FARMER ACCUSED OF STARVING HIS HERD TO DEATH

RUTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — The 80 cows in the barn once were John Garvin's
joy and livelihood. Then, they became his curse. Now, they are his
ruin.

The 31-year-old farmer sits in jail on charges that he starved to
death 47 cows and neglected dozens of others that were found barely
alive earlier this month, standing in frozen, ankle-deep manure on the
barn floor.

Veterinarians said the animals had been without food for a month or
more. Many of the dead cows had half-born calves.

It is one of the worst cases of farm animal abuse New York authorities
can recall.

"I can't imagine how he slept in the house next to the barn with all
those cows crying and bellowing and not respond to them. It's
absolutely heartless,'' said Linda Miles, director of the Jefferson
County branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Garvin's lawyer, David Renzi, said Garvin had fallen into ruin after
the death in 1995 of his father, who had run the farm since 1941.

"He had this farm thrown on him and financially he just couldn't keep
it running. He got in over his head. Things started breaking. He had
severe depression and problems with alcohol. It got out of his
control,'' Renzi said. "I don't think he's necessarily a cruel person.''

Because of Garvin's depressed state, Renzi refused to let him be
interviewed.

State troopers acting on an anonymous tip raided Garvin's farm 75
miles north of Syracuse on March 5. Garvin lived on the farm with his
70-year-old mother, Helen Garvin.

"It was an awful scene,'' said Trooper John J. Poggi III, who had to
shoot several of the animals that couldn't be saved.

Garvin was charged with animal abuse. He has remained in jail since
his arrest, unable to pay his $7,500 bail.

"He had been taking care of cows since he was able to walk,'' Renzi
said. "His mother said she can't understand what happened. He used to
love the cows. She tells a story about how he almost got into a fight
with a farmhand once because the man used an electric prod on one of
the family cows.''

Mrs. Garvin did not return calls for comment. Renzi said she has been
besieged by threatening and harassing calls from people upset over the
incident.

The younger Garvin had started drinking heavily in the years before
his father's death. Court records showed he was arrested for drunken
driving in 1992 and 1995. His drinking worsened after his father died,
Renzi said. Garvin was arrested twice more for driving drunk in
December and February.

As his personal problems mounted, the farm went bankrupt and the
Garvins found themselves with liens on their house, land and animals.

"The bank was putting a lot of pressure on him,'' Renzi said. "It's
not an excuse. It's an explanation.''

Sheriff's deputies and SPCA officials visited the Garvin farm twice
last year to investigate neglect allegations, but no charges were
filed. On the second visit, deputies found three dead calves.

"On a farm, animals sometimes die. That's nature's course,'' Sheriff
James Lafferty said. "There wasn't sufficient evidence of any
wrongdoing.''

Garvin promised to improve conditions on his farm and did, at least
temporarily, Mrs. Miles said. The SPCA offered him help if he ever
needed it, said Mrs. Miles, who also noted that the state runs a hot
line for farmers through Cornell University that provides counseling
and financial advice.

Renzi said he doesn't know why Garvin didn't seek assistance.

"He's now asking himself the same question,'' the lawyer
said.