Andrea Rosebrock 
In October of last year a horrific scene emerged at High Caliber K-9 kennel, 7 dead and 12 starved dogs. The scene was unbelievable, even to seasoned officers. Dogs that were in the case of the kennel owner, Steve Croley, that he had been paid to board and train, allowed to die slow, cruel and painful deaths, akin to torture, and in the end, Croley’s sentence was little more than a slap on the wrist. Ohio’s animal cruelty laws are weak, pitiful and in dire need of a serious overhaul.
Well, it may be coming. If there can be any good to come of this horrific case, to see felony laws in place would give some measure of justice that these deaths were not totally in vain.
Measure have been introduced before and failed but Reps. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, and Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th have just introduced another bill that they hope, on the heels of the Croley case, will pass.
The need for tougher laws became a Youngstown issue after seven dead and 12 starving dogs were discovered in October at High Caliber K-9, a kennel on Coitsville-Hubbard Road. Through a variety of missteps, the owner, Steve Croley got off with just four months in jail. Only four misdemeanor charges were pursued, and through a plea bargain he got off with less than the maximum sentence on those.
Had the law provided for felony charges, prosecutors would have been in a position to drive a harder bargain.
The penalty now for first-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty is up to six months in jail. If a fifth-degree felony is added to the law, the penalty would be six months to one year in prison. (Vindy.com)
You can see a revised version of the proposed bill HERE.
Liz Raab, one of the owners of Nitro, a once beautiful Rottweiler that was under the care of Croley that was found starved to death is pushing for these changes.She doesn’t want to see anyone else, another family, face the pain and heartbreak she and her family have faced and still face every day, first with the loss of their beloved Nitro, then at the sad excuse for a plea deal sentence Croley received, a mere 4 months jail.
Words cannot express how difficult this has been but we are truly trying our best. I know he didn’t get much jail time but I truly do believe after seeing what goes on in this court that he would not have rec’d any jail time if we all didn’t do what we did. At the same time, I don’t want to stop here and if possible I need your help – we live in NY but want to get the laws changed in Ohio – I don’t ever want what happened here to happen to other animals or other loving families.
Liz has been in touch with me, keeping my up to date on the ongoing process to see stronger animal cruelty laws proposed and in place. Liz asks, “How many horrible things have to happen for people to wake up and get these laws changed?”
City Prosecutor Jay Macejko, the prosecutor on the Croley case, is one of the men who actually wrote a letter to the two state reps asking them to introduced legislation to strengthen animal cruelty laws, Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams was the other.
Right now 45 states have felony provisions for animal cruelty, Ohio is not one of them and it’s long overdue. Animal cruelty case are on the rise and getting more violent and something needs to be done.
In his letter, Macejko talks about the Croley case. “To be blunt, misdemeanor penalties are not enough for what happened here, regardless of the number of offenses,” Macejko wrote. “The macabre suffering that happened at High Caliber in late October is almost beyond comprehension.”
“It’s about time Ohio says “Yeah, let’s do this.” When someone kills an animal they need to be in the [prison] system,” said Dave Nelson, assistant Mahoning County dog warden. “I think it should get support — who would oppose? I know it’s been tried before, but the crimes are more violent now.”
What Can You Do?
If you live in Ohio, contact your representative and let them know that you support these changes, that’s it’s long overdue. You can find a list of Ohio Reps HERE.
Even if you don’t live in Ohio, it will not hurt to show your support, to show that the eyes of the country are watching.
Get the word out!! This is one of the most important things everyone can do, let people know. If people don’t even know, then they can’t support. Please, don’t let those dogs’ deaths have been in vain!
And as Liz says, “It honestly makes me sick and hopefully as you stated if the laws do get changed these animals didn’t die completely in vain and maybe we can save some animals in the future if people know there will be stiff penalties for abusing animals.”
Do people think “do unto others…” is only about humans?
