Lisa Marchese says the results of this incident of trying to find help for a lost dalmation dog will stop her from being helpful in the future, because she fears the consequences she could experience.

GIRARD — Trying to do a good deed and finding help for a lost dog has cost a struggling single mother $264 in court costs and fines.

Lisa M. Marchese, 39, 130 E. Second St., found the dog running alongside U.S. Route 422 near the 1200 block of South State Street at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 15. On Tuesday, she pleaded no contest in Niles Municipal Court to a charge of abandoning a dog.

She was found guilty of a lesser charge of allowing an animal to run at large.

Marchese described riding with a friend from Youngstown on Route 422 when they noticed several cars in front of them stopped and their occupants chasing a 60- to 75-pound Dalmatian with a black collar and pink bow.

“My friend also stopped and we were getting out of the car to help when the dog ran toward me and jumped into the car,” Marchese said. “The people in the other cars got back into them and drove away.”

Not knowing what to do, Marchese says she called the police department for help.

“I couldn’t take the dog home, because my child is allergic to most dogs,” Marchese said. “I was told there was nothing the police could do.”

Marchese decided to try to find a vet to see if the dog had a microchip implanted to identify its owner.

The dog was taken to MedVet, 2680 W. Liberty St., Girard, where it was determined there was no chip. The dog, it was found, had a minor scrape, which caused it to bleed.

Marchese said a clinic employee, identified in the police report as Rina S. Manda, said the clinic does not keep animals. They talked about different options, including Marchese taking the dog to Angels for Animals, which is a shelter in Canfield. Another option was to call someone the clinic employee knew who had previously taken in abandoned animals.

“It already was late, so I asked if they could look into the other guy taking the dog,” Marchese said.

While waiting for an answer, Marchese said she noticed she did not have her cellphone, which she had left in the car. So she walked out of the clinic to retrieve it. Her friend walked out behind her, saying they could leave because clinic employee had found someone to take the dog. They drove away, leaving the dog tied up in the clinic’s hallway.

“I thought it was OK,” Marchese said. “Why would I had given my name and phone number if my intention was to abandon the dog? It does not make any sense.”

Meanwhile, Manda called police. A short time later, Marchese, received a call on her cellphone from her brother, saying police officers were at the door.

Arriving home, Marchese told officers what had transpired and why she could not bring the dog home.

“I then asked if I could take the dog to the shelter in Canfield,” Marchese said.

At that point, the officers would not allow her to take possession of the dog. Marchese was given a citation and ordered to appear in Niles Municipal Court on Tuesday.

“I pleaded no contest because if I pleaded not guilty I would have needed to take time off from work to prepare for trial with a lawyer,” she said. “I figured if I told the judge what happened, plead no contest, he would let me go.”

Instead, the judge reduced the sentence to a misdemeanor, assigned fines and costs.

Deidre Brister, chief dog warden at the Trumbull County Dog Pound, said people who find stray dogs during normal office hours, 9:30 to 4:30 p.m Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, can take them to the pound. But that becomes difficult after it closes.

“I know the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County is open until 6 p.m., so strays can be taken there during their business hours,” Brister said. “Police departments will help out if they can, but most do not have kennel.”

Dianne Fry, Mahoning County dog warden, said people finding stray dogs is not that unusual.

“A lot of people think picking up a stray is a good thing, but sometimes it may be better to leave it where it is,” Fry said. “You really don’t know anything about the dog. It could be dangerous, sick or carrying a disease that would affect your other pets.

“Call the police,” she said. “We have a police kennel and all of the police departments in Mahoning County have a code, so an animal can be placed in it. However, there are times when a department will not have officers available to take the dogs.”

Fry emphasized people have to realize that once they take possession of a dog, they can be held responsible for it and any action the dog does.

Fry said, in this instance, MedVet employees went above and beyond what they were required to do.

“They are not equipped to keep dogs,” she said. “They have kennel for medical treatment, but not to house dogs. They leave when we are opening in the morning, so it is difficult to make exchanges.”

For Marchese, the daughter of a retired police officer, the lesson learned is not to become involved.

“It is sad,” she said.