Dogs nearly beaten to death in West Deer
By Chuck Biedka
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

A West Deer man already charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend's mother is expected to be charged today with animal cruelty for injuring the woman's dogs.

Donald Cowfer, 20, of Eisenhower Drive, in the township's Russellton section, was in the Allegheny County Jail Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond, police said.

He is charged with simple assault and making terroristic threats for allegedly choking Darlene Farmer, of West Deer, and threatening to kill her.

According to police reports, the incident happened on July 30, when Farmer and her husband, Jim, returned home and saw Cowfer leaving their house. Once inside, the couple discovered their dogs -- a 3-pound Yorkie named Nugget and a 4-pound Chihuahua named Peanut -- lying almost motionless on the floor.
The Farmers said the dogs were "almost dead" and had to be rushed to an animal hospital in Plum.

"He beat them, I guess, with his hands. My dogs were almost comatose," Darlene Farmer said.

The Valley News Dispatch normally does not identify crime victims, but the Farmers agreed to be interviewed for this story.

"I had a sinking feeling," Darlene Farmer said about her mood when she saw Cowfer leaving her home that day.

Earlier in July, the Farmer's 17-year-old daughter had broken off an almost two-year relationship with Cowfer.

After seeking treatment for the dogs, the Farmers asked Cowfer to return to their house to talk about what had happened to the dogs.
Dogs nearly beaten to death in West Deer

The talk led to accusations and then violence, police allege.

"We confronted him and he came across my table and choked me," Darlene Farmer said. He also allegedly threatened to kill her.

Jim Farmer said he pushed Cowfer off his wife and threw him out of the house. According to arrest papers, an investigating officer saw a red mark on Darlene Farmer's neck.

Cowfer was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing today, but it was unclear whether he had legal counsel.

In the meantime, the Farmers had nothing but praise for the emergency veterinarian.

"The vet did a miracle," Darlene Farmer said.

She held Nugget and Peanut briefly Tuesday while they waited for a veterinarian to check them.

Nugget's cast needed to be replaced and Peanut's internal injuries had to be checked, she said.

"They're just like little kids," she said, cuddling the dogs.

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Hearing held for West Deer dog beater
By Chuck Biedka
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Thursday, August 9, 2007

Like most dogs, Nugget and Peanut usually jumped and barked in joy whenever their family returned to their West Deer home, but not on July 30, a district judge was told Wednesday.

After a frantic search, owner Darlene Farmer and her daughter found Nugget, a 2-year-old Yorkie, and Peanut, a 5-year-old Chihuahua. Both had been severely beaten.

As she bent over to help, Farmer looked up to see her daughter's boyfriend and house guest Donald Cowfer, 20, of the Deer Lakes section, facing her with a broad smile.

Cowfer had a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges of simple assault, making terroristic threats and animal cruelty. It was the first of two unrelated animal cruelty cases Wednesday.

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At the end of the hearing, District Judge Suzanne R. Blaschak ordered Cowfer to stand trial for allegedly assaulting Farmer and threatening her family. She also ruled that there was enough evidence to hold for court two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty rather than a lesser summary offense of animal cruelty.

There is a significant difference.

A lesser summary charge, which Cowfer's attorney sought, carries a fine of $50 to $750, 90 days in jail or both, while the more severe misdemeanor carries a $1,000 fine and up to two years in jail, according to a Humane Society officer who was prepared to testify against Cowfer.

The prosecutor called two witnesses.

Farmer's son, James Farmer Jr., testified that Cowfer, who he knows as Donnie, was dropped off from work at the Farmer house, where he was staying, just after 4 p.m.

"I grabbed a pop and Nugget and Peanut were OK when I petted them" as he left to pick up his girlfriend at work, Farmer Jr. testified. He said, to his knowledge, Cowfer was the only person in the house until Farmer's mother, Darlene, and his sister arrived home just after 5 p.m.

"Peanut and Nugget would greet us and they didn't and we started calling for them," Darlene Farmer testified.

Peanut, a tan-colored dog, was the first to be found, laying unmoving behind the couch.

"He was stiff, cold and his tongue was hanging out... and heavy panting. I tried to revive him," Farmer said.

Nugget was also behind the couch. "He was in the same way. He was stiff and cold, his teeth were clenched and he had very shallow breathing," Farmer said.

She looked up.

"I saw Donnie standing behind us. He had a smile that was ear to ear and I told him to get out," Darlene Farmer said.

The dogs were rushed to an animal hospital.

Later that night, Cowfer was asked to talk with the Farmer family.

Darlene Farmer testified that she confronted Cowfer in the kitchen where her daughter and husband waited.

"He jumped up and screamed (an obscenity), spit at me and threatened to kill us as he lunged at me ," she said.

Farmer said she threw a plate at Cowfer. It missed and hit a wall and Cowfer grabbed her neck with both hands for three to five seconds before her husband pushed him away, Farmer testified.

Farmer said her neck was red for about a day but she was OK.

She said Nugget has a broken leg and other injuries and must be checked weekly for eight weeks at an animal hospital. She said Peanut is recovering from internal injuries.

Assistant public defender Jaime Potts asked for Cowfer's $5,000 bond to be reduced so he can be released from jail pending trial. She said Cowfer should be ordered to stay away from the Farmer family.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Weeks objected.

Although Cowfer is in the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of bond, he has been repeatedly telephoning the Farmer family even though they asked that the jail block any such calls.

"And, if he were released, he probably would be staying three doors away," Weeks said.

Instead of reducing Cowfer's bond, Blaschak increased it to $10,000 and told him, if he posts bond, he must not contact the Farmer family.

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