Schenectady County SPCA

01/05/12: Pitbulls Found Abandoned in Schenectady

Schenectady County SPCA treasurer Jeremy Noble appears live on CBS 6 to talk about the state of the SPCA and how donations are sorely needed.

In addition, Jeremy speaks about two pit-bulls left for dead and the happy ending for the dogs thanks to the community and the media.

01/06/12: Great News About Starved Schenectady Dogs

It’s been a roller coaster of good and bad news about Destiny and Barney, the pit bulls found starving to death on Tuesday in a vacated Schenectady apartment. This evening’s great news is that that Pondviews Kennels of East Nassau will be taking Destiny and Barney while they recover and are evaluated.

I stopped by Shaker Vet after work where I met both dogs and shot the below video of Destiny, the young female dog, who looked like a happy skeleton, walking around wagging her tail. You can see Barney, the older male dog, sitting in the crate in the background. He was more reserved but took treats very gently from my hand.

Prior to this, it was good news that they were rescued by the Schenectady County SPCA and in stable condition at Shaker Vet in Latham.

It was also good news that two animal abusers, Dodi Toomer and Shantel Quinones, were arrested. (Though I’d argue that it’s lukewarm news that all they’re charged with is failure to provide food and water to a confined animal.)

The bad news was that, before tonight’s great news, it looked as though Destiny and Barney were at risk of being euthanized tomorrow because the SPCA said it could not afford to pay for them to stay any longer at Shaker Vet and and local rescue organizations said they were all full to capacity.

01/06/12: Pair Accused of Abandoning Dogs in Schenectady

Two Schenectady women turned themselves in Thursday after the seizure of their nearly starved pit bulls from an abandoned home made headlines, officials said.

The Schenectady County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals charged Dodi Toomer, 41, and Shantel Quinones, 19, with failing to provide food and water to a confined animal, according to a news release.

The women allegedly left their two pit bulls inside their home at 838 Cutler St. after they moved out, said SPCA investigators, leaving the dogs to become severely malnourished. The dogs were rescued Tuesday night.

Toomer and Quinones could face up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine and three years of probation. They were also cited for not having the dogs properly licensed, which carries another fine.

Toomer and Quinones will appear in Schenectady City Court on Jan. 23.

The pit bulls were treated at Shaker Vet Hospital in Latham and appear to be responding well. The women surrendered the dogs to the SPCA and they are now available for adoption.

The SPCA was initially concerned it would need to euthanize the dogs because it could not afford their care, but Pond View Kennel — an animal shelter in East Nassau — agreed to care for the animals until they could be adopted.

01/05/12: Two Arrested for Animal Neglect, Dogs in Need of Home

Two people have been arrested and accused of leaving two pit bulls in a home they moved out of.

Forty-one-year-old Dodi Toomer and 19-year-old Shantel Quinones, both of Schenectady, were arrested for animal neglect and charged with failing to provide food and water to the dogs.

They face up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine with three years probation.

The dogs were rescued Tuesday night from Cutler Street in Schenectady and were treated by Shaker Veterinary Hospital in Latham.

According to the Schenectady SPCA, no shelter in the Capital Region will take the dogs and the SPCA does not have the funds to care for the animals.

Both dogs are available for immediate adoption. It is likely that if the dogs do not find a home or shelter by 12 p.m. Friday they will be euthanized.

For more information on the dogs please contact the Schenectady County SPCA at 518-755-9517.

01/05/12: Owners Arrested, Homes Desperately Needed for Dogs

The Schenectady County SPCA arrested Dodi Toomer, 41, of Schenectady and Shantel Quinones, 19, of Schenectady and charged them with failing to provide food and water to a confined animal.

SPCA investigators say the two women left their pit-bulls, whom the SPCA renamed “Destiny” and “Barney”, inside a home they moved out of.

They face up to one year in jail, a $1000 fine and 3 years probation.

