North Country Gazette



Pet Owner Charged With Neglecting Animal

Posted on Wednesday, 18 of November , 2009 at 5:59 pm

SCHENECTADY—A Schenectady pet owner who couldn’t afford to pay for medical treatment for her six-month-old dog has been arrested for neglecting an animal, a misdemeanor.

Elizabeth Moshier was arrested by the Schenectady County SPCA who said that Moshier had taken her pit bull puppy to the Aqueduct Animal Hospital in Niskayuna on Oct. 22 with a broken leg.  When she was told how much the medical care would be, she said she couldn’t afford it and left.

On Nov. 2, more than two weeks later, a veterinarian called her to determine if she had obtained medical treatment for the dog. The woman turned the dog over to the vet who then treated the animal and reported her to police.   11-18-09

Subscription Needed. First time visitors are welcome at no charge.  Thereafter, readers who wish to read additional articles or plan on returning at a later time will need to be an advertiser or have a paid subscription to the NCG Daily Digest in order to gain access.  This policy will be strictly enforced and access will be denied to those who abuse it.  To sign up, see the subscription ad and PayPal button to the right of this page or at www.northcountrygazette.org  If you have questions, contact us at news@northcountrygazette.org
Bookmark and Share

Category: Animals, Crime

Comment by Robert

Made Wednesday, 18 of November , 2009 at 6:12 pm

This isn’t right. This woman tried to get her dog help. She took him to the vet who was more concerned about his money than he was about the animal. It then took the vet more than two weeks to “follow up” and then he conned her out of the dog and THEN he treated it. Why didn’t he treat it to begin with, work out a deal with her, tell her the medical care of the dog was more important than his money? I’ll tell you why not, because money was more important to him than the puppy. This vet is no hero by any means. He’s the one who made the animal suffer, not the woman. She shouldn’t have been arrested. She should have been helped and the puppy too. This happens every day. The woman still had the animal and was trying to care for him. She didn’t abandon him. She obviously cared for the little guy and it probably broke her heart that she couldn’t afford to pay the vet’s exorbitant prices. The vet is as much to blame if not more than she is. People who are having a hard time in this economy, thanks to Obama, shouldn’t have to give up things like medical care for their pets because they can’t afford it. Maybe she just lost her job. I don’t agree with the tactics of this vet and the SPCA at all. Arresting this woman is not the just solution to this. She shouldn’t end up with a misdemeanor on her record because she couldn’t afford the bill. The vet should take a real long look at himself.