PROTESTERS RALLY

Couple has preliminary hearing in dog abuse case

On Dec. 4, Willoughby police and the Lake County Dog Warden rescued an abandoned female bulldog mix, roughly 6 years of age.

Shortly afterward, 39-yearold Alvaro Torres and 36-yearold Heather Pica Torres were identified as the dog’s owners. Warrants were issued for their arrest on Dec. 12 and the couple was arraigned on fifth-degree felony cruelty to a companion animal charges at Willoughby Municipal Court.

On Dec. 20 the pair returned to the courthouse for a preliminary hearing, but they were not alone.

Approximately a dozen protesters from Nitro Foundation rallied along the front of the courthouse to demand stiffer penalties for the crime. The organization, created by Liz Raab, was formed after a Youngstown trainer received a four-month sentence for allowing a Rottweiler named Nitro along with seven other dogs to starve to death in 2008; a penalty they felt insufficient to the severity of the crime.

Animal advocate Dr. Irene Fiala who teaches “Animals in Society” at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania was among those rallying.

“To rise to a Goddard’s Law level, it’s obviously egregious,” she said while standing with other protesters in front of the courthouse.

Named after FOX-8 weatherman and animal advocate Dick Goddard, Goddard’s Law makes it a felony charge to knowingly cause harm to an animal.

“There’s malice, they knew what was going on,” Fiala said. “They chose to abandon an animal in freezing temperatures when all they had to do was go to a shelter and surrender the animal. There’s zero excuse for that. There’s shelters around here, people who are willing and able to help.

“To abandon an animal, especially one who needs medical attention, is wanton cruelty.”

Left to the freezing temperatures, the dog was in poor health with a large tumor growing on the side of her face.

The dog, now known as Lucy, was taken to the Lake County Dog Shelter where a public fundraiser was initiated to cover the veterinarian services required. Overwhelming public support fully covered Lucy’s surgery to have the tumor removed with a remainder allocated to care for other dogs at the kennel, according to Warden Rodney Shelton.

The shelter has since reported that the tumor is benign.

“They chose to abandon an animal in freezing temperatures when all they had to do was go to a shelter and surrender the animal. There’s zero excuse for that. There’s shelters around here, people who are willing and able to help. — Dr. Irene Fiala

Alvaro Torres and Heather Pica Torres, at the Dec. 20 appearance, stood before Judge Marisa Cornachio to face additional minor misdemeanor unlicensed dog charges.

Heather Pica Torres waived the preliminary hearing with both the misdemeanor and felony charges bound over to Lake County Common Pleas Court for further consideration by a grand jury.

Appearing without an attorney, Alvaro Torres will have a continuance scheduled for Jan. 10, according to court records.

Both were released on $5,000 personal bonds.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS-HERALD Residents gathered in support of Lucy and to push for stiffer sentencing in animal abuse cases.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS-HERALD Dr. Irene Fiala of Edinboro University was among those gathered to push for stiffer sentencing for animal abuse cases.

SUBMITTED Lucy is getting some much deserved TLC at the Lake County Dog Shelter while she recuperates.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS-HERALD Protesters line Erie Street in front of Willoughby Municipal Court to push for stiffer sentencing in animal abuse cases.