Woman Get Probation in Animal Cruelty Case Resulting in Death
Posted on 2007 under Crimes Against Canines, Dog(s) Starved, Malnourished, Just Sad :(, Laws & Legislation, News & Updates |12 Sep
Marlene S. Diaz, 24, of Cooper Street, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and received a sentence of probation! Judge Bradford Ward sentenced Diaz to a suspended, one-year prison sentence, plus two years of probation, in Superior Court in Manchester. She is not to own any pets, he ordered, and must do 50 hours of community service, according to court documents.
On October 10th of last year a Connecticut Natural Gas employee called the police anonymously and reported an emaciated dog tied in the basement of the Copper Street house. When police arrived they found Princess, a 10 year old Chihuahua mix, tied on a three foot lead, so sick that she could barely life her head and couldn’t stand on her own.
The dog was dehydrated and had protruding bones, discharge indicative of eye infections, plus ear mites. Her gums were pale white or yellow instead of pink and she was so dehydrated, her lips had been “literally stuck to the inside teeth and gum,” the warrant says. Princess weighed about a third of what a 10-year-old Chihuahua should weigh, a veterinarian said. Her tail was missing fur and had scrape marks on it.
The poor dog was in such bad shape the only humane thing to do was to euthanize her.
Diaz’ mother, Marlene L. Rivas, 56, of the same address, was also arrested, but her case has not been resolved yet.
At the preliminary hearing last October, Judge Raymond Norko told Diaz in Superior Court regarding the photos that were taken of Princess, “These pictures could make any human being cringe.” He read from the warrant for her arrest and said, “When we treat our animals like that, what are we going to do to humans?”
Unfortunately Judge Norko was not the judge presiding at her sentencing or I doubt that she would have gotten away so leniently!
That poor dog suffered terribly for who knows how long and we have another ’slap on the wrist’ sentence! When is the law going to get serious about abuse? Like Judge Norko said, “When we treat our animals like that, what are we going to do to humans?” They are connected, dangerously so!
Source - The Hartford Courant
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by Michelle, on September 18 2007 @ 2:39 pm
I will have to do more reading on how we can make a difference and get laws
toughed and enforced concerning animal cruelty. Nobody should get a slap
on the wrist for willfully allowing an animal to suffer as this shows.
We need to make a difference…we must. Who will help these animals if we
don’t step up and own this????
by For The Love of the Dog » Animal Abuse – When Is It Going To Be Taken Seriously?, on September 24 2007 @ 10:08 am
[...] Marlene S. Diaz, 24, of Cooper Street in Manchester, Connecticut had a tiny little Chihuahua locked in the basement for so long and under such terrible conditions that when the dog way found after an anonymous tip by a Connecticut Natural Gas employee, she weighed about a third of what she should have weighed. She was nothing but a skeleton covered in skin and a vet had no other option but to euthanize the dog due to the severity of her condition. Diaz was sentenced to probation. [...]
by Andie, on October 16 2007 @ 11:02 am
What has me confused is that only 1 person was charged. There was another person living in the house. Why wasn’t she charged as well? When will society come to the realization that we are completely responsible for the well-being of our animals & must pay a heavy price for not giving them the proper care?