Andrea Rosebrock 
Look at this dog, nothing but skin and bones. Imagine the pain and suffering he endured day after day, week after week. Completely unfathomable!
His owner, Paul Eugene Poffenbarger, 22, of Arcadia has been charged with only two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. One misdemeanor count of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise.
Assistant State Attorney Guy Flowers who level the charges at Poffenbarger said, “The conduct of the defendant really didn’t give rise to the felony-level offense.”
There is a legal distinction between neglecting an animal — not feeding it — and physically abusing an animal with harmful actions. Flowers said, “It’s like an act versus an omission.”
“Doing nothing (to take care of the dog), I guess the Legislature decided it is a misdemeanor,” Flowers said, “even though the results were pretty atrocious and heinous, in my view.”
This being the case, the Legislature needs to take another look at their laws because the way it looks to me, what was done to that poor dog was nothing short of torture!
Michael McNulty, the local vet who examined the dog after animal control said that in 25 years he had never seen a more emaciated dog. Sadly he recommended that animal control euthanize the dog due to the severity of his health.
McNulty said the dog was “simply hide and bones” in his report, and that its state of emaciation took months to occur. He said the dog’s condition suggested “willful neglect and cruelty.”
How can someone watch a living creature deteriorate to a skeleton, day after day, knowing that they are the cause, and do nothing? Paul Eugene Poffenbarger should feel just a little of the suffering he dealt to this defenseless and innocent dog.
As for the charges being only misdemeanors, as I said, I think that they need to take a look at their laws and make some changes. This is torture and to me, it is a willful act that goes beyond just neglect!
Source – Sun-Herald
I can’t believe this! We need to get laws changed. This idiot should not bet away with a slap on the wrist. He’ll now just abuse more dogs.
This is sickening I almost cried I love dogs so much I have 2 of my own and I cant imagine anyone doing this. I hate people that abuse animals or hit them and yell at them and call them names. I see it all the time. People taking out their bad day on a dog. It makes me so sick. My dogs are my life when I am sick ( I have cancer ) I talk to them and cry on them and they show me so much love by just a look. They can do no wrong in my house and I wont allow anyone to mistreat a dog in front of me. This owner should be jailed and starved to see what it feels like its the cruelest thing I ever saw. It makes me so mad.
Cory, you’re so right!
Regine, I know what you mean. If anyone ever hurt me babies, they’d be in for the wrath of hell and if ever saw someone doing something cruel to an animal, I would not let it slide.