Haleiwa woman admits to slitting own dog's throat and killing it

HAWAII -- A Haleiwa woman accused of killing her dog admitted to Honolulu Police that she slashed the dog’s throat.

Andrea Fiegle told police she was angry at the dog for not listening. When KHON2 talked to her, she didn’t deny killing the dog, but she was apologetic.

Fiegle appeared in Honolulu District Court with bandages on her face. So KHON2 caught up with her outside the courthouse to find out if the dog attacked her.

Manolo Morales: “What got you so angry at your dog? Did the dog attack your face, too?”

She wouldn’t answer and said she’s not allowed to talk about the case.

Manolo Morales: “What do you want to say to people about the fact that you killed your dog?”

Andrea Fiegle: “I’m very sorry for that.”

Court records show that on Sunday night, in her home in Haleiwa, Fiegle called police and told them that the dog sniffed her daughter and would not listen when she told the dog to stop. She said she couldn’t control the dog, so she lost her temper and cut the dog’s throat.

When police asked her if the dog was dangerous and if it charged or bit anyone, Fiegle said no.

The 36 year old is charged with Animal Cruelty in the first degree, which is a felony.

The Hawaiian Humane Society says it’s rare to see this type of case in the islands.

“You’re talking about an intentional act with a specific animal. I would say that this is probably one of the worst cases we’ve seen in many years,” Hawaiian Humane Society Community Relations Director Jacque LeBlanc said.

Dog training experts are appalled by the incident and say when pet owners get frustrated, they should follow the same rule as parents who get angry at their children.

“Take a deep breath, seriously take a step away. Put the dog outside, put yourself inside or vice-versa,” animal behaviorist Wendy Mah said.

First-degree Animal Cruelty is a Class C felony.

Fiegle faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

(KHON - April 30, 2013)

Earlier:

• Hawaiian Humane Society calls case 'one of the worst we've seen

Edmond Police Dog Dies in Police Car

OKLAHOMA -- [Well, we made it almost 5 months into 2013 before a police officer "forgot" his K-9 in a vehicle to cook to death. Too bad this will be remembered as the first of the year and unfortunately not the last.]

The Edmond Police Department announced one of its own died inside a police K-9 vehicle.

Jennifer Monroe with Edmond Police announced Tuesday "Justice", one of the city's K-9 dogs, was found lethargic in the back of an Edmond Police SUV on Monday afternoon. He was rushed to the vet where he later died.

The vehicle was running with the air conditioning left on while Justice was in the vehicle.

Monroe said it appears "Justice" overheated and the city is inspecting the vehicle's air conditioning unit to determine what caused his death.

"Justice" came to the Edmond Police Department in 2010 from the Animal Welfare Center. He was primarily used within the Edmond Public Schools to detect illegal narcotics.

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

(KOKH FOX25 - April 30, 2013)

Dogs That Slaughtered Donkeys Put Up For Adoption

GEORGIA -- A Jones County woman says a pack of dogs attacked six of her animals: domesticated donkeys.

Six of them died in one night.

 

 "The horror, the trauma, the disbelief, the death, You would have thought we were describing a situation like what this country has been going through lately," says Betty Coulter, who lives in Gray.

Coulter raised those donkeys for the past 10 years.

But when a pack of dogs invaded her land on April 25th, they slaughtered six of them, almost half her herd.

"With the donkeys, I thought they would be strong enough to protect because they have a powerful kick to them," she says.

Some of the loose dogs belonged to her neighbor, Lloyd Strickland.

"I was in the hospital at the time and wasn't here to watch my dogs and they got out," he says.

Two days spent in the hospital was long enough for his dogs to wreak havoc.

"I never thought these dogs would've teamed up like they did and did what they did," he says.

Coulter and Strickland agreed that he should surrender the dogs to the Jones County Animal Control.

"We love animals, and I'm sorry what happened to the donkeys from the bottom of my heart and I love my dogs, too, but I had to resolve the problem somehow," says Strickland.

