Canfield man faces animal-cruelty charges

Frank has lived there for 35 years . It's sad that none of his neighbors seem to have taken action when they saw he was no longer coping & able to care for his animals . This isn't the first time squalor has been found in Canfield , whose residents so often point the finger at Youngstown .

ahhhhh...

with two dead cats that were wrapped in plastic bags and stored in a freezer.

???????????????

PLEASE do not believe everything you read. I have also lived in this neighborhood for years and can tell you as a fact and first hand witness that the dogs are NOT malnourished. Although Frank can not always buy food for himself those animals never went without. I saw him grilling chicken for his dogs for pete sake. He is a very good man who has tried to take care of his special needs son, has done MULTIPLE favors for people in the neighborhood and deserves a break. I hope people will ask themselves what have THEY done to help their fellow man because I can tell you Frank has done plenty. It makes me sick that people will go out of their way to call the police vs. offering a hand to help. We all know who called the police. All I can say is perhaps you should be saying "There but for the grace of God go I". Shame on this person. I am pretty sure I saw Frank helping you out more than once.

There has to be some kind of mental illness going on when dead cats are found in a freezer. What normal person would have this? He himself could have asked for help which he chose not to do. I'm sure he's a nice guy but hard times has nothing to do with it. If you can't afford something then don't have it. It has nothing to do with which city you live in also. It's easy to make fun of Poland and Canfield all you haters but this occurs in every city and it's very sad. No one likes this situation. It's hard on everyone involved.

I live in the neighborhood and have talked to Frank a few times over the years. What I got from our conversations was that he would do anything for anyone. A lot of the "stuff" that he has accumulated are things that people have given him or put out to throw away. If it is in decent shape he keeps it and gives it to local charities and shelters. Yes it sounds like he was overwhelmed and it got out of control. Also the animals that he would take in were sometimes from homes that couldn't take care of them. He thought he was doing the right thing and he thought he could provide a good home for them until the people got back on their feet. It is very upsetting to hear about cats in the freezer. I met him originally because he was searching for a cat that was missing from his house. He was very distraught because he was taking care of it for a little girl. He happily told me some months later that it had found it's way home. I am sure he didn't harm any of the animals. It sounds to me like someone with a good heart got in way over their head. He told me himself that he had trouble getting around his house. I think he just felt like it was for the good of the charities and the people who are in need. I have no idea about the dogs. When I talked to him on those few occasions he only had one dog that he had had for years. He had rescued it after he saw it get hit by a car. You could see him driving around on trash day with his dog sitting next to him in the truck. He loves that dog. I pray he gets that one back. I don't know where the others came from ....but maybe they were in bad shape when he got them and he was doing his best to take care of them. The problem is he took on more than he could handle. There is no excuse for any animal to go underfed or without medical attention. I just want people to know that he had good intentions and probably thought he was giving these animals a better home than they had had in the past. We see stories like this all the time. Sometimes these people are really good people that have made bad decisions. They just can't see it for themselves. Let's all hope that he and the animals get the help that they need so that they all have a good life forom this day forward.

Instead of complaining help the man out. If your a true Christian your without excuse. There is plenty of scripture to back this up.

If your a phony then continue to behave the way you have no one should expect any different from you.

By some of these posts, seems like Frank touched a lot of neighbors. So in turn, while the agencies are figuring this out why don't those same neighbors help Frank out. Go clean out his place, yard and do for him what you know he's done for others. As for the dead cats, maybe that was his only way of disposing of them. Can he physically dig graves to bury them? Or did he fear if he did that his dogs might have unburied them? Continue his work. If the household items are cluttering his house because he cannot get them to a charity, call Restore. They will come and get them. Neighborhood, community, help him out. You know he would do the same for you.

Instead of attacking Frank why doesn't the community and the Canfield officials offer help. He sounds like a good guy.

People of Canfield, read about your neighbor in the Bible. Open it and read for yourself. Do not listen only to preachers. Listen and read for yourself. Read Exodus 12, Exodus 20, Matthew 22, Luke 10, Deuteronomy 23, Judges 21 and Nehemiah 5. This is for every citizen of this world. Read and apply. One day you will need your neighbor.

It seems like neighbors are saying that Frank is a good man and in need of help. But, does Frank really want the help? Sometimes, people get into these situations of their own will and can't see a way out. Now, if he asks for help, we should oblige him. However, the city has ordinances about property and its upkeep that must be followed for the good of the community. But, no operational bathrooms raises some serious health concerns.

@walter_sobchak "But, does Frank really want the help?"- - -Frank may not have asked for help , sometimes they think they don't need it don't want it or feel no one cares. - -Regardless the help should be given or at least attempted to be given especially before calling officials.

stoke up the fire, cat wok pow,

I'd rather see the animals get eaten, instead of just killed.

@ whitesabbath - I think they died not killed but have at it . 224 is a good place for road kill in the summer and fall/winter offers deer. They are there for the taking better you than the crows ....

love them rabbits and squirels, like to have snow on the ground first. taste cleaner

I prefer my squirrels shot and before the snow the rabbits are best after the snow.

I don't do road kill but if I don't get a deer soon I may join you on the inter state looking for something that happened the night before and call it good.

One story about a poor old guy and it brings out the crazies - Canfield haters, animal haters etc etc. I never really thought of how wicked some people can be till I read the comment page on Vindy.com There's a lot of venom out there. The only people I truly condemn are the thugs. Other than that we gotta learn how to all get along or it's gonna be a long journey.

Well as we all sit in our warm houses this Thanksgiving, eating food, laughing with family and counting our blessings...remember your neighbors, those with less than you...and be grateful. Hopefully Frank will inspire people to try to find a way to HELP and not HUMILIATE people who have fallen on hard times. If anything good comes from this, it will be that.