Our Story
This was not Nitro's first visit to High Caliber but sadly it would end up being his last.
Nitro lived the typical suburbia New York life with his doting family and litter mate, Bella. A family that cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast for them, labored with love on sewing holiday costumes, including them as members of their family in celebrations, vacations, and the many activities of life; a life any dog would be fortunate to live. It was obvious from the beginning, Nitro was the classic, determined Rottie with a high working drive and High Caliber K9 came highly recommended through Nitro's breeder as a positive outlet and focus for him to be the best dog he could be.
Steven S. Croley, the owner of High Caliber K9 appeared to be the charismatic, gifted dog whisperer and Nitro's family did all the necessary tasks ensuring his background was genuine and without blemish, including an 8 hour drive to be guests of Croley at his facility with impressive results. For 2.5 years a successful working relationship and bond soon developed with Croley and naturally a friendship quickly followed including social engagements and outings with all the makings of a trusted alliance.
When a critical medical emergency developed, Nitro's family found themselves in a dilemma of commuting for long periods of time back and forth to New Jersey putting a strain on the pets in their home. Nitro being highly protective proved this to be increasingly stressful on him.
Croley's facility and program of a summer dog camp seemed to be the perfect solution. Not only would he be safe with someone they thought they knew and trusted but Nitro could also work on his training in a secure and safe environment. Nitro was a very reserved dog and not inclined to trust easily and naturally any lingering doubts they might have had regarding Croley had dissolved long ago, since Nitro thrived in Croley's presence and doting attention. This combined with their successful 2.5-year history with Croley only reinforced he was trustworthy. They would never have thought in a million years they could and would be so utterly and devastatingly wrong.
Croley's many different versions of his account of what took place are not only conflicting but unclear and to this day he has yet to openly acknowledge his self-absorbed criminal actions and remorse for the unspeakable suffering which he was responsible for. The suffering of these dogs was not out of sight and out of mind; Croley lived on the same property of the kennels and the training area was his own backyard. He was meticulous about the grounds always displaying freshly-cut grass even while the dead carcasses of dogs were decaying in the kennels in the back. Alleged drug use is reported to have been the motivating factor in robbing these dogs of the basic necessities of life with the money paid to ensure their care instead being used to feed an alleged drug addiction.
A further crime and travesty of justice occurred after the original crime; Croley was originally charged on 19 counts of animal cruelty for starving 19 dogs, 8 of which died with only misdemeanor provisions and penalties regardless of the severity of this crime, courtesy of Ohio's outdated legislation. To top this off, due to a legal technicality 15 of those original 19 charges were dropped and Nitro's life was one of them. Croley was charged just 4 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and was granted a plea bargain sentencing him to only 4 months in county jail with 13 days credited already having been served. He was released on Mother's Day 2009.
Ohio continues to rank at the bottom of animal protection legislation. The degradation of our Nation as a whole by the state of Ohio continues into the 21st century and only through legislation that allows for prosecution of animal cruelty with stronger penalties imposed on those found guilty, will Ohio be on the road to becoming a just and compassionate State.
Nitro lived the typical suburbia New York life with his doting family and litter mate, Bella. A family that cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast for them, labored with love on sewing holiday costumes, including them as members of their family in celebrations, vacations, and the many activities of life; a life any dog would be fortunate to live. It was obvious from the beginning, Nitro was the classic, determined Rottie with a high working drive and High Caliber K9 came highly recommended through Nitro's breeder as a positive outlet and focus for him to be the best dog he could be.
Steven S. Croley, the owner of High Caliber K9 appeared to be the charismatic, gifted dog whisperer and Nitro's family did all the necessary tasks ensuring his background was genuine and without blemish, including an 8 hour drive to be guests of Croley at his facility with impressive results. For 2.5 years a successful working relationship and bond soon developed with Croley and naturally a friendship quickly followed including social engagements and outings with all the makings of a trusted alliance.
When a critical medical emergency developed, Nitro's family found themselves in a dilemma of commuting for long periods of time back and forth to New Jersey putting a strain on the pets in their home. Nitro being highly protective proved this to be increasingly stressful on him.
Croley's facility and program of a summer dog camp seemed to be the perfect solution. Not only would he be safe with someone they thought they knew and trusted but Nitro could also work on his training in a secure and safe environment. Nitro was a very reserved dog and not inclined to trust easily and naturally any lingering doubts they might have had regarding Croley had dissolved long ago, since Nitro thrived in Croley's presence and doting attention. This combined with their successful 2.5-year history with Croley only reinforced he was trustworthy. They would never have thought in a million years they could and would be so utterly and devastatingly wrong.
Croley's many different versions of his account of what took place are not only conflicting but unclear and to this day he has yet to openly acknowledge his self-absorbed criminal actions and remorse for the unspeakable suffering which he was responsible for. The suffering of these dogs was not out of sight and out of mind; Croley lived on the same property of the kennels and the training area was his own backyard. He was meticulous about the grounds always displaying freshly-cut grass even while the dead carcasses of dogs were decaying in the kennels in the back. Alleged drug use is reported to have been the motivating factor in robbing these dogs of the basic necessities of life with the money paid to ensure their care instead being used to feed an alleged drug addiction.
A further crime and travesty of justice occurred after the original crime; Croley was originally charged on 19 counts of animal cruelty for starving 19 dogs, 8 of which died with only misdemeanor provisions and penalties regardless of the severity of this crime, courtesy of Ohio's outdated legislation. To top this off, due to a legal technicality 15 of those original 19 charges were dropped and Nitro's life was one of them. Croley was charged just 4 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty and was granted a plea bargain sentencing him to only 4 months in county jail with 13 days credited already having been served. He was released on Mother's Day 2009.
Ohio continues to rank at the bottom of animal protection legislation. The degradation of our Nation as a whole by the state of Ohio continues into the 21st century and only through legislation that allows for prosecution of animal cruelty with stronger penalties imposed on those found guilty, will Ohio be on the road to becoming a just and compassionate State.
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