Thursday, July 08, 2010

From the Times Union, an all too common story:

A 25-year-old woman has been charged with allegedly abusing two German shepherds, city police said.

Her age is important enough to lead?

Later, in the story:

The detectives determined that Paetow faces 92 count counts connected to animal cruelty or neglect in the Syracuse area and has a history of selling and buying dogs.


What? In that case, was it really necessary to put "allegedly" in the lead? And why wasn't this near the beginning of the story?

How does this woman now have two dogs in Troy anyway?

The Troy Record does a better job of highlighting the most important facts in their opener:

A woman already facing dozens of animal cruelty charges elsewhere racked up two more on Wednesday in Troy, where police say she left her two dogs to starve in a fenced-in backyard after she was evicted.

Later, in their story:

Cpt. John Cooney said Troy detectives discovered that Paetow’s criminal history included some 92 animal cruelty-related counts during their investigation and added that she has a history of buying and selling dogs. Felony charges under what is known as “Buster’s Law” were considered, he said, but dismissed due to issues of intent.

“The law is carefully worded to put the felony-level change more at a torture-type behavior,” he said.


Are you kidding me? Starving is not torture? This is an outrage. Thanks to the Record for reporting on it.

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