A Mays Landing woman accused of leaving a dog in horrific conditions and a taser within reach of her young child has been sentenced to two years' probation.Haley Ditzel, 27, and Benjamin Portnoy, 28, were charged with animal cruelty and child endangerment after police came to their Somers Point home last year and found Portnoy's dog confined to metal crate no food or water. Police were called to the home after management at the apartment reported possible animal abuse, according to the charges. The couple has since moved to Mays Landing.Scooby, a Great Dane/German shepherd mix, was found emaciated and dehydrated in the crate with his own urine and feces, according to the affidavit.The Humane officer wrote that the dog's body condition was a 1 on a scale of 1 to 9."(One) being the worst possible condition a dog can be in without dying," Officer Peter Burns wrote.The dog required three weeks of medical care costing almost $5,000.Near the crate was a fully functioning Taser, which was in the bedroom where the couple's 5-year-old son was alone when police arrived, the report said."This is a very troubling case for the court," Judge Patricia Wild said. "It involved the abuse of an animal but it also involved dangerousness to a child. The picture I received is not a good one, not a good one for a child to be brought up in this situation."She recommended that Ditzel and Portnoy get parenting training.Portnoy applied for pretrial intervention, according to information given during the hearing.
"I’m very sorry," Ditzel, 27, said during her sentencing last week, done virtually. "I do take responsibility for my part in this and I’m very sorry."The dog belonged to Portnoy, Ditzel's boyfriend, but she "was charged with (Scooby's care) during long periods of the day, and refused to care for him," Burns wrote.Defense attorney Michael Myers said that his client is a "good person who neglected to do the right thing."In addition to probation, Ditzel also must served 50 hours of community service. She and Portnoy also must pay restitution for the $4,811.67 in care the dog received.Ditzel cannot own another animal during her probation term. But the judge did allow her to keep the two cats she already owns.
