Illinois: Juan Zamora, 50, charged with animal neglect

ILLINOIS -- After being charged with multiple counts relating to dog fighting, Juan Zamora finds himself in trouble with the law again -- neglecting animals. Question? Why is he even allowed to have animals???

Name: Juan Zamora
DOB: 11/07/1965
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'06"
Weight: 210 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Age at arrest: 50
Date of arrest: 05/31/2016
Arresting agency: Cook County IL
Total Bond: $15,000
Charge:

• ANIMAL OWNER DUTIES/1ST VIO (STATUTE: 510 ILCS 70/3)

70/3. Owner's duties
§ 3. Each owner shall provide for each of his animals:
(a) sufficient quantity of good quality, wholesome food and water;
(b) adequate shelter and protection from the weather;
(c) veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering; and
(d) humane care and treatment.

Earlier:

• Illinois: Juan Zamora charged with dog fighting after police find 10 pit bulls in his home

Iowa: Jerrick Rinnels, 28, accused of killing kitten by throwing it against a wall

IOWA -- Mason City police have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of throwing a kitten against a wall, killing the animal.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Jerrick Rinnels was arrested during a traffic stop Sunday afternoon, May 29, 2016, on a warrant for misdemeanor animal abuse.  Police had previously asked for help from the public to locate Rinnels, the report said.

Police say Rinnels and another resident in a Mason City house were arguing early Friday morning, May 27, when Rinnels grabbed the kitten from the resident and threw it against the wall.

The kitten died before it could be taken to a veterinarian.

Court records showed Rinnels was charged with one count of animal abuse; his bond was set at $2,000.

Jail records showed Rinnels was released from the Cerro Gordo County Jail.

(WQAD - May 31, 2016)

Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels

Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 180 lb
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Age at arrest: 28
Date of arrest: 05/29/2016
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, IA
Total Bond: $2,000
Charge:

• #1 ANIMAL ABUSE (STATUTE: 717B.2) - BOND: $2,000

Date of arrest: 03/29/2016
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Total Bond: $2,300
Charges:

• #1 DRIVING WHILE BARRED (STATUTE 321.561) - BOND $2,000
• #2 THEFT/5TH DEGREE/VALUE NOT OVER $200.00 (STATUTE 714.2(5)) - BOND $300

On May 4th, Rinnels pleaded guilty to Theft in the 5th Degree. Rinnels was fined $200 plus 35% surcharge, $125 Law Enforcement Initiative, $79.99 in restitution, and $251 in costs.

Date of crime: 12/19/2014
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
A Mason City man charged with felony theft was fined $65 after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Jerrick S. Rinnels, 28, was charged with third-degree burglary, a Class D felony, after breaking the rear door of a residence in the 200 block of 22nd Street Southeast and stealing a subwoofer on Dec. 19, 2014, according to the criminal complaint from the Mason City Police Department.

He pleaded guilty Monday to fifth-degree theft, a simple misdemeanor.

Date of arrest: 02/14/2014
Name: Jerrick Simon Rinnels
Arresting agency: Cerro Gordo County, IA
Total Bond: $300
Docket: SMSM033734
Charge: ??

United Kingdom: Firefighters rescue horse stuck on wooden gate

UNITED KINGDOM -- From the West Midlands Fire Service Facebook page:

There's always one that likes to horse around!

We're not entirely sure how our friend here got their front two legs stuck over this wooden gate in Solihull. Either way, firefighters managed to release the bolts to drop the gate and let it free in no time!

Crews from Canley Fire Station were supported by our Technical Rescue Unit to ensure a safe, swift release of the animal.

 

 

The owner of the horse was present throughout the ordeal.

If you're concerned about an animal in distress, call the RSPCA (England & Wales) first on 0300 1234 999.

(West Midlands Fire Service - May 31, 2016)

Canada: Newfoundland wildlife officers take baby moose for a ride

CANADA -- Wildlife officers had an unusual ride-along in one of their trucks after finding a baby moose under a stairwell in St. John’s, N.L.

The animal became trapped in an outdoor porch stairwell of a home in the city’s east end after getting separated from its mother.

Wildlife officers removed the moose, but police say he was too small to ride in the bed of their truck. So, he hopped into the back seat.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary joked on Twitter that officers caught the “little fella trying to break into an east end home” and then placed him in the car where “this babe is riding shotgun (well not quite).”

Police posted pictures of the moose in the stairwell and curled up at the officer’s feet in the wildlife truck, adding that the animal’s mother was not be found.

(Global news CA - May 31, 2016)

Indiana: Little fox rescued by Animal Control after falling into an open well

INDIANA -- This little fox is much better now, thanks! He and a sibling fell into an open well on an abandoned farm property, and thanks to an observant neighbor, and a fabulous Bartholomew County Animal Control Officer, he was saved.

He was lying next to his dead brother, and would have suffered the same painful fate.

