SPCA worker, Alicia Martin, let her dog die

[penelopejo]

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-spcapuppy_09met.ART.State.Edition1.50e0f27.html

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/everdcg/martin.jpg
Martin
Alicia Marie Martin's Facebook posts unfold like a typical story of young adulthood: hopes and minidramas as well as tidbits about her work at one of Texas' largest animal shelters.

But her arrest report offers a different story. Police describe how in March the 23-year-old animal protection specialist left her own puppy to starve to death in a waterlogged crate in her Plano apartment.

Martin, who was fired from her position as a supervisor at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas, was indicted by a grand jury last month.

She faces a felony charge of animal cruelty that could bring up to two years in state jail and a $10,000 fine. Her first appearance in a Collin County district court is Wednesday.

How someone tasked with protecting animals could be accused of letting a 5-month-old puppy die in this grisly fashion remains a mystery.

Martin is divorced and lives in Allen with her 2-year-old daughter, according to court records. She declined to comment by phone and did not respond to an e-mail. Her court-appointed attorney, Stephanie Duecker, did not return a call seeking comment.

But Martin's posts on Facebook, the social-networking site, and a probable cause affidavit by Plano police portray a good-humored young woman who was squeezed by a lack of money.

Maura Davies, a spokeswoman for the SPCA of Texas, said the nonprofit group would not comment on the case or Martin's employment history, including when she was hired or what her duties were.

"This is not the norm. It's just always disturbing to hear about abuse or cruelty to animals," Davies said.

Authorities found the dog, a German shepherd mix named Bruce, in a small crate on March 18. They arrived after neighbors complained of a strong smell emanating from Martin's apartment in the 2800 block of Townbluff Drive in Plano.

The crate was in a dark closet that functioned as a laundry room and had flooded, according to the affidavit. Police say Bruce was emaciated in a puddle of water and his own feces. They described the stench as "overwhelming."

According to police, Martin adopted the puppy in December from the Collin County Animal Shelter.

In a Jan. 23 Facebook post, she talked about "playing with her puppy who is getting big." Two days later, she mentioned how she was "still not done doing laundry and my dog isnt [sic] helping by running off with the folded clothes. Anyone want a puppy? Just kidding hes [sic] a keeper!!!"

But then on March 4, she lamented on Facebook about "needing my dog to be problem free." A day later, the electric company shut off power to Martin's apartment because of nonpayment, the affidavit said.

"Alicia Martin is wondering when i [sic] will get it right," she posted late on March 13, five days before police found her dog dead.

After her arrest, she told police that Bruce had health problems and had lost weight several weeks before his death, according to the affidavit.

She also said she could not afford to take Bruce to a veterinarian and was embarrassed to seek help from her own clinic because the dog was so skinny.

Martin told authorities that she checked into a hotel room days after her electricity was turned off and left Bruce alone in the apartment. She said she often kept the dog in a crate for up to 11 hours each day, checking on him occasionally.

Just hours before her arrest on April 16, she posted on Facebook, "Alicia Martin is gonna start fresh soon watch me." She later paid $1,500 bond on the animal cruelty charge and was transferred to the Frisco jail, where she served time for outstanding traffic violations, Frisco police said.

Martin was released from jail May 8.

She made no mention on Facebook of Bruce's death or her arrest. When she posted a note the day she got out of jail announcing that she was "baaaaack!!!!" a friend asked where she had been.

She replied, "vacations are always nice:)"

more at the link, and i can't find her facebook....

[smallwonder4]

unbelieveable.... I wonder what the "I need my puppy to be problem free" part meant. Behavior or health? Either way, the way she let him suffer to death is despicable!

[WhatThe]

She also said she could not afford to take Bruce to a veterinarian and was embarrassed to seek help from her own clinic because the dog was so skinny.


How do you suppose she is feeling now? Embarrassed that her dog is DEAD??? That poor dog lived a horrible life (11 hours in a crate?) and died a horrible death at the hands of someone who is supposed to know better...

[~Absynthe~]

bitch

[penelopejo]

previous report.

http://www.scntx.com/articles/2009/05/27/plano_star-courier/news/710.txt

An animal protection clinic supervisor was indicted for cruelty to animals after police found a 5-month-old puppy left for dead inside the employee’s flooded apartment with no electricity.

The German Shepherd mix, Bruce, was found by police March 24. The dog was secured inside a crate located in a dark laundry room surrounded by feces.

Alicia Marie Martin, 23, was arrested for cruelty to animals April 17. She posted a $1,500 bond on May 5 and was placed in Frisco police custody for outstanding traffic citations, according to jail records.

According to court records, police described the odor inside the residence as “overwhelming.”

“It’s a horrific scene because we know what the animals go through to get to this point,” said Jamey Cantrell, Animal Services manager. “It’s something you don’t want anything or anyone to go through. He was left to die.”

An animal services vet ruled that Bruce’s cause of death was starvation. Cantrell said the dog was left inside the crate without food or water for about two weeks.

A Plano officer said it appeared that the resident grabbed what she could and abandoned the apartment, located at 2821 Townbluff Drive, without taking her dog.

