Robin and William Lasher, the Fulton couple charged with abandoning their pets in the frigid woods of Lysander last month, pleaded not guilty to the charges in Lysander Town Court Feb. 25.
A hunter reported finding a shivering, starving black Labrador mix and a cat in the woods off Route 48 in the town of Lysander Jan. 26. While the cat was dead in its carrier, the dog, whom supporters have named “Hope,” is recovering and gaining weight at the CNY SPCA in Mattydale.
William Lasher, 47, and his wife, Robin Lasher, 48, were arraigned separately on the following misdemeanor charges: two counts of failure to provide proper sustenance for an animal, two counts of an act of cruelty to an animal and one count of unjustifiable death of an animal.
Lysander Town Judge Michael M. Bryant released both defendants on their own recognizance. They are expected back in court April 8. If either defendant misses the court date, a bench warrant will be issued for their arrest.
“Make sure you cooperate with your attorney,” Bryant told Robin Lasher. “If she reports to me that you’re not cooperating, I’ll put you in the can.”
A Facebook event hosted by the “Journey of Hope” Facebook page listed 125 people as having RSVP’d to the arraignment in support of Hope. A crowd of about four dozen people actually attended. On change.org, a petition addressed to Bryant is circulating, asking that he impose the maximum penalty of $1,000 and one year in jail per charge.
For some animal rights supporters, the maximum isn’t enough.
“I don’t think putting them in jail would be a good thing because they’ll be fed and warm and they don’t deserve that,” said Carol Citra, a Baldwinsville resident who attended the arraignment. “
As the Lashers left court, animal rights activists milled around in the parking lot of the Lysander Municipal Building. One supporter of the cause, Beth Scott, chanted, “I’m cold, I’m hungry and you don’t care.” Scott said she was there “to be a voice for Hope.”
She handed out sample letters that citizens can send to their county legislators, state senators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, urging them to consider the Consolidated Animal Crimes Bill, which would institute stiffer charges and penalties for animal abuse.
“I’m hoping people inundate their representatives with letters,” Scott said.
Karen Antczak, a member of the Animal Alliance of Greater Syracuse’s board of directors and part of AAGS’ Court Watch Program, said AAGS sent a letter to Bryant asking him to “remember ‘the Link’ — the connection between the cruel acts that humans do to animals and the abuse they do to other human beings.”
“That dog showed more loyalty and compassion to that dead cat than [the owners] did,” Antczak said. She called the misdemeanor charges and their penalties a “slap on the wrist.”
Antczak said no matter how desperate one’s situation is, there are resources to help people who are struggling to take care of their pets. She cited the Hardeko Helping Paws Pantry, which provides free food and medicine for pets.
The CNY SPCA also has a pet food pantry, and people can surrender animals they cannot care for to the CNY SPCA and Humane CNY.
“That should never be an option, to leave your animals out in the cold,” Antczak said.
Antczak said AAGS advocates will keep track of the Lashers’ cruelty case as it progresses.
Robin and William Lasher will appear in Lysander Town Court at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8.
