November 5, 2024

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Dog Owner Sued By Animal Advocate for Alleged Abuse

Dog Owner Sued By Animal Advocate for Alleged Abuse
Deborah Pangle, left, animal advocate and founder of The Cat Squad, and Lorraine Healy, founder of Husky House, a Siberian Husky rescue organization, outside the house a Westchester County courtroom on Monday. Pangle is suing for the surrender of a white, woman Siberian Husky who she alleges is currently being abused.

The operator of a white, woman Siberian Husky is getting sued for alleged animal abuse in a civil situation that was heard Monday in Westchester County Court docket.

Animal advocate Deborah Pangle, who until finally recently was a longtime Briarcliff Manor resident, is suing for the surrender of the dog from its proprietors, the Piscopiello household of Ossining.

Pangle alleged that the Husky, named Luna, has been tethered outside the house for over a decade regardless of temperature problems.

The family, which has owned Luna for 11 decades, countered that the doggy has been well cared for.

Monday’s 5-hour hearing generated testimony from animal rescue industry experts, Ossining Police Main Kevin Sylvester and residents who for about 7 many years have noticed Luna at many situations of day.

Pictures and videos documenting the dog’s situations have been entered as evidence by Pangle’s law firm, Matthew Albert, a Buffalo-dependent animal rights attorney.  Westchester-dependent legal professional Russell Smith defended the Piscopiellos.

Pangle, who now lives in Cape May perhaps, N.J., is the founder of the animal advocacy group The Cat Squad. She lifted about $20,000 for authorized charges and fees for the litigation.

Complaints about Luna began in 2017 when a resident living in close proximity to the Piscopiellos contacted Pangle right after viewing the puppy tethered outdoors all the time.

“I observed Luna from the avenue and she was chained to a dog residence on the aspect of the property,” Pangle testified.  “She was often tethered even in severe weather conditions.”

Luna’s owner, Marco Piscopiello, explained he procured the pet from a pup mill in 2011, but the puppy resisted crate education and didn’t want to be inside.

“We thought it best for her to be outside the house and we tethered her to a mountain climbing device, not a chain,” he said.

Piscopiello mentioned keeping the doggy inside of manufactured her bark constantly and neighbors complained, but when tethered exterior Luna appeared written content. The family members leaves the garage doorway open up two feet for Luna to freely enter and exit, he reported.

According to Piscopiello, the garage has a admirer and is awesome within for the duration of the summer. In the winter the nearby boiler retains the room heat. There is a raised mattress for Luna to rest in, and when the spouse and children isn’t home, Luna is still left in the garage with the door closed.

Lorraine Healy, founder of Husky House, a Siberian Husky rescue organization, testified that Huskies are bred to be element of a pack and isolating them can trigger suffering.

“A Husky requires tons of training and roughhousing with persons and other puppies,” Healy mentioned.

Piscopiello stated Luna often socializes and plays with canine owned by other family members users.

Pangle stated she contacted Ernest Lungaro, director of the Humane Legislation Enforcement Device at the SPCA Westchester in Briarcliff Manor.

“The SPCA did very little,” Pangle mentioned. “I tried using to do the job with the Piscopiellos as a result of the police, but they did nothing to help Luna.”

Sylvester, who has been main given that 2016, testified that Pangle e-mailed and known as the police various instances. Officers specializing in animal manage were dispatched to look at on Luna.

“They found the pet dog well cared for. From the entire body digital camera footage there was no evidence of abuse,” Sylvester stated. “There was no induce to acquire motion.”

Albert requested Sylvester if he understood how long Luna was tethered on a every day foundation and if he was common with the local tethering regulation.

“We (the law enforcement) can’t sit outside the household to see if a dog is tethered,” he responded, introducing that he was not acquainted with the aspects of the tethering legislation. “That’s what the police workers of animal control officers are for.”

Ossining handed an ordinance in 2018, which states a canine could be tethered outside for a maximum of 12 several hours during any 24-hour interval. Violating the regulation is punishable by a wonderful of up to $250.

Sylvester mentioned he also contacted Lungaro who noticed Luna in the firm of a law enforcement officer.

“Lungaro stated the doggy didn’t have to have anything and absolutely nothing desired to be finished,” he reported.

Testimony was provided by Piscopiello’s mom, Lucy, who claimed the dog has usually been given the demanded vaccinations and regime checkups with a regional veterinarian and is in great health and fitness.

Maria Varrone, who has been associated with animal rescue and would pass Luna on her way to and from do the job, said she took photographs of the Husky in different temperature ailments at distinct times of working day.

“The pet was often outside, even this past summer months when it was properly around 85 degrees,” Varrone said.

Pangle is also suing for suffering distress, anxiety and melancholy considering the fact that remaining included with serving to Luna.

“I lived 15 minutes from Luna, and many years of not remaining ready to support her left me sensation confused,” she reported.

If Pangle wins the situation she has organized for Luna to are living with an animal advocate in Connecticut, where the doggy would be housed inside of with other animals.

At the end of the listening to, each attorneys briefly summed up their arguments.

“That the Piscopiellos should forfeit Luna is crazy,” Smith explained. “It’s very clear, unequivocally, this family members loves Luna and the allegations are unfounded.”

Albert claimed even though the dog has accessibility to the garage, the town’s tethering ordinance had been violated.

“The pet dog is outside from early early morning to bedtime and there is evidence of distress,” he said. “That provides the court docket the appropriate to have the pet surrendered.”

Hearing the scenario was Westchester County Court docket Choose David Zuckerman who questioned for last summations to be submitted from Albert and Smith. His selection is expected sometime soon after Jan. 20.