Sylvia Panetta was convicted at a June 25 trial in Middletown City Court on eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, as well as 55 counts of providing inadequate shelter and four town code counts of providing inadequate veterinary care.
Panetta, 67, bred Rottweilers on her property. In March 2012, officials say, a contractor she had hired became concerned about the welfare of the dogs and of an older man who was also living there. Some of the dogs had untreated injuries, and many lived outdoors without sufficient shelter, officials say.
The dogs were seized and parceled out to assorted shelters and Rottweiler rescue groups. A number have been adopted.
Pay Eyerman of Sparrowbush was at the sentencing, along with several other people. Eyerman adopted one of the dogs, a now-4-year-old female she named “Purdy,” short for persistent.
The dog survived being locked in a cage and fed only dried bread, Eyerman said, and her body had signs of abuse and neglect.
“She’s turned out to be a wonderful dog, but it’s a horrible situation,” Eyerman said. “Purdy’s a sweetheart.”
Judge Stephen Brockett sentenced Panetta to 90 days on each of the cruelty counts and 30 days each on the four town code charges, all concurrent. He fined Panetta $50 for each of the 55 inadequate shelter charges.
“We owe a special duty to dogs,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “They have lived beside us for millennia, been our protectors, our coworkers, our companions. Those who abuse dogs, or any animal for that matter, or neglect the care that they need, deserve to be punished under the law."
Panetta will return to court Sept. 21 on a still-open bail-jumping misdemeanor, related to her extended failure to appear for earlier dates in the cruelty case.
Panetta left court in handcuffs, headed for Orange County Jail.
“If you can’t take care of them, she should have given them up or asked for help,” Eyerman said.
(Record Online - Sept 3, 2015)
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