These dogs are up for adoption at the Animal Control - three Rottweilers and one mixed breed - all described as sweet and shy.

"They are temperament tested, how they react to the staff, to other dogs," says animal control director Jennifer Giddens.

Animal Control says they'll make full disclosure of the dog's pasts to anyone who wants to adopt them. For some, it's a history that can't be erased.

Coulter says she started carrying a gun after what happened.

 

"I had to, you know, for reasons you wouldn't imagine. That you're out working in your yard and you just have to have that gun," she says.

Both Coulter and Strickland are finding ways to move forward after losing members of their families.

Animal Control says some people are already interested in adopting the dogs.

(13WMAZ - April 30, 2013)

Animal Control officials said they've responded to problems with the dogs involved in this incident a few times in the past year and a half. Now, the owner is at a Lee County mental health facility, and his other two dogs are at the shelter.

FLORIDA -- Animal Control officials said they've responded to problems with the dogs involved in this incident a few times in the past year and a half. Now, the owner is at a Lee County mental health facility, and his other two dogs are at the shelter.

One of the dogs is named "Rough," and the other is "Bell." The two dogs are now without an owner after Animal Control took them out of their Bell Street home, but officials say they may be better off.

Monday night, Fort Myers Police responded to Warren Patterson II's home to investigate a possible burglary and sex offense. Police say he wouldn't come out of the house, and when officers opened the door, three large dogs lunged at them. One officer, who felt his life was in danger, fired shots at the pit bull-rotweiler mix and killed him.

Neighbor Frank Washington said he's not surprised the aggressive dog made a move.

"No, I wasn't because anytime he let them out, they jump on somebody," said Washington.

Animal Control officers say they've responded to issues with Patterson's dogs three times in the past year and a half. Washington said he's seen the deceased dog, named "Danger," attack before.

"When he let the dogs out, and the kids walk down the street, the dog would jump on the kids," said Washington.

Patterson alledgely told officers he trained his dogs to attack.

As for "Rough" and "Bell," they'll stay at Domestic Animal Services for at least five days. Then, officials will see if they can adopt them out to loving homes.

Patterson was taken into custody and then Baker-acted at Lee Mental Health Services. Officers found guns and several other weapons inside his home.

(winknews - April 30, 2013)

Arizona: Poodle mix gets lifesaving haircut

ARIZONA -- A Valley dog is getting a second chance after receiving what was likely a lifesaving haircut.

The male poodle mix was recently found in north Scottsdale. He was so matted and full of debris that he was hardly recognizable as a dog.

 

"His hair was so long, matted and full of burrs, thorns, dirt and debris that you couldn't see where his legs or ears or face were," said Betty Drake, one of the good Samaritans who rescued him. "The only clue was his nose, which you could see if you knew where to look."

Drake took him to an emergency vet, Arizona Animal Welfare League vet Dr. Claudia Channing. There, he was examined and shaved.

The dog, nicknamed Ralph, has an abrasion to one eye from debris and several puncture wounds around his head, neck and forelimbs, probably from a coyote attack.

He was taken in by the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA. The dog is about 2 years old and is not microchipped.

In celebration of Ralph's new lease on life, anyone who makes an appointment for microchipping a pet through AAWL & SPCA and mentions Ralph will get a special low price of $20.

Call 602-358-7267 for an appointment.

(CBS5 - April 30, 2013)

Alleged puppy 'killer' denies throwing pooch six floors to its death

NEW YORK -- A brutal coward threw his girlfriend's six-month-old dachshund's out of their sixth story window -- to its death -- after an argument in their West 129th Street apartment, officials said today.

"I don't care about the dog," Keith Rogers, a 27-year-old violent felon, told cops according to a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated cruelty to animals.

"It's $1,300. I'll buy a new one," he allegedly told cops. "I don't give a f--- about the dog."

