I’m so sorry, Soccermom. I have had the very unpleasant job of telling someone that their horse didn’t make it… and my heart aches for you.
Wow, that’s even harder to stomach 
The idea that there are people who would pretend to be horse lovers and then purposefully torture these beautiful animals.
Trupia Plead Not Guilty
http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ecf768a9-0bc2-4ef6-8ac5-9c71630a1db8
TOWN OF TROUPSBURG- The woman who SPCA officials say is responsible for the largest animal cruelty case in Steuben County history plead not guilty in the Town of Troupsburg Court Wednesday, but Geraldine Trupia had no comment after her arraignment.
A judge also ordered her to pay more than fifty three thousand dollars to cover the cost of caring for the animals since they were seized.
SPCA officials are still looking for some of the horses’ owners. If you had a boarding or leasing agreement with Trupia, you’re asked to call the Finger Lakes SPCA at 607-776-3039.
More from The Horse:
"Breeding Farm Operator Pleads Not Guilty to Cruelty Charges
Geraldine Trupia, operator of Norcrest Farm in Troupsburg, N.Y., pleaded not guilty to five counts of Class A misdemeanor animal cruelty during her arraignment in Troupsburg Town Court Sept. 24.
…Trupia is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 1, at which time she will be asked to post bond to cover the cost of the horses’ care, [SPCA Executive Director Vicki] Mosgrove said. Meanwhile, arrangements to return the horses to their owners continues. Anyone who had boarding or leasing agreements with Trupia should call the SPCA at 607/776-3039."
Eh, they never do admit their guilt. Hope they force her to come up with the $53k for care.
And that’s only for the first month - how long before this goes to court???
I am so very sorry. I can’t even imagine how you must feel. I hope it is a small comfort that a vet was there to make her passing peaceful.
I agree with MistyBlue, I’d not hang my hat on the “hoarder” label.
I think there is real evil in the world. Cruel, calculating evil. Most, if not all of us know this person through her internet posts.
She knew better. And she did it anyway.
(in defense of 7HL, some of us have been taken in by anonymous requests for donations. There is no way for all of us to know who is legit or not; I can see why some folks would be suspicious. Glad the moderator verified that the request was legitimate)
She had a stallion there named Dunsynine. Anybody know if he is still alive?
She had a stallion there named Dunsynine.
El camino, when was this??? Was it actually her stallion or was it on loan from someone???
I went back in the Wayback Machine to look at Norcrest’s website that was up before she took it down and that was not one of the many stallions that was listed…
Oh Soccermom I am so very sorry. This brings tears to my eyes.
i’m so sorry soccermom
Hello everyone…just wanted to say thank you again for all of your kind words. Thankfully, I have some nice pictures of our mare. We can’t stop thinking about her. It’s so sad. Every horse is special in their own way and every life is sacred – and yet there are a few that stand out to you. She was one of them. I have never owned a horse as beautiful as she was – she had an almost exotic look to her. But what made you fall in love with her was her personality. She was so kind, yet funny. Easy to work with, but spirited. She wasn’t needy, but she was the first horse to greet you, every day, when you came in the barn.
We had sent her to Illinois in 2007 to be bred with another mare of ours. We believe the farm foundered her, she almost died – they told us she would probably not make the trip back. We drove 25 hours round trip to go get her. She made it — she had a big heart and really was a fighter, although at the bottom of the pack in the herd. So I know she tried to survive in NY…obviously she didn’t stand a chance. I cannot wait to hear Gerry’s explanation. Justice will never be served in this case. You cannot make up for what she did to those innocent animals.
A ![](limmer of Hope
From The Hornell Evening Tribune
"By Lynn Brennan
The Evening Tribune
[IMG]http://global.static.ghm.zope.net/resources/global/images/new.gif) Fri Sep 26, 2008, 11:49 AM EDT
Alfred, N.Y. - Nearly a month after being seized from the Norcrest/Middle Creek Farm in Troupsburg, all 78 horses are still alive and recovering at barns across New York state.
…
Eight of the horses removed from Trupia’s farm were taken to the Alfred State College Pioneer Farm, where they are being nursed back to health under the director of Vicki Bolton, department chair of the animal science program at ASC.
“These students are getting to see and treat things they have seen in class,” said Bolton, explaining that she will lecture on a subject, then go out to the barn and see what they just learned about.
According to Bolton, the seized horses were suffering from malnourishment, rain rot, thrush, parasites, eye problems, a lack of farrier care and open wounds.
“We just spent the last month getting their strength up so we can deal with these issues,” said Jen Kuhn, ASC’s Pioneer Farm manager.
“These horses were on the brink of death when they came here,” said Recktenwald.
Many of the horses at the farm have gained 75-100 pounds since their arrival. The horses are going through a ton of hay a week.
“The pastures (at the Troupsburg farm) looked green but there wasn’t anything for the horses to eat,” Bolton said, adding that the pastures were primarily made of buttercup which is not nourishing and can cause blisters on the horses’ noses.
Recktenwald said she is very impressed by the effort and compassion put forth by volunteers to improve the lives of the animals. She said that 35 volunteers arrived at the Troupsburg farm to remove horses on Aug. 29-30.
“(ASC) students came dressed in blue coveralls, unasked, ready to work on both days,” said Recktenwald.
“They came back the next day,” said Bolton. “They couldn’t turn their backs on those horses.
Recktenwald told the story of a chestnut stallion nicknamed “Big Red” that was seized by the SPCA and in in dire need of immediate medical attention. A call was placed to the Cornell University Veterinary Hospital but volunteers were told the university was not accepting any charity cases. One of the volunteers donated $1,000 and a trailer to get him in the door at Cornell. “Big Red” had surgery to remove an eye and is now in foster care in Allegany County.