In addition, both Toomer and Quinones were cited for allegedly not having their dogs properly licensed which carries an additional fine.

While the arrest and saving treatment of the dogs are supposed to be the end to this horrific story, SPCA Chief Humane Law Enforcement David T. Dean says unfortunately it’s not.

“These dogs are still in trouble. There is no shelter in the Capital Region that is willing to take these animals. We contacted everyone that we know. The SPCA is out of money and cannot afford to keep the animals at the veterinarian past noon tomorrow. If we don’t find permanent shelter for both Destiny and Barney by that time, it is likely that both dogs will have to be humanely euthanized,” said Chief Dean. “Everything was done exactly the way it was supposed to be done. The community stepped up to plate and informed us of this problem and our volunteers rushed to the scene and saved these animals who were just hours from death. It’s frustrating that we now have no home to place these animals and all of our efforts may have been for nothing.”

Both pit-bulls were rescued Tuesday night at 838 Cutler Street in Schenectady. SPCA officers say they found the animals to be eating feces off of the floor and grease off of the stove just to stay alive. Both Destiny and Barney were taken to Shaker Vet Hospital in Latham and treated. During the first 48 hours of treatment both pit-bulls were responding well to the care.

“The SPCA relies on community donations to help us move forward and continue our fight against animal cruelty in the county. Coupled with what was a record year of arrests in 2011, the dog rescue last week inside that storage unit and now this ugly starvation case, we have spent what little money we had. I am asking anyone out there that wants to take one or both of these dogs in to please contact the Schenectady County SPCA immediately at 518-755-9517.” said Chief Dean. “We need your help once again and if you can’t care for these animals please help us with a donation.”

Officials say both Toomer and Quinones turned themselves in after repeated news coverage of the story and have fully cooperated with SPCA officers and will appear in Schenectady City Court Monday January 23, 2012 at 8:30am.

They have surrendered both Destiny and Barney over to the Schenectady County SPCA who are available for adoption immediately.

01/04/12: Schenectady County SPCA Rescues Two Pit Bulls Left for Dead in Schenectady County

Fox 23 covers the sad story of two pit-bulls, Destiny and Barney, after their owners left them to die. Schenectady County SPCA officers rescued the animals after being tipped off by the community. SPCA Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer David T. Dean speaks out.

01/04/12: Two Pit Bulls Left For Dead in Schenectady

The rescue and treatment of two pit-bulls left for dead by their owners is covered on WTEN-10. SPCA officers put a message out that they have clues that will lead them to the people responsible.

01/04/12: SPCA Says They Know Who is Responsible for Abandoning Two Dogs

Two pit bulls were rescued from starvation in Schenectady and animal officers say they know who's responsible.

The dogs were found on Cutler Street. The SPCA says they were abandoned; left without food or water. Investigators are now in the process of tracking down their owner.

“Our intent is to hold the people responsible that watched especially the one animal deteriorate right before their eyes. It was severely malnourished. We did not find any water or food inside the residence and it appears the dogs were even consuming their own feces to sustain their life,” said David Dean of the Schenectady County SPCA.

Both dogs are being cared for by a veterinarian.

01/04/12: Owners Wanted After Two Pit Bulls Found Emaciated

New details on the two dogs seized from a home in Schenectady on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, the Schenectady Co. SPCA said the dogs are doing much better.

The dogs were found by officials in an abandoned home, and are now being cared for at Shaker Vet.

The SPCA says they are getting the nutrition they need as investigators search for the person responsible for the dogs' condition.

Schenectady Co. SPCA Chief Dave Dean says, "There was no food or water and they were close to dehydration. We didn't think they had another 24 or 48 hours past when we recovered them."

When arrested the SPCA says the suspect faces multiple misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment, neglect or cruelty charges along with heavy fines.

