A sad tale may come to an end with arrests

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February 6, 2012

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Mon Feb 06, 2012, 02:25 AM EST

People are almost always sad, and sometimes outraged, whenever something awful happens to a fellow human being.

But if you really want to see folks worked up, tell them that someone has been mean to a dog.

Since the news broke some weeks ago that dozens of canines may not have been properly looked after at the South Side Dogs kennel in Worcester, we've received several requests for owner Frank M. Popolizio to be strung up on the nearest tree.

At the very least, some wrote, he should be starved like the dogs taken from his care allegedly were.

Fortunately, no lynch mobs were actually organized, and the rule of law has prevailed.

On Thursday, Popolizio, 65, of Schenectady, was charged with 49 counts of animal abuse. His farm manager, Corrinne A. Kindt, 26, of Central Bridge, was charged with seven counts of animal abuse.

Animal abuse is a class A misdemeanor under the state Agriculture and Markets law, with the maximum penalty on each count being a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

About 45 dogs were taken by the state police and local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before the arrests and were being cared for by the SPCA and Oneonta veterinarian Joan Puritz.

We were gratified that the dogs in most need of care were getting it from Puritz, who has shown over the years not only outstanding skills, but genuine compassion for animals of all kinds.

About 50 dogs remain at the facility on the farm, which also breeds dogs for sale. In addition to the dogs, there were an unspecified number of cows and horses at the location.

Whether crimes were committed is for a jury to decide. But the court of public opinion has already determined that several dogs shown in Daily Star photos looked particularly skinny.

The investigators apparently agreed. Popolizio and Kindt were arraigned in Worcester Town Court on Thursday and are to return March 6.

Popolizio was released on $9,800 bail, and Kindt was released on $1,400 bail.

In a separate action, the kennel failed a Jan. 6 state Agriculture and Markets inspection and was given 30 days to correct the deficiencies.

With so much human suffering going on in the world, are we making too big a deal over some skinny canines?

The easy answer to that question is "no." The Humane Society of the United States says that those who abuse animals are very likely to be violent to other people _ even their own families.

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal ..." It says that in Proverbs 12:10. We believe it, too.