The Animal Welfare Institute is currently paying for the feed and medical care for the eight horses being housed at ASC, as well as Kuhn’s salary.
“At the end of the day, we just hope we’ve made an impact on the lives of these horses,” said Recktenwald."
There are two photos accompanying the article. Here are their captions:
(Chestnut foal in stall) Vicki Bolton looks at one of the foals at the Alfred State Sollege farm that was seized from the Norcrest/Middle Creek Farm in Troupsburg.
(Bay foal outside) Jen Kuhn, Alfred State College Pioneer Farm manager, pets one of the foals seized by the Fingerlakes SPCA. The horses were afraid of people when they were seized from the Troupsburg farm. They are now thriving on human contact.
Edited to add, in response to soccermom’s post above,
“Justice will never be served in this case. You cannot make up for what she did to those innocent animals.”
No truer words, soccermom; no truer words.
May your heart heal soon.
[QUOTE=Cherry;3540089]
El camino, when was this??? Was it actually her stallion or was it on loan from someone???
I went back in the Wayback Machine to look at Norcrest’s website that was up before she took it down and that was not one of the many stallions that was listed…[/QUOTE]
I don’t think he made it on the website. I asked her about it and she said she was working on a page for him but she never even posted a picture of him. She got him in 2006 I think, forget what month now though. I hope he made it but I’m not real well hopeful.
Latest press coverage at The Courier includes a photo which is worth 1,000 words (500 of which could be “Why? Why? Why?..”).
"Donors giving thousands to SPCA for seized horses
Operator of farm pleads not guilty to animal cruelty charges
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE
…Animal Cruelty Inv. Scott Mazza estimated it would cost about $20,000 a month to feed and treat the animals.
“I’m really impressed with people stepping forward to help us,” Mosgrove said last week. She added the agency will continue to need monetary support, inkind services and donations while the horses are under its care.
…
Meanwhile the SPCA is working to match each surviving horses with its legal owner. The Trupia farm was a large horse breeding operation, and horse owners across the country had sent their mares to the stable for stud service. Mosgrove said the SPCA has been working with the U.S. Jockey Club, which oversees thoroughbred breeding in the country, to match the horses with their owners.
The agency last week asked anyone with horse boarding or leasing agreements with Trupia to contact its office at 607-776-3039.
The SPCA will continue to look after the horses while the Trupia case is adjudicated, Mosgrove said."
I’m just trying to figure out how she could plead “not guilty” and what possible kind of defense she might have.
Just an update
I emailed the SPCA looking for a stallion that was given to Geri. Fini Cassette, bay approx 17 yrs old. She was given this stallion and promised a good home. I am frantic to find him as I was going to get him but we already have a stud and hubby didn’t want another. Now we are kicking ourselves. The lady in the email said they are still having trouble id’ing horses and finding owners. So if anyone has pics or knows of someone that may have a horse there please tell them to contact them. There is a email link on the SPCA website. She also said they are trying to get a list together to post.
I am so glad that I did not sell her my mare and foal when she contacted me. I guess for once I am glad I was out of someones price range and didn’t budge.
I *believe that Fini Cassette is in the care of a foster home. His tattoo (to match him) was given to the SPCA along with the rest.
I hope so, my kids have been frantic. We have one of his daughters and they really wanted us to give him a home. But one stallion is enough but I wish I had. Hopefully the SPCA will get back to us. I hope she surrenders her own horses so we can give him a forever home.
Guilty in horse farm animal abuse
Trupia copped a plea.
"Guilty in horse farm animal abuse
By Lynn Brennan
The Evening Tribune
Thu Oct 02, 2008, 11:24 AM EDT
It doesn’t look like Geraldine “Gerry” Trupia will be spending any time in jail for allegedly mistreating 85 horses and five cats in her care.
Trupia appeared in Troupsburg town court Wednesday morning to answer five charges of animal cruelty for failure to provide adequate food, water and medical treatment for the animals. The charges were limited to five because state law prohibits jail terms of more than two years for related misdemeanor convictions.
“Miss Trupia pled guilty to two counts of misdemeanor level animal cruelty pursuant to Section 353 of the Agriculture and Markets law,” said Patricio Jimenez, Steuben County assistant district attorney. “That was in satisfaction of the five charges that have been at this point filed against her.”
…
As a condition of her plea, Trupia also … [spare me the theatrics] gave up ownership rights to her animals that were seized by the SPCA. Those animals will be adopted out. Upon proof of ownership, horses owned by third parties will be returned to their owners.
“Certain things can happen between now and the sentencing that would not bind the court to the agreed upon sentencing but allow them to deviate and perhaps impose some other sentence,” Jimenez said. “Typically, a court can and will do that if a defendant doesn’t show up for sentencing or if the defendant is re-arrested between the date of the plea and the date of the actual sentencing.”
Jimenez would not comment on whether Blazejewski is facing any charges.
“At this point we consider it to be an open investigation,” Jimenez said. “Generally, our policy is with any open investigation, we don’t really comment.”
As the investigation continues, other charges are possible against Trupia and others.
Eight of the horses removed from Trupia’s farm were taken to the Alfred State College Pioneer Farm, where they are being nursed back to health under the direction of Vicki Bolton, department chair of the animal science program at ASC.
Many of the horses at the farm have gained 75-100 pounds since their arrival. The horses are going through a ton of hay a week.
Trupia declined comment Wednesday morning but said she will come forward with her side of the story once the case is settled.