Rogers was ordered held in lieu of $25,000 bail this afternoon after prosecutors detailed the case against him, which includes a witness's 911 call.

Witnesses also told cops they saw the little dog lying dead in a pool of blood between two parked cars immediately below the apartment window.

Rogers quickly came outside holding the girlfriend's other dog, a bulldog, and threw the dachshund's body across the street before picking it up again and tossing it in the trash, witnesses told cops.

The heavily tattooed Rogers is claiming through his court-appointed lawyer that the dachshund had run into traffic after both Rogers and the girlfriend left the apartment.

"She walked out of the house, and then he walked out of the house, and the dog followed and ran out into the street," said defense lawyer Evan Rock of the Legal Aid Society.

Rogers is due back in court May 3.

(New York Post - April 30, 2013)

'My nose and lip were hanging off': Teenager describes moment she was attacked by a dog that left her with horrific facial injuries

UNITED KINGDOM -- A teenager has described the terrifying moment her face was ripped apart by a dog, leaving her with permanent injuries.

Chloe Walker, 16, was visiting a friend's house in Shaw, Oldham, when she was attacked by the animal - a Japanese Akita crossed with a Rottweiler.

 

She said: 'When we got to the house I sat on one of the chairs in the living room but my friend and her grandma told me to move because that was the dog's chair.

'The dog started licking my face, and it made me feel uncomfortable so I tried to move away, but as I moved it attacked.

'The next thing I knew I was outside the house with blood gushing from my face. My nose and lip were hanging off and I could hardly see.'

Chloe was rushed to hospital and has undergone two operations and required more than 100 stitches to repair her injuries.

The dog attacked her so viciously her tear duct was torn out, her cheekbone was fractured, her nose ripped out of place and her lips torn to shreds.

Chloe added: 'My cheekbone will always be fractured - they can't fix that unless I have major surgery.

'Because my tear ducts were ripped out I have to have a glass tube inside my eye that filters my tears. The doctors had to sew my nose back on and sew my lips back together, and I've got a really deep scar on my face. It still hasn't healed, 18 months later.'

Chloe and her parents contacted the police, but were shocked to discover no action could be taken against the owners of the dog because the incident happened on private property.

It is understood the dog was put down following the attack in August 2011.

Chloe is now urging the Government to go ahead with plans for a change in the law.

Last month, 14-year-old Jade Lomas-Anderson was mauled to death by a pack of dogs at a house in Atherton, Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police, who are investigating Jade's death, have said it is 'unlikely' anyone will be prosecuted over Jade's death.

They are unable to take action because the dogs involved were not banned breeds and under current laws dog owners cannot be prosecuted if attacks take place on private property.

But Jade's family have launched an e-petition calling for a change to the law and her death has prompted MPs to call for urgent reform of dog control laws.

In February, the government announced it would amend legislation so dog owners could be prosecuted if their animal attacks someone on private property.

Eighteen months after the attack, Chloe says she has been left so traumatised she is scared to go out in public and constantly feels like she's being judged.

She said: 'It's affected me in so many ways. I've become anxious around dogs, dog lovers and people I don't know.

'Even walking in public with no makeup on is a demanding task, I can't bring myself to do it.

'I dread sleeping at night in fear of having nightmares.

'I find it difficult to have relationships because I think the constant reminders and moods I go in over the intrusive thoughts will destroy them.

'My old friend and her family have blamed me and said it's my own fault because I was told it was the dog's chair, but it was a sofa, I didn't see anything wrong in sitting down.

'The family have not shown any remorse - I still see them near my home and they act like nothing has happened.

'That's why the Government needs to carry on trying to change the law on this.

'I fully support it, and knowing other people think they should be prosecuted has given me the confidence to speak out.

'It'[s happening too often now, and the attack on me and other attacks on young girls in the news show it can happen to people of any age.

'I will fight until the day I die for justice for people in the same boat as me.'