01/04/12: New County SPCA Chief Sworn In

Former Troy Detective Sgt. leads SPCA after Tully steps down

A former Troy police officer is ready to investigate crimes once again, but not the kind of cases he used to focus on.

David Dean was sworn in as the new chief humane officer for the Schenectady County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Tuesday, Jan. 3, following Matthew Tully's resignation due to his upcoming military deployment scheduled for July 2012.

Dean, formerly Detective Sergeant for the Troy Police Department, has 20 years of law enforcement experience aptly preparing him for his new position. Tully was the first chief of the SPCA.

"I am an animal lover and throughout the years I have had horses and dogs and cats," Dean said. "I don't want to be cliché in the whole give back thing, but... what else do you do with 20 years of police experience if you are not going to continue in law enforcement?"

In 2003, Dean was appointed by the Troy chief of police as public information officer and confidential advisor regarding internal and external department communications. National television productions, such as the History Channel and Discovery Channel, have even contacted Dean for expert analysis involving major criminal case investigations.

After Dean retired from the force in August 2009, he moved to Niskayuna. At 43 years old, he welcomes the opportunity to protect animals.

Being chief of the county SPCA doesn't carry any form of pay. Everyone working for the SPCA is a volunteer.

Tully expressed gratitude to Dean for stepping up to the unpaid leadership position and said he would be a great addition to the SPCA. The resumes don't come rolling in for people to work for free, according to Tully.

"I don't think there is any person better suited to be the chief humane law enforcement officer for the SPCA," Tully said. "He has tons of investigative knowledge and skills that will be a huge asset to the SPCA … We are honored to have such a high caliber person filling my shoes."

Dean commended Tully for his work at the SPCA and said he has "big shoes to fill."

A recent accomplishment for the SPCA was being appointed the county animal control officers for the purpose of enforcing licensing and control of dogs. The agreement allows for revenue generated from fines to be split evenly between the county Sheriff's Office and SPCA, with the SPCA's half going towards further enforcement and the Sheriff's Office's share going into an account only used for housing animals.

Dean isn't a newcomer to the SPCA because he has worked with the non-profit law enforcement agency for around two years. He said becoming active in a volunteer organization after retiring was important to him and the SPCA was a good fit.

"I really like the uniqueness of it frankly," he said. "Everybody that is a part of the organization has no ulterior motives than to do the right thing in the best interest of animals. I really like that nobody collects a paycheck and it is 100 percent volunteer. It takes such a dedication for the volunteers to continue with the organization."

Throughout his years at the Troy Police Department he said he saw "horror stories" of animal abuse and neglect.

"We are protecting and safeguarding animals that simply cannot do it for themselves," he said. "They are at the mercy of humans and I like the fact that we are one of the safeguards to hold humans accountable to how they treat their animals."

Since the agency is mostly run off of donations, Dean said he would focus on fundraising initiatives and recruiting more volunteers. Making sure people are aware of what the SPCA does is important, he said.

"It's important to state that it is the community's generosity that allows the SPCA to do what we do," he said in a statement. "We are all volunteers and rely on donations to help us act upon and prosecute animal rights violation cases."

He added he wants to break people out of thinking it is different when laws are applied to animals, because it is rooted in the same principles when applied to crimes against people.

"I am looking forward to working with the local towns and the local municipalities in Schenectady County and continuing the great relationship we have with them and becoming a true partner in reducing animal abuse and neglect," he said.

01/04/12: Retired Troy Police Officer to Take Over as SPCA Chief

Department veteran is replacing local SPCA Chief Mathew Tully, who is resigning to prepare for upcoming military duty.

A regional search ended Tuesday afternoon with the appointment of David T. Dean as the Schenectady County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals’ new chief humane law enforcement officer. The position is unpaid.

Dean served 20 years with the Troy Police Department, where he was eventually appointed public information officer and confidential adviser in 2003 for both internal and external department communications. He retired in August 2009.

