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Sharon woman, 30, charged with starving dogs
By JEANNE STARMACK
SHARON, PA.
A woman has been charged with animal cruelty in the starving of three dogs, as well as over a cat that never received health care.
Sandi Drabick, executive director of the Humane Society of Mercer County, said the case out of Sharon is particularly disturbing because the dogs lived with their owner, Cortney Kishton, 30, and her boyfriend at their Memorial Boulevard home and were simply not fed.
The cat went outdoors and was able to find food but was never taken to a veterinarian, she said.
The Humane Society found out about the animals because relatives persuaded Kishton to give them two of the dogs, said Renee Dorogy, Mercer County humane officer. Those two, a 2- to 3-year old retriever mix named Brownie and a 6- to 7-year-old retriever mix named Bella, were given to the relatives, who live in Ohio, on Jan. 30.
They were concerned about the other dog still living with Kishton, and contacted friends in Pennsylvania about what to do. Eventually, someone contacted the Humane Society, Dorogy said. The agency took the third dog, a 3-year-old Lab mix named Bud, and the cat from the Memorial Drive house Jan. 31, Drabick said.
The animals are at New Lease on Life on Midlothian Boulevard in Struthers. The shelter is boarding them for the Humane Society.
Drabick said Brownie, in the worst condition of the three, went into cardiac arrest while receiving emergency vet care. She and Bella are now owned by the society. The Lab mix and the cat still are owned by Kishton, who will appear before District Magistrate Dennis Songer in Sharon after she receives a summons on four charges of cruelty.
The summons was sent Thursday, the court said. Once she signs it, she has 10 days to appear and plead. After that, a hearing will be set in the case, Dorogy said.
The society is trying to gain ownership of the other two animals. At some point after they are well enough, they will be put up for adoption.
Meanwhile, the society is accepting donations for the animals’ care. Those who wish to help can send a check to: Humane Society of Mercer County, 1280 Dutch Lane, Hermitage, PA 16148.