Published: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Couple pleads innocent to animal cruelty charge
AUSTINTOWN — A North Edgehill Avenue couple charged with cruelty to animals pleaded innocent in Mahoning County Court here.
Robert and Maureen Jack also asked the court Monday to appoint them an attorney, but Judge David D'Apolito did not grant their request, saying the couple can afford their own attorney.
The Jacks are to appear again in court Nov. 13 for pretrial hearings.
They were arrested Friday on a warrant after charges were filed with the court.
The charges stem from Aug. 7, when a police officer acting on a tip from a mail carrier found three cats, a kitten and a dog at risk in the heat.
Two of the cats and the kitten, four to six weeks old, were tied to posts in the yard of the 40 N. Edgehill home in hot, humid weather with no food or water, the police report said.
Humane investigator Jason Osborne ordered the animals to be removed, and they are now in the custody of Animal Charity. The kitten died the same day, Osborne said.
Osborne said the couple's backyard was full of debris, and the dog and cat found there were tied to dog houses.
He said Maureen Jack got food for the animals while the police were there.
He said the cats are doing well now, and the dog, a female mixed breed, had her hair cut because it was matted and caked with feces. He said she was diagnosed with heartworm, which Animal Charity will treat. The animals will stay in the agency's custody until the court decides what will be done with them.
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