New York: Dayton Wood charged with 143 counts of animal cruelty after deaths of 143 alpacas

NEW YORK -- A man has been charged with 143 counts of animal cruelty after investigators found 143 Alpacas had died over a period of months at a farm.

Investigators from the Cortland Community SPCA's Law Enforcement Department say the investigation started after an anonymous tip of dead Alpacas at the Sam Groome Alpaca Farm at 4000 McMahon Road in Marathon.

That tip led them to find dozens of Alpacas that had passed away from malnutrition and illness.

"This is the probably the largest case I've done in the 14 years I've been here," said CCSPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer William Carr. "This was just a waste of life, and these animals unfortunately suffered a slow death as a result."

Officer Carr tells us a paid caretaker, identified as Dayton L. Wood, had been hired by the owner of the farm to be the animal's caretaker, but allegedly through "gross negligence" failed to make sure all of the animals received proper sustenance while in his care over a period of about two to three months.

On March 10 the owner of the farm, Samuel Groome from Florida, came to Cortland after hearing what happened and went to the farm with SPCA investigators and New York State Police, who were assisting the SPCA with the investigation.

Over the course of a month-long investigation the CCSPCA found 143 Alpacas had died at the farm over the period of months. 21 Alpacas, which were given basic veterinary care and sustenance, survived.

Wood was arraigned Friday on 143 counts of Article 26 Section 353 New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance, a Class A Misdemeanor. Wood has been released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on May 11.

Each of those counts comes with a maximum penalty of up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine per offense.

(CNYCentral - April 30, 2016)