(Daily Mail - April 30, 2013)

Hawaiian Humane Society calls case 'one of the worst we've seen'

HAWAII -- The Hawaiian Humane Society notified police about a 36-year-old Haleiwa woman accused of using a dangerous instrument to discipline her pet.

Police say the dog died.

The suspect then reported the incident to police after realizing the severity of the situation.

Andrea Fiegle was arrested on Sunday at a home on Paalaa Road at around 6 p.m. for cruelty to animals in the first degree.

The Hawaiian Humane Society says when they arrived, her dog Star was already dead.  Humane Society officials say Fiegle attacked Star with a common kitchen item, but she told police she didn't realize the injuries were so severe.

"We're sorry this dog suffered such mortal injuries that there was nothing else we could do for him," said Jacque LeBlanc of the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Neighbors were shocked by the news.  They say they didn't hear a commotion or anything out of the ordinary Sunday evening.  They say Fiegle seemed pleasant and friendly and seemed to care for her dog.

(KITV - April 29, 2013)

Deputies: Man beat boss’ dog to death in Sarasota

FLORIDA -- Sarasota County deputies have arrested a man they say beat his boss’ dog to death and buried it in an adjacent business.

Deputies responded Sunday morning to John’s Automotive on Snug Harbor Place in Sarasota after the owner called to report his 4-year-old Mastiff, named Ashton, was missing.

According to deputies, the owner later viewed surveillance video that showed a man beating his dog to death.

When deputies returned, the owner identified the suspect in the video as employee Kevin Koscielniak, 52, no permanent address.

The owner told deputes Koscielniak was asked to leave Saturday after causing a disturbance.

Deputies say an investigation determined Koscielniak climbed over a barbed-wire fence, killed the dog with a tire iron, wrapped the dog in a blanket, cut the fence to Casey’s Auto (an adjacent business), dragged the dog onto that property and buried it there.

Koscielniak was located by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and arrested, deputies say. He is being held on $46,000 bond.

(TBO.com - April 29, 2013)

SPCA Saves 48 Animals From Horrific Hoarder Living in Three Feet of Garbage

CALIFORNIA -- Staff at the SPCA in Monterey County spent their Saturday night/Sunday morning rescuing a crowd of puppies, dogs, and cats from a home that was declared unsuitable even for humans.

Ilagene "Jeanie" Quaglia

Beth Brookhouser, spokeswoman with the SPCA, said the cops called in the animal rescue team at about 1 a.m. after discovering the homeowner (Ilagene "Jeanie" Quaglia) had been living with 17 cats, 24 dogs, and seven puppies inside a urine-soaked home. The city has since declared the living quarters uninhabitable.

No word on what happened to the homeowner, but SPCA officers worked until 9 a.m. Sunday rescuing the dogs and cats and bringing them to the shelter where they've been getting medical examinations, vaccinations, flea treatments, food, water, and the basic love and care every animal needs.

 Sadly, the pets were suffering from a slew of health problems, including flea infestations, eye infections, painful dental infections, and skin infections. Many of the dogs are still covered in painful mats, urine stains, and fecal matter. Most of the rescued animals are emaciated and ready for a damn good meal -- or 10.

The good news is all of the cats and dogs survived and they are recovering from their health issues; they're eating like lions, enjoying fresh water, and reportedly making new friends.

All they're missing now is a safe and loving home. That's where you come in.

To put your name on a list of potential adopters or report animal cruelty, please contact The SPCA at (831)373-2631. All calls are confidential. To donate to the care and medical treatment of these dogs and cats and to help with the SPCA's rescue efforts, please call The SPCA or donate online at www.SPCAmc.org.

(SF Weekly Blog - April 30, 2013)

Minnesota: Roseville K-9 officer Major, who survived stabbing, meets peaceful end

MINNESOTA -- Roseville police officer John Jorgensen used to joke that his K-9 partner was indestructible.

As a 2-year-old, Major developed bloat, an often fatal condition that causes a dog’s stomach to fill with gas. He had pots broken over his head. Suspects punched and kicked him.

