YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Humane agents growing increasingly frustrated with animal neglect cases.
Brenda McMinn was in Youngstown Municipal Court Wednesday agreeing to surrender her animals after several were seized from her East Lucius Avenue home last month. The animals were left out in the cold, and one of them died.
In October, agents seized a number of starving dogs and cats from a home on Winona Drive. Although a hearing was set for Wednesday, it all ended abruptly earlier this week and agents were never notified.
“The charges got dropped but one, and it was just a $100 fine. It’s nine animals that were being starved,” said Jane MacMurchy with Animal Charity.
After learning nothing more could be done, agents couldn’t contain their frustration.
“We feel like we are constantly fighting for scraps when we’re working all the time — all the time,” MacMurchy said.
Another case involved Gary Smith Jr of Beloit who was indicted on a half dozen charges four years ago. Warrants were issued when he failed to show up for a hearing.
“He did shoot his dogs in retaliation for his girlfriend leaving. He was on the run for a while. They finally picked him up on his warrant,” MacMurchy said.
Although Smith was scheduled for a hearing last month, it was continued and he died a week later without ever being convicted or sentenced.
As for Brenda McMinn, she could still face cruelty charges.
“It’s just a waiting game to see if charges go through or not,” MacMurchy said.
In the meantime, agents say they’ll continue their work.
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