The East Northport couple accused of starving their dog has hired an attorney to defend them against what they say are bogus charges from the Suffolk County SPCA.
"It's a witch hunt," Kathleen Jackman said on Monday. "[Charlie] was constantly fed and cared for. He was like a member of the family. It's so upsetting to me, it's consuming my life. Obviously whatever we had to say made no difference."
Kathleen and her husband, Stephen, were issued a field summons for misdemeanor animal cruelty earlier this month, one year after an unnamed individual found their 10-year-old Greyhound rescue dog named "Charlie" roaming the streets in a thunderstorm, emaciated. Read our initial coverage .
The Suffolk SPCA claims the investigation leading up to the charges was extensive, but the Jackmans maintain that the agency stonewalled their attempts to provide documentation and testimony supporting their side of the case.
"I told them to investigate, that they could do whatever they wanted to do -- to interview friends, to talk to my neighbors -- no matter what I said to the [investigator], he said 'I cannot give you any information.' We have much documentation in our favor and much documentation that was presented to the person that came to our house numerous times, unannounced. Lots of documentation which is not being brought to the forefront," said Kathleen.
"I just assumed that the truth would come out, but it hasn't."
Looking forward to your continued updates on this story.
My breed is primarily Weims. We train for field work. We had one take off at a hunt test, (not mine) and was found three days later...and there was significant weight loss. Also paw pads were basically gone as well. And was found almost ten miles away. I don't consider my breed to be neurotic or high strung either, but they are active and intelligent...yet the public has a very specific picture of the Weim temperament. Is is true for most? No...but there are certainly individual Weims that are high-strung and neurotic. Any breed has those individuals.
I have owned dogs that have "wasted" away with hemangiosarcoma, or from the ravages of IBD/IVDD. WITH REGULAR veterinary care. So yes, sometimes dogs receiving FABULOUS CARE, can be EXTREMELY THIN. GHASTLY thin. We see plenty of geriatric clients that are very thin. Many have cancer. Some have gastric problems. Some are nervous or obsessive. Some are epileptic. ALL are thin. Some drastically so. But still have quality of life. Dogs can be extremely thin, for reasons that have NOTHING to do with neglect or cruelty. I see them every day.
The people commenting here are doing so because it is completely out of the question that the dog was 'starved' by this family. Believe it ! Also there are documented vet visits regarding the weight loss. My guess is that the minute a judge see's the evidence it will be dismissed with prejudice. But the sad thing is that it should have never gotten to this point. Self rightous extremists with little minds see others as evil and themselves as the heroes protecting animals, the environment, you name it. These 'activist' types are some of the most dangerous people in our society today. A self-rightous arrogance coupled with little practical knowledge and an inability to get to the truth is a VERY dangerous combination !
There are a lot of policing matters that could be done better, such as true and active policing of county parks (presently done by a 32 member force for the entire county), but giving that role to SCPD, or giving the SPCA role to SCPD, is just not viable. SCPD has enough high priority matters to handle, and ancillary functions simply would not get proper service or coverage. If the SPCA force needs reformation, then so be it. Reform really isn't difficult, it just takes determination -- and wisdom, and a lack of emotion -- to get it accomplished. But, the SCPD is definitely NOT the answer.
As to being "full of themselves", well friend, I can't think of any policing organization, SCPD include, which would not fit that category. Therefore, SPCA would be in good/bad company (depending upon one's perspective) on that score. Let's have a Suffolk County Legislature commission study the group, and include a number of high-reputation veterinarians and retired police executives in that commission.
My sister Pat also has Greyhounds and I have observed that Greyhounds are very thin and nervous animals. I have taken care of her dogs for several days at at a time and some days they just woodn't eat because they were nervous. For you to say that greyhounds are not nervous animals makes me think that you are a zealot, because anyone who has oseved greyhounds know they are very nervous, high strung animals.
The dog was emaciated, under weight, and left to wander alon on the side of a LI road. What chance would it have? Regardless of it's health status at the time, the dog should not have been unattended outside, PERIOD! Luckily the dog was found and has since gained 17 pounds and will go on to finish his days as a happy hound. Whether the people have taken care of the dog or not will come out at trial. A dog does not lose a lot of weight or become emmaciated by being properly cared for. Sure, all dogs make have stomach bug or an off day like people do. As humans, we would seek doctors care & advice to get things under control if our issues went past a 24 hour bug. So- you have been in the home and seen water & food in Charlies bowl.. Did you ever ask why he didn't seem to eat his food? Perhaps it was because he was not getting vetrinary care, or the owners had chosen their own path, different from the vet's recommendations? Most likely, Charlie was not eating because his teeth had been neglected, uncleaned for years. A mouth full of teeth covered in such tartar he would have been in pain to eat. This leads to abcess and dead teeth needing removal. Left unattended the dog would stop eating. Once the dog can not eat or finds it too painful to eat, it's downhill from there. .
Racing Greyhounds are generally mellow, laid back dogs. Sure, as with everything else in life, there are exceptions. All dogs are subject to non-characteristic behavior when they are sick or stressed. If you want to know more about Greyhounds try " Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" !... We can't know what goes on behind closed doors, or in others minds. The evidence will speak for what we don't know. And for the voice Charlie doesn;t have. After all he is a defenseless dog, relying on the good jusdgemnt and loving care of a family that took him in. And then forgot they were in charge of his care & well being. That IS criminal.
And Charlie was anxious and high strung from the day they got him from Grateful Greyhounds. He had half a tail due to being in a cage all the time during his racing yrs. Who knows what else happened to him during those yrs. He didn't do much racing according to the Grateful Greyhounds. The Jackmans are not criminals and nothing that they did in their care of Charlie was criminal.