“The SPCA of Texas’ Rescue & Investigations team was not involved in any investigation of animal cruelty in this case,” said Maura Davies, SPCA spokeswoman. “As this individual is an ex-employee, the SPCA of Texas cannot release personnel information.”

During a police interview prior to her arrest, Martin said she checked into a hotel with her 2-year-old daughter because her electricity had been turned off for non-payment. She told police she checked on Bruce everyday after work and believed he was eating. Martin said Bruce was losing an excessive amount of weight 3-4 weeks before he died. She believed he had Parvo, but thought he would get better. Martin said she consulted a veterinarian at the SPCA clinic where she worked as a supervisor and was told to change the dog’s food.

When police contacted the SPCA vet and inquired whether Martin consulted her regarding the failing health of her dog, she was unsure which dog the police were referring to due to the amount of dogs Martin had adopted at various times. She told police Martin asked her months prior what to feed her dog to gain weight, but never asked her questions about a sick dog.

Martin said she last fed Bruce on March 17. She said she did not take him to the SPCA clinic where she worked because she was “embarrassed at how skinny he was” and she “didn’t want them to think she couldn’t take care of her dog,” according to court records.


My dog had parvo a few months back. I woke up every three hours for a week to give her liquids from a syringe. So for her to believe he had parvo and have done nothing is bullshit. The testing is what costs the most, the medicines, not so much. If her dog had parvo, he would've died in a week rather than 2 months. So I find that her saying that is very hard to believe.

and $1500 for letting her dog rot.....damn...horrible woman

[DogMom]

During a police interview prior to her arrest, Martin said she checked into a hotel with her 2-year-old daughter because her electricity had been turned off for non-payment. She told police she checked on Bruce everyday after work and believed he was eating. Martin said Bruce was losing an excessive amount of weight 3-4 weeks before he died. She believed he had Parvo, but thought he would get better. Martin said she consulted a veterinarian at the SPCA clinic where she worked as a supervisor and was told to change the dog’s food.

When police contacted the SPCA vet and inquired whether Martin consulted her regarding the failing health of her dog, she was unsure which dog the police were referring to due to the amount of dogs Martin had adopted at various times. She told police Martin asked her months prior what to feed her dog to gain weight, but never asked her questions about a sick dog.

This is an Animal Clinic Supervisor??? Believed that an animal with parvo would get better on his own?

Incredibly stupid or an incredible liar. I vote for the latter.

[tutkill]

wonder if the bitch is embarrassed now????

[Amazon]

http://www.co.collin.tx.us/rsp-bin/PBKR126.PGM

Case Number: 401-81128-09 schedule microfilm
Current Status: OPEN CASE
Defendant: MARTIN ALICIA MARIE
Court: 401st District Court
Judge Mark Rusch
Defense STEPHANIE DUECKER
Court Appointed Yes
Arresting Agency Plano PD
Offense date 03/18/2009
Charge: 73990645 Cruelty To Non-Livestock Animals:Torture FS
Severity FEL-S

Event ID Orders of the court Date Note
194 ORDER FOR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY Stephanie Duecker 04/21/2009
111 Case Filed by Indictment 05/21/2009
113 Notice to Appear Issued 05/26/2009
948 Bond Set $ 1,500.00 05/27/2009
446 Returned Notice to Appear 06/03/2009
230 First Appearance 06/10/2009

[Thinkgoat]

She was a supervisor at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas. Surly she could have, through a working relationship, asked one of the many vets to take a look at her pup Pro Bono had he actually been sick instead of neglected. And if she hadn't money for food - I swear - I would have stolen some damn food from the place before I let a dog starve to death.

[Amazon]

I swear - I would have stolen some damn food from the place before I let a dog starve to death.


Thank you.
I'd also cut off my damn leg and cook it up.

[DogMom]

She was a supervisor at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas. Surly she could have, through a working relationship, asked one of the many vets to take a look at her pup Pro Bono had he actually been sick instead of neglected. And if she hadn't money for food - I swear - I would have stolen some damn food from the place before I let a dog starve to death.

Yes. She could of asked for help. If she was in that much dire straits, she could of asked her own organization for help with her pet.

Divorced with a two-year-old too. Seems like she was struggling with everything. Putting up a happy face on *facebook*. I wonder if she had family to turn to.

We have a food bank that accepts pet food that I donate to. A bag of dog food and cat food and some treats. If I lived near her and knew her, I would of bought her dog food.

[Angelinfl]

Could it be like some people who like to abuse children hang in the company of a children. Perhaps some animal abusers hide behind their alleged do gooder persona and actually work with animals.

This is a sick thing. I could never abuse an animal or a child.

I would have given my dog to a better home than to have the dog suffer like that. I just could not hurt someone or something like that.

And the I'm back from vacation... totally wrong attitude. To bad the charges were not more severe. I'd through the whole damn encyclopedia (do they still make them) at these people and would let them know I would not take any prisoners.

