44 COUNTS OF NEGLECT & CRUELTY: Adler’s Dog Daze Continues

Madness drives local hoarder to continue attempts to buy Huskies even as he and wife face 44 counts of animal torture and neglect

BY JOE KUHN

Lifelong Stony Point resident Jerome Adler appeared in court Tuesday with his wife and adult children to plead not guilty to the multiple counts of animal cruelty leveled against him.

Adler and his wife Dorothy are faced with 22 counts of animal neglect and 22 counts animal torture, injure or not feed animals after the Hudson Valley Humane Society (HVHS) searched their home on June 22. All counts are misdemeanors.

Authorities condemned the building, having found the carcasses of five dogs inside and outside of the house as well as two live animals trapped under debris in their backyard. The couple was released on recognizance and without bail by town Justice Frank J. Phillips who believes the Adlers are “not a risk of flight.”

The couple is set to stand trial on September 26 following their arraignment. Justice Phillips advised the Adlers “not to take the risk of ownership” of any more animals until their case is resolved. In response to allegations from the HVHS that the Adlers are still looking to buy new pets even in their current situation, Justice Phillip’s made his advice a court order.

The Adlers waived a reading of their charges in court; in fact their only question for Judge Phillips was whether or not they would be allowed to visit the dogs while the animals are impounded. The 22 dogs, all

Huskies, formally living with the Adler family are currently boarded with the HVHS or have been adopted to loving homes.

The Hudson Valley Humane Society, in accordance with Article 26 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, is seeking an additional hearing in order to set a security posting. According to the law, “the security shall be in an amount sufficient to secure payment for all reasonable expenses expected to be incurred by the impounding organization in caring and providing for the animals.”

Marc Kissel, the chief of the Human Law Enforcement, A Division of HVHS appeared at the arraignment to present the petition for the security posting in person. This petition would force the Adlers to pay over $30,000 to the Humane Society, or forfeit the Huskies.

  animal cruelty, Dorothy Adler, Hudson Valley Humane Society, HVHS, Jerome Adler