Andrea Rosebrock 
Update 7/15/09 – No Justice for Cruelly Starved Beaver County, PA Dog
Another German Shepherd starved to death in a cage, this time in Beaver County, PA. Humane officers are calling it one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen.
“The officers, when they went in they found garbage and trash, half eaten food all over the place … a lot of different packages that were ripped open by the cats,” said Chief Daniel Madgar, of the Beaver Police Department. “There were four cats in the residence; litter box piled about two and a half feet with feces. They found a dog in a wire cage, had been dead for quite some time.”
“It basically starved to death. Its muzzle and teeth were intertwined with the cage. Its muzzle and teeth were broken. Its lips and everything was just attached to the cage. The dog, as it was in there, trying to bite its way out several times. Finally, as it was dying was trying bite its way out of this cage,” said Madgar.
Nicole Spatig, 22 yrs-old, who rents the apartment but doesn’t actually live there, not all the time anyway, says she got sick and her boyfriend was supposed to take care of the dog. She says she didn’t even know the dog was dead but when police investigated they found the windows open and fans on in the apartment. Someone knew the dog was dead.
The cats were basically fine although they had no food or water. Spatig claimed that she only fed the cats every other day because they were overweight. Wonder how she missed the dead composing dog when she fed the cats?
Police have file 10 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty against Spatig but it is doubtful that she will serve any time because animal cruelty laws at so lenient.
I am so sick of story after story of sick and starving dogs and animals! Why the hell to people have pets if they refuse to take care of them? I don’t even want to hear the excuses that they can’t afford to feed them, take them to a shelter. There are alternative to leaving an innocent and defenseless creature to die a long, slow painful death from starvation. There is no excuse! And there is no excuse for people getting a slap on the wrist for such cruel heinous crimes. As long as people know they can get away with something, they will.
It’s past time that people pay for their crimes and I don’t care if they are committed against a person or a dog or cat, a crime is a crime, abuse is abuse. If a person abuses an animal what is going to stop them from doing the same to a person, a child next time?
Dog Died “Slow, Painful Death” In Beaver Co. Home
I agree – I am so tired of hearing about cases like this – the suffering that these dogs go through has to be horrific and unbearable – they have no escape and have to just wait til God finally lets them rest. It totally breaks my heart. I am trying to find out who to write to for this case – will post. PA needs stricter laws for sure.
This is so very sad.I cannot imagine people letting a helpless dog die that way.I love my 2 dogs and I love them and care for them like the babies they are to me!! I am appalled at this story.My 2 babies Chichi and Cricket mean the world to me and my cockatiel Pretty baby are my world.I can’t imagine just letting them starve like that.Those people should be locked up for doing this.This really makes me sad and angry.
I USED TO LIVE IN PA & I TOTALLY AGREE THESE LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED SO PEOPLE LIKE THIS GET THE JAIL TIME THEY DESERVE. I’D LIKE TO DO THE SAME TO HER THAT SHE DID TO THAT POOR DOG.
What happened to not typing in all caps? thank you
Heartbreaking and very, very sick! That poor dog. This is another one of those horribly sad story’s. I hope Spatig dies a painful, long death when her time comes. I hope it’s filled with abuse and hatred and I hope she dies so scared and so lonely. That is the ONLY justice for this poor precious German Shepard! WHY? WHY? WHY? I will never understand. At least he is at peace on the Rainbow Bridge.
i agree with u and i am only 12 years old and i can understand what u are saying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
OMG – how much more – a life is a life PERIOD. Whether that life is spent on 4 legs covered in fur…..whther that life dealt you an unexpected job loss and no money – there are better ways to deal with it other than making up piddly ass excuses. “Oh…..my boyfriend was s’posed to take care of it….mmmm….maybe it’s time to own up to your responsibilities and get another boyfriend!!!! No excuses.
This dog was caged and starved on purpose – one less thing to worry about. I am sick of hearing this.
Get a life and get some responsibility – it was a living sompanion that did not deserve this but I hope to god you get what you deserve!!!!! Let’s lock you up and not feed or provide water for you and then WE can blame it on the boyfriend.