On one police call, Jorgensen said, Major nearly drowned chasing a man in to a lake.

RIP Major

On Nov. 12, 2010, he proved his grit again when a man involved in a Maplewood burglary repeatedly stabbed the dog with a butterfly knife.

The assault left Major paralyzed in his hind legs and forced his retirement from the police department, but it didn’t kill him.

Two and half years later and in deteriorating health, Major was euthanized at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30. He was 11 years old.

Using a wheeled sling to preserve mobility, he lived out his retirement with Jorgensen and his family.

“He was a tough dog. … He caught a lot of bad guys and made a strong name for himself and I was lucky and honored to have him as a partner,” Jorgensen said. “I miss him terribly, but I think he is in a better spot. He is probably chasing down bad guys on four good legs now.”

In his final days, Major had started to develop pneumonia and was going on his third bladder infection in three months.

“I promised myself and I promised him that we would make that decision if his quality of life deteriorated to the point where he was too weak and he didn’t have the same happiness,” Jorgensen said of the choice to put Major down. “It was just time.”

 

 

 

The old partners spent Major’s last day driving around to spots they’d patrolled together during Major’s eight years with Roseville police. For his final meal, he was given cheeseburgers from McDonald’s and ice cream from Dairy Queen.

The man who assaulted Major, Roel Joseph Perez Jr., was sentenced in February 2011 to 120 days in jail, but ended up serving a year after he violated the terms of his probation, Jorgensen said.

The Roseville police officer pushed for harsher penalties for those convicted of assaulting police dogs after the attack on Major.

In 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton signed new legislation that makes any assault resulting in substantial bodily harm to a police K9 a felony.

Major, a Roseville Police canine, was the guest of honor
at a bill signing ceremony Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at
the state capitol. Governor Dayton signed House File
141/Senate File 121, which will raise penalties for
people who kill or injure police dogs.
(Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff)

Officer Jorgenson and Major were on hand as legislators 
signed a law increasing penalties for injuring K9s.

Major’s death is a blow to the entire Roseville Police Department, said Lt. Lorne Rosand.

“They were great crime fighters,” Rosand said of the work Jorgensen and Major did for the department. “They did a lot of wonderful things for our agency and for the citizens of Roseville.”

Jorgensen has been working with a new police K9, Otis, for the past year.

“I always say if Otis ends up being half the police dog Major was, he will be phenomenal,” Jorgensen said. “He was truly a handler’s dream.”

(Twin Cities Pioneer Press - April 30, 2013)

Earlier:

• Minnesota: Justice for Police Dogs - Find out how one officer fought the law after his canine partner was hurt on the job
• Minnesota: Officer keeps paralyzed K9 partner, graduates a second dog

Horse owner ordered to get treatment for injured animal

UTAH -- A horse owner has been given five days to obtain treatment for one of his horses after the animal was found with a halter embedded in its face.

Patti and Brett Bass were out on a bike ride Saturday along a Farmington trail, near 1525 West and 675 North, when they happened upon a pasture.

"While we were focused on the cranes, all of a sudden two of the horses came running up and just about knocked us over,” said Brett Bass. “They were really aggressive."

A closer look at the horses showed that the animals were in need of medical help. One horse in particular looked like it was in a lot of pain, he said.

“Basically the horse has matured in a halter that's really solid, and it's just deformed its face,” Bass said. "The flesh has grown through it. You couldn't pull it off if you wanted to."

“It turned my stomach, and I was angry,” he said, adding that his wife, who loves all creatures big and small, was heartbroken. He claimed the three other horses had split hooves and had mites around their eyes.

He contacted animal control officials to see if they could help get proper care for the animals. The owner was given five days to get the animals proper care.

On Monday, Clint Thacker, director of the Davis County Animal Care and Control, said the injuries were not life-threatening, and when that’s the case, the actions animal control can take are very limited.

“If they don’t comply, we will escalate enforcement up to a citation of animal cruelty and impound the animals,” Thacker said.

