[fearlessknight]

Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce pleaded guilty to an animal neglect charge yesterday in Monroe Township Municipal Court and agreed to pay $1,300 in fines for failing to provide proper care for his pet pit bull and allowing both of his dogs to run loose in his neighborhood.

Pierce, who has since moved from Monroe, appeared with companion Jocelyn Maldanado, 27, during the brief hearing to answer the complaint brought by the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Pierce's pit bulls were found running in a neighbor's yard Jan. 29, the week before the Giants' upset over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Maldanado also pleaded guilty to the animal neglect charge and agreed to pay a $1,300 fine.

As he left court yesterday, Pierce declined comment. He also rebuffed a few autograph seekers from among those assembled for other municipal court hearings.

In addition to the neglect charge, Pierce and Maldanado also pleaded guilty to other summonses for letting the dogs run loose, failing to get dog licenses and failing to provide the dogs with rabies shots. The total fine levied by Municipal Court Judge George Boyd came to $1,300 each.

The neglect charge, which accounted for the majority of the fine, was levied because one of the pit bulls was underweight and suffering from a respiratory illness, said Walt Mychalchyk, chief of the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"The veterinarian said on a scale of one to ten, its weight was about a three," Mychalchyk said.

The dogs were treated after Monroe animal control officer Frank Faraone rounded up the animals and later determined they belonged to Pierce. The pets had apparently escaped from a fenced-in yard at Pierce's home in Monroe.

Paul Sant-Ambrogio, a Bloomfield attorney representing the couple, said he told Judge Boyd that the dogs had been given away as part of an agreement to resolve the charges.

"The dogs are no longer in New Jersey," Sant-Ambrogio said.

Pierce, dressed in a black warm-up suit, barely spoke during the hearing. When asked by the judge if he wanted to plead guilty to the charges, Pierce responded, "Yes, I do."

Sant-Ambrogio declined to comment on the case after the hearing. Pierce, while sitting in his black Cadillac Escalade after the court hearing, also declined comment.

Several people at the municipal building said they asked Pierce for an autograph, but he refused.

"I don't think that's very sporting of him. Even when I had this," Eugene Tonkery said, holding out the leather Giants cap he was wearing. "I wear this everyday. What's more convincing than that?"

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey...060.xml&coll=1

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by fearlessknight Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce pleaded guilty to an animal neglect charge yesterday in Monroe Township Municipal Court and agreed to pay $1,300 in fines for failing to provide proper care for his pet pit bull and allowing both of his dogs to run loose in his neighborhood. Pierce, who has since moved from Monroe, appeared with companion Jocelyn Maldanado, 27, during the brief hearing to answer the complaint brought by the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Pierce's pit bulls were found running in a neighbor's yard Jan. 29, the week before the Giants' upset over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Maldanado also pleaded guilty to the animal neglect charge and agreed to pay a $1,300 fine. As he left court yesterday, Pierce declined comment. He also rebuffed a few autograph seekers from among those assembled for other municipal court hearings. In addition to the neglect charge, Pierce and Maldanado also pleaded guilty to other summonses for letting the dogs run loose, failing to get dog licenses and failing to provide the dogs with rabies shots. The total fine levied by Municipal Court Judge George Boyd came to $1,300 each. The neglect charge, which accounted for the majority of the fine, was levied because one of the pit bulls was underweight and suffering from a respiratory illness, said Walt Mychalchyk, chief of the Middlesex County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "The veterinarian said on a scale of one to ten, its weight was about a three," Mychalchyk said. The dogs were treated after Monroe animal control officer Frank Faraone rounded up the animals and later determined they belonged to Pierce. The pets had apparently escaped from a fenced-in yard at Pierce's home in Monroe. Paul Sant-Ambrogio, a Bloomfield attorney representing the couple, said he told Judge Boyd that the dogs had been given away as part of an agreement to resolve the charges. "The dogs are no longer in New Jersey," Sant-Ambrogio said. Pierce, dressed in a black warm-up suit, barely spoke during the hearing. When asked by the judge if he wanted to plead guilty to the charges, Pierce responded, "Yes, I do." Sant-Ambrogio declined to comment on the case after the hearing. Pierce, while sitting in his black Cadillac Escalade after the court hearing, also declined comment. Several people at the municipal building said they asked Pierce for an autograph, but he refused. "I don't think that's very sporting of him. Even when I had this," Eugene Tonkery said, holding out the leather Giants cap he was wearing. "I wear this everyday. What's more convincing than that?" http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey...060.xml&coll=1

Everytime you turn around there is another dumbass irresponsible pit bull owner making the news, adding one more brick to the wall.

[megschristina]

Like he couldn't afford food and boarding for the dogs...what an a**hole

[fearlessknight]

I find it rather amusing that he basically got a slap on the wrist and a very small fine to say the least!

I wonder what it would have been had it been a regular Joe Blow from next door......

[simms]

Originally Posted by fearlessknight I find it rather amusing that he basically got a slap on the wrist and a very small fine to say the least! I wonder what it would have been had it been a regular Joe Blow from next door......

Well it would not have made the new's. Probably recieved the same fines that anyone would.

This happened the week before the supper bowl. For all anyone know's he could of had someone else caring for his place? He paid his fine and declined comment.

Was he neglectfull? yes. Why b/c he did not have those dogs fully vaccinated! With all the stigma behind properly chaining and securing the APBT I can beleive they got out of his yard......but hey that could happen to anyone that does not properly confine and contain thier APBT. It can happen to those that take every step to prevent it.