofoundation.com/index.html
Comment by Liztom — October 29, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Thank you for posting this. What a horrible experience you’ve been through, and I am so sorry. I hope justice is done.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — October 29, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
New contact information for the Judge
Judge Robert A. Douglas, Jr.
Youngstown Municipal Court
265 Phelps Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
PHONE: 330.742.8857
FAX: 330.742.8725
Comment by Liztom — October 29, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Please visit our website and sign the petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/nitrofoundation
http://www.nitrofoundation.com/index.html
Comment by liztom — October 30, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Thank you Gina. I am trying to get justice for my boy.
Comment by liztom — October 30, 2008 @ 9:59 am
I am so sorry this has happened to you and your family my heart goes out to you i signed the pettion and will be sending letters as well. I just can’t believe the horrors at that place i live in youngstown not far from there. I hope he rots in jail for this i can’t believe they are dropping it down to only four counts thats just total insanity. If there is anything more i can do from the youngstown area please let me know i want to see him go down for these crimes he is an animal…
Comment by stacey — November 2, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Thank you Stacey.
The hearing is November 13th - if you can be there with whoever else you can bring. More info to follow on our website..
http://www.nitrofoundation.com
Comment by liztom — November 3, 2008 @ 9:34 am
So today I read that the court date is this Thursday Nov 13 at 11:15am. I know that I will be there - everyone should be there for these animals.
Youngstown Municipal Court
26 South Phelps Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
Comment by animallover — November 11, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
59-36 in favor of HB 70 NITRO’S LAW. The bill passes the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.
Comment by Nitrofoundation — February 25, 2010 @ 10:48 am