A 64-year-old St. Charles County man has been charged with animal abuse in connection to the starvation death last month of a pony named Charley.

Russell D. Rosenthal, who lives in the Harvester area, is accused of failing to provide adequate care for the brown and white pony. Charley was kept on Rosenthal's property just outside Portage des Sioux. Rosenthal operates a limousine business there.

The charge is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

The pony's death was upsetting to many in the small city of Portage des Sioux. Some residents had called the St. Charles County department of Animal Control out of concern for Charley.

Charley's death was the subject of a March 15 Pokin Around column. In response to that story, two women passed petitions in Portage des Sioux to try to ensure that justice was served.

Susan Perry said it was clear to many in the community it was Rosenthal who was responsible for the pony.  "We did not want him to get off scot-free, just get his hands slapped," Perry said. "We wanted to make sure that he knew that the town did care and the town did feel that it was its business."

In that March 15 story, Rosenthal said, "It is really none of their business. It might be the talk of the town if they don't have anything else to talk about."

Perry and another woman gathered 128 signatures and sent them to the Suburban Journal and to Jack Banas, the St. Charles County prosecuting attorney.

"It's shameful that somebody would do something like that - buying an animal and then neglecting it," Banas said. "They have no way of taking care of themselves."

Rosenthal has said that a man who rented a mobile home from him, Henry George, had agreed to care for Charley. George lives on Rosenthal's property near Portage des Sioux, where Charley was kept.

George has disputed that he agreed to care for Charley. He said he acted out of compassion for the horse because Rosenthal was neglecting it.

Banas said Rosenthal had no written agreement with George and did not pay him. The bottom line, Banas said, is that the horse belonged to Rosenthal and it was his responsibility to care for it.

Rosenthal in July had purchased Charley for his 4-year-old granddaughter but the girl lost interest.

The charge against Rosenthal alleges that he did not provide the horse with adequate food or water. In addition, it alleges that, "Charlie was kept inside a building unable to graze or forage for food outside."

Rosenthal's first court date is set for 9 a.m. May 15.

Reference:

Suburban Journals