I LOVE KATHY’S LAST SENTANCE ABOUT LOCKING HER UP & NOT PROVIDE HER WITH FOOD & WATER & THEN WE CAN BLAME IT ON THE BOYFRIEND. THIS DOG WAS NOT HIS RESPONSABILTY HE WAS HER RESPONSABILTY. EVERY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS THE GUILTY ALWAYS WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE. STOP MAKING UP STUPID EXCUISES & OWN UP TO WHAT YOU DID LADY.
my dogs n cats have never not had a meal. i make sure my babies have food even if i have 2 cut back on something myself. i just blows my mind that ppl get pets n just don’t take care of them. how could this woman leave her dog in a wire cage n not feed him? give my 5 minutes with her….i’ll teach her how 2 take care of a dog!!!!
the ENTIRE COUNTRY needs stricter laws on animal abuse. there should b special judges that take of just this.
What a waist of life these people are today … they must make thier parent proud since they such a good job of bringing them up… yeh right…. I hope they send away for awhile the scumb bags
Here’s her myspace profile. Still open and public. She has pictures of her animals posted there.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=27623158
And a lot of others of her being drunk.
Doesn’t she look a sweet kid? Would you let her baby-sit your children? Isn’t she going to make a great MOM? NOT.
She is as stupid as she looks , low life scum should stay away from animals
Somebody left a note about this on my blog. Another court date is on 2/6/08 and the D.A. is Anthony Berosh at 724 773-8550. They are asking people to call requesting fitting punishment. Thought I’d pass this along.
Thanks for the update Andrea!
D.
I think this chick should be executed! How stupid, disgusting, selfish, asanine, self-absorbed, and just plain UGLY inside do you have to be to do this? To sit in your home for that long with a dying animal pleading for help? A dog that did nothing but love you? And you’re just going to sit there? Put some fans in the window so you don’t have to suffer smelling your dog’s rotting corpse? She said it was just a “misunderstanding.” You were to wrapped up in your own little world while you watched your dog die. And now you have the balls to whine to the press?? You want your life back?? You’re getting a slap on the wrist for torturing an innocent being and you want YOUR LIFE BACK???!
I sincerely apologize for my profanity. This woman is dirt.
That’s ok Sadie, I understand. I took care of it.
This is a very sad story. Apparently Niki was (or appeared to be) very proud of Mya up until this point! It is frightening to think that people who look like they love their companions, and may genuinely hold the emotion, can be reduced to this level.
I wouldn’t say I know what should be done to Ms. Spatig. To those who say death I will disagree. This train of logic says that because Niki allowed Mya’s death she deserves death. However, German Shepherds are omnivorous in diet, and so the dog has allows the death of the animals in its diet when it eats. Though eating is a necessity of life, purely on the grounds of “taking an innocent life” it is no different.
I think their is no real “cure all” solution to this problem. More laws will just restrict the very freedom this nation was founded on. Telling Niki she cant have another dog is useless, since i doubt she will want another one (though some of you may think her heartless i would like to believe she made a mistake and is sickened to the core by her own actions. I believe this is why she lied and tried to remove the blame from herself). Even if she did want another dog, i doubt her friends would let her get one.
I believe the best thing we can do is look out for each other as pet owners. If someone is having trouble, offer them a friendly hand.
P.s. you can read the news report from the local news at this link!
You know, the thing that makes me feel sickest about this whole thing with Niki is how she flaunted Mya. I worked with her. She was my manager. She was constantly showing people pictures of her animals and talking about how much she loved them. So, my question is, why? If you loved your animals so much that you had to show them off, why would you let this happen? I love animals. My home would not be complete without them. To hear that someone has done this, let alone someone I know, repulses me. I know for a fact that had she cared enough to ask anyone, someone would have taken care of them or even completely taken them off her hands. I understand that she has been ill. I’ve been there to see how bad it was when she was having problems. But, there is no excuse for this or blaming someone else. Sadly enough, I would love for nothing more than to see her suffer as her animals did. No matter what anyone else, here or anywhere says I think it would be fair if she suffered in some way. Public humiliation is just not enough.
From the court dockets, I believe her trial starts today. Will keep an eye out for any updates.
Most of you know that stories like this are very hard for me to deal with.
Some people flaunt what they have, so others will emulate them. I too am tired of excuses – especially the one here when she says she was sick. B/S! I know that many of us regulars who post here have, or have had illnesses in the past or present, but that is no excuse for not feeding an animal or cleaning out a litter box. What is this with the “all about me” attitude with so many young people now? Well missy, you want to go out and drink and party, because you are of age? Well act your age and deal with the responsibility of being a pet parent. Guess what, my pets come first. They are a part of my family – they get fed first, they go out to potty first, they cannot fend for themselves, and we as pet parents, rephrase, as good pet parents, know this, and do things in the proper order to take care of our furry companions.