Spanaway woman arrested after neighbor’s cats poisoned

[Angels_Gal]

This makes me sick. and it makes me sad. to think thaht people are capable of such cruelty. :(


Spanaway woman arrested after neighbor’s cats poisoned

ANDRE CHERRY; The News Tribune
Last updated: May 18th, 2005 02:01 PM (PDT)


When Joe Ashbaugh rushed his family’s three cats to an emergency veterinary clinic Saturday, the Spanaway man had no idea what was wrong with them.
“One after the next they just started acting really weird and screaming in pain,” he said.

Later that day, a neighbor was arrested on suspicion of first-degree animal cruelty in the deaths of the cats, Kiki, Billy and Topper. Animal control officers found evidence that the 42-year-old woman might have poisoned them with antifreeze, said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Jerry Bates.

The case has been forwarded to prosecutors, who will determine whether charges will be filed, he said.

Antifreeze is extremely toxic to animals; just a couple of licks can kill them. About 10,000 dogs and cats, attracted to antifreeze’s smell and sweet taste, are accidentally poisoned each year, according to Audrey Kvarnstrom with Spanaway Veterinary Clinic.

“It’s really painful … but it can be treated if the owners get pets in to a vet’s office fast enough,” said Kvarnstrom. But owners often don’t react quickly enough because the poisoning looks like other illnesses, she said. Symptoms include staggering, lack of coordination, disorientation and vomiting.

Ashbaugh said his sons, ages 10 and 11, and his wife are upset about the loss. “They were a part of our family and people shouldn’t be able to get away with doing things like this,” he said of the cats.

Originally published: May 18th, 2005 12:01 AM (PDT)

[freckle]

hope she chokes in her sleep

[Judith]

That's just heartbreaking.

[kymom5613]

Totally not unheard of...Especially if there is a dispute between them. Sucks like an Electrolux nonetheless...

[Ka D'Argo]

she should have to drink anti freeze now. People who are cruel to animals are cowards. their too scared to stand up to humans so they take it out on something that is too small to hurt them. its pathetic
________
Sick From Avandia (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/avandia/)

[Angels_Gal]

I agree! she should suffer now. :( may she rot!! and I BET you she's not gonna get more than a year at least in prison. they should give these sorts of incidents a heavier sentence. :S

[trinamick]

I'll be honest, I've thought about putting antifreeze in hamburger and leaving it for the neighbor's dog. They let it out in the morning and it comes directly to my house and craps in my yard. If I'm out in the yard when it shows up, it starts snarling and barking at me on my own property! I hate that sucker with a passion. It chases my cat, barks at all the kids in the neighborhood, etc.


But I won't do it. Hamburger is too expensive right now. :P

[AgentSun]

get a value meal from mcdonalds :-P

[Angels_Gal]

I'll be honest, I've thought about putting antifreeze in hamburger and leaving it for the neighbor's dog. They let it out in the morning and it comes directly to my house and craps in my yard. If I'm out in the yard when it shows up, it starts snarling and barking at me on my own property! I hate that sucker with a passion. It chases my cat, barks at all the kids in the neighborhood, etc.


But I won't do it. Hamburger is too expensive right now. :P

thought about it??! I have to say you're almost no better than that woman who did started this whole thing. waht kind of animal deserves that sort of horrid death???? most owners are willing to work with people who complain about their dogs. I say most. as I know a few who will not. I would not wish that sort of thing on anyone. I'm a cat person. but that doesn't mean that I don't like dogs. I also understand ur anger.

and to the person who responded 'Get a value meal' thaht is NOT funny. I will NOT tolerate it. don't even THINK that was a joke. you ARE no better than theh woman who did that.

[AgentSun]

hey, whoa, chill out.

first of all, anyone who knows trinamick at all KNOWS that she does not harm animals and that of all people, she's going to be the last one to actually harm animals. what she's expressing is frustration. this is frustration i am SURE we have all experienced at some point or another. hers is simply frustration at a situation that she has tried her hardest to tolerate and to control and she has not been successful. the dog in question is clearly a disturbance in her neighborhood and poses a threat to her own pet, whose importance in her life is probably significantly much more than the dog she dislikes. plus, it barks at neighborhood kids. that's sure to cause a disturbance for these children. look at it her way, would you rather be protective of your own pets over the neighbor's, especially if it was a disturbance? Trinamick has not killed any animal nor has she even acted upon her errant thought. saying she's no better than the woman who killed the cats is saying she herself committed a crime. I've thought about lying, does that make me a liar? If that were the case, that would probably make you a liar also.

Before you point fingers like that, please be reminded that though you cannot see our faces and hear our voices, we are human and we make mistakes and have errant thoughts once in a while. We're not perfect which means that sometimes when we get upset or frustrated, we think nasty thoughts. This does not make us killers or horrible, despicable people. Don't accuse us of being "no better" until you have proven that we have proven ourselves to be so.

And if you try to do that, please, good luck to you. Because I can guarantee that neither Trinamick or I are bad people. Please don't make us out to be so in your own mind just because she commented a thought she had once upon a time that she has never acted upon and just because I made a joke in return to her joke and knew she would not intentionally poison a dog.

[Angels_Gal]

like I said I understand where the frustration is coming from. we have some dogs across the street that do that too. and next door. and I agree it is agravating. :| just do me a favor and don't joke about harming animals around me :| I get prickly about those sorts of jokes. and not pleasant to be around :) sorry didn't mean to attack.

[Spedoinkel]

she should have to drink anti freeze now. People who are cruel to animals are cowards. their too scared to stand up to humans so they take it out on something that is too small to hurt them. its pathetic
Damn straight! Make her drink antifreeze. A one year sentence is a spit in the face.


What's spanaway?

[Angels_Gal]

Oh, whoops I apologise. I just assumed you knew. Spanaway is a city. and you'll have to forgive me I don't even know where it is cause i've never been there. or been by there. I think it's a ways outside the greater seattle area.