Consequences have to be higher and we need to get rid of the worst offenders PERMANETLY and FINALLY.. in my humble opinion. We keep the dredges of society around too long and give them too much support.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Tearily testifying in her own behalf during her animal cruelty bench trial Tuesday, Alicia Marie Martin admitted that she would have treated a plant better than she did the German shepherd mix puppy who died of starvation inside her Plano apartment in March.

"It probably was not the best," Martin said when questioned by Collin County prosecutor JoDee Neil about her level of care for 5-month-old Bruce. "I could have done better."

State District Judge Mark J. Rusch agreed. He found Martin, the former supervisor at the McKinney office of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, guilty of cruelty to animals, a felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail.

But the judge – who heard the evidence without a jury in the one-day trial – showed Martin a measure of mercy by giving her three years probation and a $500 fine.

Martin, who was fired after her arrest, also will not be allowed to own or care for a pet.

Rusch also ordered her to serve four days in the Collin County jail from Nov. 25 to 29.

"That's Thanksgiving," Rusch said in a lengthy sentencing speech that was part tongue-lashing, part pep talk. "I'm sending you then so that hopefully, when Thanksgiving rolls around each year, you will thank God that you are not incarcerated in jail somewhere.

"I'm not interested in crushing you, Ms. Martin," he said. "I am interested in your rehabilitation. I am interested in you knowing this was unacceptable behavior."

Martin, 24, was convicted of letting the puppy starve to death inside her waterlogged apartment. A single mother, she adopted the dog late last year as a Christmas gift for her daughter, now 3.

She testified that Bruce had been healthy up until a few weeks before his March 18 death, then he began to lose weight. She said she contacted a veterinarian who advised her to change his diet. She did so, but said that while the animal remained active, he continued to lose weight.

Martin also testified that she could not afford to take the dog to a veterinarian and was too embarrassed to even take him to her own job for help. She said the electricity was eventually cut off in her apartment and she temporarily moved to a hotel, but left the dog at the apartment. She said that she visited him daily after work and provided food and water for him, and would take him out of his smallish crate so he could run around outside.

But a veterinarian who testified Tuesday said the emaciated animal had no signs of food or fat in his system and was covered with open bedsores. And pictures introduced at the trial showed that there was standing water inside and around the crate where Martin kept him in her laundry room.

The evidence left a lasting impression on the judge, who scolded Martin about her actions.

"The only difference between people and animals ... is that people have souls and animals do not," the judge said. "Your 3-year-old deserves a better example, especially if that was her Christmas present."
[...]
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-cruelty_28met.ART.State.Edition1.4bcdd88.html

[Pene784]

Wouldn't you think since this woman was in a position of trust that she would have recieved a hasher penalty? This animal STARVED to death and was abondoned. I hope karma will at least bring her down.

[Chaindrive]

Jesus Christ on a crutch, RICE IS INEXPENSIVE. So are vegetables and gravy. Make meals out of that for your puppy you fucking idiot.

Like the statement about Katrina in Nolo, if I leave, they leave.

WTF is wrong with you???

[Lizard]

I can only hope that this chick is the fucking moron I believe she is. But SHAME on whoever decided she was fit to be a supervisor, and fucking TRIPLE shame on the fuckwad judge who would DARE to proclaim that people have souls and animals don't.

Jesus, I was *born* in Texas and am ashamed to admit it.

[Chaindrive]

fucking TRIPLE shame on the fuckwad judge who would DARE to proclaim that people have souls and animals don't.



Agreed.

I have a black lab attached to my hip at every moment when I'm home. He's got more soul then I've ever seen.

[BreakTheSilence]

Its funny this bitch couldn't afford a bag of dog food or to pay her utility bills but somehow managed to afford to stay in a hotel after they were shut off and left the poor puppy home in a waterlogged crate. A lot of hotels will welcome a small pet if the guest has one these days. If she couldn't get a hotel that would allow the puppy then why not surrender the dog to a vet's office or late at night leave it where the SPCA could find it without knowing it came from her? May she never own another pet. Hopefully CPS is checking on the well being of her child.

[Chaindrive]

I do without electricity all the time (fucking wind knocks the power out). I manage. And worst case scenario is a campground...most will take animals.

What I'm trying to say is she could have gotten around this.

[Lizard]

What I'm trying to say is she could have gotten around this.

THANK YOU.

People. You can't feed your kids, or your animals? The fucking tell us. Tell us, THE D'D MEMBERS, and we will come get your kids and take them to eat or we will bring fucking pet food to your house. We WILL. Because I fucking swear to God, if I ever see a DD member hit the FP bc they're all EMBARRASSED about not having food, I will kill someone.

[smallwonder4]

:argh: I'm just picturing the bright learning eyes of this GSD pup getting dimmer and dimmer as it dies in it's own waste... so this cunt won't be embarrassed. I have tears in my eyes. I imagine even without a heart this bitch had tears in her eyes from the STENCH she forced that baby animal to live and die in...

[Misskittychaos]

Perhaps if she asked for help before the dog started to starve she wouldn't have been embarrassed? I agree as well that being in a position of trust she should have faced harsher charges. Doesn't look like she missed many meals!