A 66-year-old New Paltz woman has been charged with failing to properly care for animals including an emaciated donkey that was found on her property, according to the Ulster County Society for the Prevention (SPCA) of cruelty to animals.
Camille Frarachi, the former pet owner, was charged Thursday with eight counts of failure to provide proper sustenance, a misdemeanor, according to Director of the SPCA in the town of Ulster Adam Saunders.
Officials found goats, cats, a donkey and a duck that Saunders said was “in pretty bad shape.” One of the goats that officials expropriated died during veterinary treatment several hours after the animals were found, Saunders said.
Frarachi was arrested in April 2012 on six counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and failure to provide proper sustenance and again in May on 19 charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty, according to the Daily Freeman.
According to the report, in the past, officials removed 11 dogs, four goats, seven barn fowl, a horse and two cats. One of the cats was found with a litter of dead kittens. Upon evaluation, veterinarians determined that the animals had open sores, mites, Lyme disease and various other health issues.
Frarachi was charged and released on her own recognizance pending court action, according to the Daily Freeman.
Saunders said the most recent issues were brought to light following an ongoing dispute between Frarachi and her neighbor. The neighbor contacted local police who noticed the indigent conditions the animals were subjected to and contacted SPCA officials. Along with the original charges, Saunders also noted that these issues were in violation of the court order Frarachi received in 2012.
Aside from the goat that died during treatment, the remaining animals are recovering and “are doing well,” Saunders said.
Saunders said animal cruelty is a reoccurring problem, with 100 to 150 cases of animal cruelty reported to the Ulster SPCA annually. Saunders said that there have been 20 arrests in regards to animal cruelty cases the Ulster SPCA was involved in this year.
When identifying animal cruelty, Saunders said it’s important to “keep an eye out” for signs that indicate an owner’s lack of care. Signs may include emaciation, meaning the animal is visibly malnourished. Pets with their ribs showing or unable to move properly are signs of emaciation. Saunders said keeping animals “trapped” or confined in spaces with waste, debris and other garbage is another sign of insufficient care of pets.
The Ulster County SPCA is a private, no-kill shelter whose mission is to prevent animal cruelty by providing temporary shelter and finding adoptive homes for neglected animals, according to their website. Saunders said people interested in helping animals can donate food for the dogs they shelter and in addition to being mindful of any signs of animal cruelty in their communities.