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ARGYLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The owners of a dog boarding facility in Washington County where 21 dogs died almost did not show up for court. The grieving families showed up to demand justice.
“She just seems so arrogant. Like stuck her nose in the air and walked out. They are our babies, and she didn’t even care,” said Heidi Elmore.
Robert and Anastasia Palulis were expected to be in the Argyle Town Court by 5:30 on Tuesday evening. Their lawyer cited a security concern as to why his clients did not show up. However, the judge disagreed and found no reason for the couple not to be in court.
“How they treated and cared for our dogs. That makes me sick to my stomach. They thought they didn’t have to show up. To accept the consequences. Of what they did,” said Hannah Elmore who lost her dog Piglet.
Cody Shields who lost his three dogs, Brutus, Hilda and Loki said, “The audacity that they think that they didn’t have to show up is disgusting.”
The lawyer representing the defendants said they had nowhere to take their children. Despite the judge saying court was no place for kids, they brought them in anyway. “Media was not allowed to have cameras so for the audience viewing at home she came in with a child that I feel was used as a prop,” said Amy Hoffer the aunt of one of the victims.
The Palulis’ pled not guilty to 22 counts of animal cruelty and neglect. Dog owner Leah Bronw who owned Rex said, “I’m just lost at words right now. I’m just so sick to my stomach.”
Shields said, “The fact that they’re trying to plead not guilty to this, it just shows the disrespect to the lack of care they had for our animals.” He said he will not stop until laws are made to protect our pets. He said he was working closely with lawmakers to make that happen. “The New York Safe Pet Boarding act that I created and they’re literally implementing that almost to a ‘T’.”
“What that act will do is it will do the same thing we do for shelters and breeders. We give them guidelines; we give them regulations. The minimum level of hydration, water, spacing, ventilation, training, making sure they can go on vacation or visit their loved ones, board their animals and there will be a pretty good degree of safety,” explained Senator Jim Tedisco.
“I’m just hoping that we end up with some sort of justice for all 21 dogs,” said Danielle Barber who lost her two dogs Luna and Odin.
The suspects are expected to be back in court on October 21st.
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James De La Fuente
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