Gregory Casalaina, 43, of Richmondville, was arrested last Wednesday after a State Police investigation turned up dead cows side-by-side with malnourished horses and other animals at his Hidden View, Seward farm.
Mr. Casalaina was charged with two counts of animal cruelty—one for the dead animals and one for the live animals—and arraigned in Town of Seward court.
Additional charges are likely, troopers said, even as animal rights advocates are blasting the State Police for allowing Mr. Casalaina to keep the surviving animals.
“The SPCA does not support the decision of a New York State Police sergeant who chose to keep the animals in the care of somebody accused of starving them when our agency was ready, willing, and able to care for the animals…” said Matthew Tully, chief of the Schenectady, Schoharie and Saratoga SPCA.
State Police Major William Sprague said Mr. Casalaina’s arrest followed an investigation that began the previous Saturday, April 16; the next day, Sunday, a veterinarian called in to evaluate the animals determined it wasn’t necessary to confiscate them.
Major Sprague said Mr. Casalaina has buried the dead animals and has been providing food and water to the rest.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked,” he said.
Joyce Urban, who runs Forgotten Friends Pet Rescue of Sharon Springs, said she went to Mr. Casalaina’s farm and saw a number of dead cows, along with starving cats, dogs, pigs, and goats—many of them pregnant--and a horse that was trapped inside the barn without access to food and water.
Ms. Urban learned of the situation on the West Ricmondville Road from neighbors and said she would have offered Mr. Casalaina feed and help if he’d contacted her when he ran out.
“It makes no sense that he’s being allowed to keep these animals…are we just going to wait until more die?” she said. “Those poor souls are still there.”
Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond said he received a report of a dead horse at the Casalaina farm last fall, but when deputies responded, they found the animals were well-fed.
“It’s very difficult and expensive to prove animal cruelty cases,” Sheriff Desmond said. “These people usually don’t want to give up their animals and no matter how hideous the crime, these people have rights too. I know it’s very emotional, but we have to follow the law.”
In fact, some have questioned whether photographs posted on the internet by animals rights advocates were obtained legally.
Mr. Casalaina is to return to court at a later date.
Meanwhile, the SPCA has obtained permission under state Agriculture and Markets Law that will allow officials and the State Police to conduct random inspections of the Casalaina farm.
“We feel that this order is a step in the right direction,” said SPCA Captain Jeremy Noble.
“We want to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”