Bass said he was appalled the horses may have to wait up to five days for treatment. He said the horse (with the halter) was visibly in pain as it thrashed its head to and fro.

"I'm not trying to judge him, but you should never let that happen,” Bass said. “There's no excuse for what we saw."

The owner declined to comment.

The Humane Society of Utah is asking the Davis County agency to alter its standard five-day order and require the owner of the horses to seek immediate treatment for his animals.

It said, in a prepared statement, that the horse’s halter has been left on for such a prolonged period of time that it is now deeply embedded in the skin across the horse’s face, which appears to be infected and causing the animal to suffer. Humane Society investigator John Fox called it one of the more severe cases of cruelty he’s seen in his 40 years on the job.

(Deseret News - April 29 2013)

Reward in Provo animal cruelty case increased by $2,000

UTAH -- The Humane Society of Utah has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for torturing and killing 6 cats from $3,000 to $5,000.

The cats were found about a month ago in Provo in the area between Independence Avenue and Geneva Road. The cats paws’ were bound with tape and the cats were strangled and left on the railroad tracks to die.

Director of Communication Carl Arky, Humane Society of Utah, said this is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they’ve ever seen, which is why the reward has been increased.

“Our members think it’s important too,” he said. “We’ve had a great response on this particular case, and a lot of people are outraged about that. In fact, part of the reason we’re able to increase the reward money is because some of our members have said, ‘We’ll kick in some more money to try to find out whoever did this.’”

The person responsible for the killings could face a maximum fine of $5,000 and as many as five years in prison, according to Utah statutes.

Anyone with information about the attacks is encouraged to contact Detective Morgan, Provo police, at 801-852-7292.

(Fox13 - April 29, 2013)

Grand jury indicts former Deerfield woman, Debra Jaffe, on animal cruelty charge

ILLINOIS -- A former Deerfield resident has been indicted by a Lake County grand jury on a felony charge of aggravated cruelty and treatment of animals.

Debra J. Jaffe, 42, formerly a resident of the 800 block of Chestnut Street, is scheduled for arraignment before Judge George Bridges at 9 a.m. on May 8 in Lake County Circuit Court.

Cynthia Trujillo of the Lake County State's Attorney's office, said that Jaffe, through her attorney, had asked that the state lower charges to a misdemeanor but prosecutors declined.

"Prosecuting the maltreatment of defenseless animals is a top priority of the Lake County State's Attorney's office," said Ken LaRue, chief of felony review.

The Class 4 felony she has been indicted on carries the potential of one to three years in prison, with the possibility of extension to six years, and a maximum fine of $25,000, officials said.

Responding to a complaint, Deerfield police on Nov. 1 visited the Chestnut Street address where Jaffe had lived, and saw through a window the apparently lifeless body of a dog, later determined to be a Maltese-Sheltie mix, lying near the front door, with a large amount of feces nearby, according to authorities.

Police wearing breathing gear entered the home and found that the dog was dead, officials said.

Upstairs they found another male Maltese-Sheltie mix, 4-years-old, emaciated and severely dehydrated, but still breathing, according to authorities. The dog's eyes were swollen nearly shut from infection and dirt, and its fur knotted, tangled and filthy, officials said. No food or water were found inside the home, they noted.

The 4-year old, named Sydney, recovered and was adopted by a Deerfield area family, according to police.

"You had two dogs abandoned inside a home within a mile of Orphans of the Storm in Riverwoods," said Deerfield Deputy Police Chief Rick Wilk. "The owner could have just driven down the street and Orphans would have been more than happy to have taken the dogs off her hands."

Wilk credited Sgt. Juan Mazariegos and Patrolman Anthony Kropp with developing the case against Jaffee.

Neither Jaffe nor her attorney, Laura Horner of Waukegan, could be reached for comment.

