Arrests made in animal abuse case

COPAKE — Three Copake residents were set to be back in court last night, April 28 (after this paper went to press), to face charges on 33 counts of animal cruelty after a number of their dairy cows were found dead. The farmers, James Clapp, 76, Ida Clapp, 74, and Charles Clapp, 48, were charged by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after a joint investigation with the Columbia-Greene Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

“This was a combination of neglect and economic woes that affected this farm,� SPCA Executive Director Ron Perez said, adding that the Clapp farm has shut down and is no longer operating as a dairy farm. “They’re selling their livestock and I believe the farm is for sale too. They were already selling out some of their livestock. Unfortunately, some of it was too thin and no one would buy it.�

But that’s no excuse to allow their animals to die off, he said. The farmers face misdemeanor counts of failing to provide proper sustenance; 11 cows died in total, four adults and seven calves.

“They have to reach out,� Perez said. “They can start with us, and they can certainly reach out to other dairy farmers and request assistance.�

Perez acknowledged that it’s not typical to see farm animals being abused and neglected, but anything is possible, especially in today’s economy.

“Generally it’s not livestock that we’ve seen, because it’s a livelihood for people and in most cases there’s a lot of care surrounding the animals,� he said. “In this particular case they’re selling the farm and selling the stock and I don’t think that attention was given to the animals, certainly, and not to the food or the vet care either.�

But Perez also said it wasn’t always that way. He said the Clapps had run a “reputable business for many years,� and that “for a variety of reasons let this farm go in the wrong direction.�

The SPCA brought in hay, and with the weather changing and the “great grazing� at the farm, Perez said that should help the cows a “tremendous amount.� There are about 58 head of adult dairy cows and 30-plus adolescents left on the farm. They have a constant source of food and water and have also been wormed. They will reportedly be sold once they’re in good enough shape.

The Clapps, meanwhile, each face up to one year in jail, and/or fines up to $1,000.