My dad grew up dirt poor in the country and taught me that animals don’t really feel pain like we do, that they don’t have souls because the Bible says so, that they can’t feel sadness or fear or love, that its all just instinct. That’s what Grandaddy taught him that Papa taught Grandaddy and so on. “the only reason that dog is licking on you is to get the salt off your skin” and so on. Not a bad man just a hardworking man too busy raising a family to spend too much time thinking about such things.
I have spent my life being too busy thinking about critters to NOT see that they love, fear, feel happiness and sadness, pain and pleasure (and have souls). I have studied anatomy and physiology of several critters (human critters included) and its all the same stuff. All the same systems, organs, responses, nerves etc.
If these starvers of critters stopped for a minute to think of the pain they inflict I believe some would change their ways.
If WE (Our species OK? I know I’m preaching to the choir in this forum) could be educated on the process of starving, the metabolic stages of starvation of a body and all of the different sorts of pain associated (physical and mental) we, as a species, would evolve in our thinking.
We need to evolve. Animal enlightenment has come a long way but has a long way to go still.
(As for Steve Croley…see previously referenced #10 can of something I’ll open for him if’n he has the guts to pay me a visit.)
ps. a couple of notes on the Bible:
1- They DO have souls, many examples, here’s one – Psalm 74:19
2- We as human critters are told we have dominion. I take that to mean stewardship not freedom to treat them as objects.
STRONG STIFF ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS ARE LONG OVER DUE ( EVERY COUNTRY EVERY STATE EVERY COUNTY TOWN CITY VILLAGE)
Elaine, I so agree with you!!! Stiff penpeniltys should be impossed EVERY WHERE!!!
There you go wpsflyboy! Another beautiful statement. I am in even more shock of your opinions and love for animals, being raised as you were. That kind of upbringing (not that it was bad, just the way your Pa and Grandpa were raised), usually results in the children growing up with the same attitude. I am so glad you mentioned the Bible and 74:19. Of course, I keep my Bible right here, near me (not a big Bible reader, just like it near me). I read that and am not sure how it pretains to animals souls. It more likely than not, say’s this in another form I am not seeing. It did remind me of when I asked a Catholic Priest one day about my dogs soul and he told me, what we hear far too often….he said, “animals do not have souls and do not go to heaven”. This was very disturbing to me, especially coming from a priest. That day, I made a decision to never believe in a Catholic priest again…. basically, I began being really sorry I grew up Catholic. I always enjoy reading what you write and truly believe a nice little book would be nice….coming from you. It would sure be a good read. Take care wypsflyboy and never stop writing. Question….are you a fly fisherman? Just curious, by your pin name.
He should have got ALOT more time than what he did!!! I’m an animal lover & dogs,cats etc feel pain just like us. This kind of treatment NEEDS TO STOP!!!!
I honestly feel this guy should have got more time than what he did. NO CRITTERS should have to suffer like this!!!
A life is a life – you take a life then you should loose yours.
This is just dispicable (sp??) and all the idiot got – slap slap.
People who intentionally inflict cruelty should be locked up – period. If these had been children the man would not see the lite of day til eternity. BUT – these are children – our children – our pets are our family.
Change the D**M laws already – how many more have to suffer????
I know no one has a right to take a life, but let’s face it accidents do happen. When I read this I thought “OMG, if he only makes one mistake for the rest of his life….let him light a cigarette while pumping gasoline”.
Charlie,
AMEN to that. I know it’s not nice to laugh about someone elses misfortune – but your post has me laughing – perhaps an evil sinister laugh but the guy needs that.
If I were the judge that Steven nut would have got more time then what he did & a BIGGER fine . You just don’t let animals starve like that. He must have been a mental case.
A person like this should be lawed away in some sweltering hole and never let out again. What is wrong with the laws that allows this piece of inhuman species to get away with this. Why do we allow animal abusers and killers to get away either scot free or probation. Do they really think these subhumans are decent people. I hate to think how they would treat their children.
I am so upset. If I made the laws these people would wished they weren’t alive.