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CAMPBELL -- A city woman will be on probation for two years after her dog was found running around her neighborhood in terrible physical condition.
Court records state that Donna Yasechko, 46, of Penhale Avenue, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of cruelty to a companion animal, a fifth-degree felony. In exchange for the plea, a misdemeanor count of the same offense was dropped.
Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge John Durkin imposed the sentence.
Yasechko was arrested in August after Campbell police found a small white dog running loose in her neighborhood. When police asked a man on a motorcycle in front of 392 Penhale Ave. about the dog's whereabouts, he said he hadn't seen it, but its name was Pinto and it belonged to his daughter, Donna Yasechko.
The report states an officer soon after saw the dog running loose near 12th Street and noted it was wearing a filthy, blood-covered cone and appeared to have an exposed bone protruding from its tail area. Officers reported the animal cried out in pain whenever its rear end touched anything.
When questioned, Yasechko told police the dog had been in that condition for about a week and had a veterinarian appointment scheduled the next day. The report states that police contacted the veterinary office and learned the clinic had not been informed of the severity of the injury and was not equipped to treat it. Police then transported Pinto to Crago Veterinary Hospital in Boardman for emergency treatment.
The report states veterinarians found that Pinto was in extreme pain and suffering from severe and prolonged medical neglect, including exposed spinal tissue, infection, tissue necrosis, anemia caused by flea infestation, malnutrition and dehydration.
The report states blood tests showed the dog was too weak to immediately undergo surgery and required nearly two weeks of hospitalization before veterinarians could amputate the damaged tail.
Veterinarian Tom Reeping concluded the condition had likely been ongoing for six to eight weeks and was consistent with prolonged neglect and lack of proper care.
The report states that, after being informed the veterinary treatment would cost thousands of dollars, Yasechko surrendered ownership of the dog. Campbell Cruelty and Humane Rescue assumed responsibility for Pinto's care, which exceeded $2,600.
Police initially recommended a fifth-degree felony charge of knowingly causing serious physical harm to a companion animal, along with several misdemeanor counts for neglect, licensing and the dog running loose.
Campbell's default humane officer, Patrolman Jim Conroy, said Pinto is living a happy, healthy life now with a new family.