(Chicago Tribune - April 29, 2013)

Susan White left her dogs "wearing diapers in cages caked with feces" in her RV

CALIFORNIA -- Authorities found dogs wearing diapers in cages caked with feces when they searched a motor home in the driveway of a Crescent City residence Friday.

The afternoon search came after several formal and informal public nuisance complaints were lodged regarding the residence at 344 N. Pebble Beach Drive, authorities said.

Susan White

The outside of the motor home was in good condition, but the inside was squalid.

Rats ran through the heaps of trash, feces covered the floor, flies buzzed around a bucketful of rotten apples and a soiled mattress faced a flat screen TV. A stale stench of waste was trapped in the motor home from the lack of circulation.

It was the home of 11 terriers that were hauled to the dog pound until the case against the property owner, Susan White, is resolved. She was arrested on suspicion of 11 counts of animal cruelty around 1:45 p.m., shortly after the inspection warrant was executed. White’s daughter is also likely to be arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, authorities said.



Animal control officials unload the motor home
Friday afternoon. Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

“Animal control worked with the District Attorney’s Office in procuring an inspection warrant to check on the condition of the animals,” said sheriff’s Commander Tim Athey. “We didn’t know what we would find.”

After speaking with an acquaintance of White’s, it is suspected she may have been living in the mess as well, said Athey.

White was legally barred from living in the motor home following an abatement hearing earlier this year after she told the county hearing officer her house was uninhabitable, said county Code Enforcement Officer Dave Mason.

She had indicated she would keep the motor home on the property, but stay in motels before a supposedly planned move out of the county, Mason said.

Around 5 p.m. Friday, another warrant was executed to search the house, adjacent garage and shop, which appeared to have been inhabited recently, Athey said, adding that Mason will be taking measures to condemn the property after deeming it unlivable.

Dogs, some two to a cage, were removed from the motor
home parked in front of a house on Pebble Beach Drive.
Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

There were boxes upon boxes of belongings found in the house, and boxes also filled the garage and shop to capacity, Athey said.

White inherited the house several years ago, and she later took out a loan against the house and then the motor home showed up on the property, Mason said. The house is now in foreclosure, he added.

He has dealt with trying to force White to clean up her outside property five times in the last seven years, he said.

On one occasion, he said he saw her throwing trash from a second-story window onto a roof below that jutted from her house, and another neighbor complained she had thrown dog feces on a separate occasion onto the same roof, Mason said.

“We try really hard not to (remove) people from their homes if we can avoid it,” said Mason. “But if it gets to a certain point we have to act.”

Neighbors of White’s who spoke on condition of anonymity said they always heard dogs barking, but were unable to find where the noise was coming from.

Humane Society members photograph and inspect
the animals. Del Norte Triplicate / Bryant Anderson

They said after numerous verbal complaints they had filed a formal complaint against White regarding trash dumped outside with the county last June and contacted several county officials who they felt kept passing the buck.

“The blight is horrible,” said a neighbor. “It’s always been horrible.”

(The Triplicate - April 29, 2013)

'Little Brown Dog' case ends in guilty plea

TENNESSEE -- The man accused of dragging his ex-girlfriend’s dog behind his truck nearly four years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug and animal cruelty charges.

Jimmy Lovell, 48, admitted to two counts of dealing a controlled substance and one count of aggravated animal cruelty, Knox County Criminal Court records show. He received a three-year sentence, with all but six months to be served on probation.

Lovell was arrested in November 2009 after his then-girlfriend Tonya Eubanks’ 17-pound terrier mix was dragged behind Lovell’s truck in West Knoxville. He told authorities he had forgotten the dog was tied to the back of the truck by its leash.

Animal lovers raised $13,000 to care for “Little Brown Dog,” as the wounded mutt became known, and set up a Facebook page in its honor.

A jury deadlocked on animal cruelty charges against Lovell in February 2012. Knoxville police later arrested him on charges of selling oxycodone from his home on Pilkay Road.

(Knoxville News Sentinel - April 10, 2013)