“It’s very hard to apply 20 years of law enforcement once you leave,” said Dean, “so I feel like I’m getting to use the skills that I obtained in that 20 years for a good cause and a good volunteer organization. They’ve done a lot in a short amount of time, and it’s an honor to be chosen to lead them.”

He will be the second SPCA chief humane law enforcement officer, and the first SPCA officer appointed as a special deputy sheriff under the terms of an agreement reached last year between the county and SPCA. Dean was sworn in Tuesday afternoon by Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino.

SPCA’s board of directors decided on Dean for the position because his credentials proved him the most qualified, according to a news release issued Tuesday. During his time with Troy police, Dean was asked to provide expert analysis regarding major criminal cases by national media, such as the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. Dean also spent time volunteering his public relations skills for the SPCA from 2009-10.

“That was my first exposure to the organization, and I was very impressed at the commitment,” he said.

The biggest challenges Dean expects to face are also the most important to overcome for the organization, he said. First, he wants to recruit more volunteers, especially for the times staff are called out at odd hours on a case. In addition, he said he wants to fundraise aggressively and ask for more donations from the public, since the SPCA is an all-volunteer organization.

Tully, who has been a member of the National Guard since 1998, will deploy to Afghanistan for one year to train the Afghan National Police and possibly the Afghan National Army. The attorney formed the Schenectady County SPCA with his wife in 2008, the first new SPCA chapter in the state in 30 years.

Tully said the SPCA is lucky to have Dean at the helm of the organization.

“The citizens of Schenectady are fortunate to have such a skilled and experienced law enforcement officer helping improve the quality of life for animals and people at no taxpayer cost,” he said in the news release.

01/03/12: Schenectady County SPCA Names New Chief

The Schenectady County SPCA has named David Dean as the organization's new Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer.

Dean was sworn in by Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino on Tuesday afternoon. He replaces Chief Mathew Tully, who resigned due to an upcoming military deployment. Tully, a National Guard member, will spend one year in Afghanistan.

Dean spent 20 years with the Troy Police Department. He was appointed as public information officer and confidential advisor in 2003, and has provided analysis on major criminal case investigations to national television networks.

"The Schenectady County SPCA will assume new and complicated responsibilities in the New Year and beyond. I am ecstatic at the opportunity to face and meet these challenges head on and help the SPCA move forward as a leading animal protective organization in New York State," said Dean.

"The SPCA is lucky to have him take on this unpaid position," said Tully of Dean. "The citizens of Schenectady are fortunate to have such a skilled and experienced law enforcement officer helping improve the quality of life for animals and people at no taxpayer cost."

01/03/12: Two Abandoned Pit Bulls Rescued

Schenectady County SPCA investigators rescue two pit-bulls who are found to be extremely malnourished and dehydrated on Cutler Street

Chief Humane Law Enforcement Officer David T. Dean says the dogs were abandoned for weeks if not months to get as emaciated as they were.

01/03/12: Two Dogs Seized After Abandonment

A tip to the SPCA Tuesday saved the lives of two animals.

The SPCA tells NEWS10 that they received a tip that the owners located at the address of 838 Cutler Street in Schenectady had moved out and left their animals without any food or water.

When the SPCA arrived at the location, they unveiled two starving pit bulls. The female was in really bad shape and extremely malnourished while the other male dog was in bad shape as well, but slightly better off than the female dog.

It is believed that not only were the animals living in their own feces, but they were eating it as well for survival.

The SPCA transported the pit-bulls to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Latham and will pursue charges on the people responsible once they are located.

As of right now, the SPCA is following leads on tracking down the owners resposible for the malnourishment of the two dogs.

01/03/12: Dogs Seized in Schenectady

The Schenectady County SPCA tells FOX23 News that someone moved out of a home on Cutler Street and left the animals inside. The SPCA says the house was in bad shape with feces scattered throughout the home. The animals are now being taken to the vet.

The SPCA is following up on a number of leads.