A member of USA has been charged with animal cruelty and neglect.

Please Note: The photos and story are very graphic

This scumbag ran a board & train kennel, where he allowed several dogs to starve to death.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/nov/14/at-cruelty-pretrial-dog-owner-in-gallery-shows/

Email sent by USA member:

 Quote:

Mideast Regional Clubs
Steve Croley has been a USA member in our region for the past 5 years. He entered a dog in our 2007 National Championship. I remember, I was the trial secretary where this scum failed tracking and did not show-up for obedience. We cannot as a region, as a society, and most importantly as fellow animal lovers accept this behavior from one of our own. USA should develop a membership question on it's application that will restrict membership to those that have never been arrested for animal cruelty or neglect. This should apply to new memberships and renewals.
Thanks for any help in preventing this from ever happening again.
*Name Withheld

My heart goes out for the owners of those poor dogs. I can not even begin to imagine what I would do if someone did that to one of mine.

I am so glad the owners of Nitro are not stopping at "look what happened to our dog."

This incident is despicable.

I did read parts of a letter to the editor of SchH USA and it was referencing something to do with background checks on members? Or was that board members...I think board members. ? Does anyone know if that was in reference to this incident? I'll have to go read it again.

Edited by Michele McAtee (11/27/2008 04:11 PM)
Edit reason: SchH

The really unfortunate part is that the animal control agents did not get the proper search warrants. Instead of waiting the 50-60 minutes to get the warrant, they entered the property and started seizing what dogs remained alive. Animal Control did however have enough time to get the local media out there and hold a press conference.

As as result, the prosecutor could only file about four charges instead of the twenty or so possible charges. The ones that did get filed are misdemeanor animal cruelty and zoning violations. Not near suitable for those deeds.

Ironically, because of the failure to get the proper warrants, Croley may have a cause of action for 'illegal search and seizure'.

One of the first things A/C did was kill a really nice black shepherd because he was 'too mean'.

FWIW, Croley failed tracking at the 2007 Nationals because his van broke down on the way to the tracking field. Since he was not there for his designated track, he automatically failed.

I am puzzled that since Croley 'did not show up for obedience' how the trial secretary (the 'name withheld' writer in the initial post) was able record a score of 60 for Phase B aka obedience.
http://www.2007usanationalchampionship.com/2007%20National%20Final.pdf

Croley has not been a USA member for some time.

In any case, there was nothing in his past that would indicate he was capable of something this horrific.

 Quote: Charlie Snyder

Ironically, because of the failure to get the proper warrants, Croley may have a cause of action for 'illegal search and seizure'.

FWIW, Croley failed tracking at the 2007 Nationals because his van broke down on the way to the tracking field. Since he was not there for his designated track, he automatically failed.

Croley has not been a USA member for some time.

It is unfortunate that they didn't wait for a warrant.
More unfortunate is that if these were human lives, a warrant wouldn't have been needed. What was visible from the neighboring yard, and the smell of rotting flesh would have justified probably cause to act without a warrant.

Why are Animal Control officers not afforded the same good faith protection the Supreme court has granted LE?

I will pass the tracking phase/obedience phase info back to the person who emailed me, and I appreciate you setting the facts straight.

The owner of Nitro, the rott that was killed at this kennel asked me to post the following. She is not a member of this board.



Case Updates: A plea agreement recommends four months in jail for the man who operated High Caliber K-9, where seven dead and 12 starving dogs were found. Steve Croley, 38, of Struthers-Coitsville Road, Lowellville pleaded no contest Thursday afternoon in municipal court to four counts of animal cruelty. Two housing violations related to the condition of the High Caliber K-9 property at 1516 Coitsville-Hubbard Road were dismissed. City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said the plea agreement calls for 30 days in jail on each count; restitution of $1,646 to Animal Charity, a humane agency on South Avenue; and a provision that Croley not own or harbor animals during whatever probation period - one to five years - that may be imposed. Croley will be sentenced Jan. 22. 9 amSource: Vindy.Com - Dec 4, 2008

Um, that's IT?!


He wouldn't be in any condition to stand trial if he had done that to one of my dogs.

Four months in jail and probation.

7 dead dogs and 12 starving ones.

I don't even know what I'm feeling right now, I just don't have the words to descibe it.

Rest in Peace Nitro and all the other dogs. Apparently we are continuing to fail you even after death. I'm so very sorry.

What I'm feeling is nauseous.

He should have to look each of the dog owners in the eyes and try to explain how on earth he could sit there and watch dogs slowly starve to death. And then walk by them in their kennel each day after they died.

Only a sociopath could do that.