Thanks. too, to Travis Anderson from City Animal Control, who dropped by to see if there was anything he could do. Utopia relies on our local animal control agencies to help us do our job.

Our fox pal was emaciated, but is very pleased to find out that the accommodations here include mice.

UPDATE (06/01/2016) - Our fox friend after rescue. Life is not that bad here, but a little guy's got a lot of adjustments! He's eating well and is more active.

In the next few days we hope to find him a friend or friends, either one will be admitted here, or through networking with other rehabilitators who may have some.

(UTOPIA Wildlife Rehabilitators - May 30, 2016)

Louisiana: Matthew LeBlanc, 23, accused of shooting, killing livestock with semi-automatic rifle in Bell City

LOUISIANA -- The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office arrested a Bell City man Sunday, suspected of shooting and killing four cows an one bull with a semi-automatic rifle.

Matthew Gilles LeBlanc (aka Matt LeBlanc), 23 (DOB 05/14/1993), was arrested on five counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, possession of drugs, possession pf drug paraphernalia and illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of drugs.

According to Kim Myers, spokesman, the sheriff's office got a call on May 23 about dead livestock in Bell City. Three livestock owners were affected.

During the investigation, detectives learned that LeBlanc had been seen in the area on an ATV on May 22.

"When the deputy questioned, LeBlanc he stated that he was shooting an AR-15 in that area," Myers said.

After further investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest on May 29 and while serving it, deputies found LeBlanc was in possession of liquid Xanax, drug paraphernalia and a firearm.

He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on a total bond of $92,500.

The investigation is ongoing with more charges and arrests are possible, Myers said.

(KPLC - May 31, 2016)

PREVIOUS KNOWN ARRESTS FOR MATTHEW LEBLANC:

Date of Arrest: August 6, 2013
Arresting agency: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office
Location: Calcasieu Parish, LA
Name: Matthew Gilles Leblanc
Age at arrest: 20
Gender: Male
Race: White
Address: Pecan Acres Drive, Apt. 12E
Charge: Theft over $1,500, simple burglary, possession of stolen property $500 to $1,500.

Date of Arrest: May 9, 2014
Location: Calcasieu Parish, LA
Name: Matthew G Leblanc
Gender: Male
Age at arrest: 21
Date of Birth: 05/14/1993
Race: White
Charge: ?????

Related:

• Louisiana: Conner Mier, 21, arrested in connection with livestock shot in Bell City

Texas: People, horses, cows seeking dry land in Fort Bend County

TEXAS -- A mandatory evacuation in Fort Bend County forced locals to leave their homes near the Brazos River.

Flooding caused police in Rosenberg, which is southwest of Houston, to close roads.

 

 

According to Ft. Bend County Office of Emergency Management, there have been 26 high water rescues in the area since Sunday.

These photos are from the overflowing Brazos River near Simonton toward Rosharon.

 

 

(KXAN - May 31, 2016)

Florida: Police arrest little boy's mother's boyfriend Benjamin Brown after he lied about pit bull attack

FLORIDA -- Sheriff's deputies arrested 28-year-old Benjamin Brown (aka Max Brown, Benjamin Matthew Brown) today, charging him with perjury and child neglect in connection with a dog attack on a child last week.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office now says he made-up the whole thing.

Last Thursday afternoon, they responded to a local hospital, where doctors were treating 4-year-old Avery Farmer for wounds received from a dog attack.

Originally, his mother's boyfriend, Max Brown, told authorities he picked-up Avery from his father's house, then took him to a yard sale on Allison Avenue in Panama City Beach where he claimed a pit bull attacked the child while walking back to his car.

Brown then took Avery back home to his mother, who then drove the child to the hospital.

 

 

 

  

Authorities launched a search over the weekend to find the dog for a number of reasons, including determining if the animal has rabies. However on Monday, after Avery was released from the hospital, a different story began to surface.

The boy told his father that he was "playing with puppies" when attacked.

Investigators now believe Brown picked up Avery and took him along as he visited a friend on Allison Avenue. The friend owns several large dogs, one of which recently had a litter of puppies.

They believe the boy was playing with the puppies when the mother dog attacked him. Deputies charged brown with perjury for allegedly lying to them, and child neglect for not seeking medical attention.

Bay County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Ruth Corley said there were several factors leading to the arrest.

“One, he did not call 911, and two, he did not take him to a hospital; he took him all the way to Southport. It was the mother that saw he needed help,” said Corley.

REPEAT OFFENDER
The owner gave the pit bull to Bay County Animal Control to be euthanized later this week.

They say this is not the first incident with the pit bull.

They have had two complaints about the dog this year with one of those complaints involving a bite to the leg.

FACEBOOK POSTS BY LITTLE BOY'S DAD
This is my 4 year old son, who was attacked today by a black pitbull close to the zoo on panama city beach. He is such a sweet boy. i know i have friends on here that still live on the beach. if you see any stray black dogs in this area. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!

Cody Farmer: just wanted everyone to know. we found the house where the dog was located. my son was attacked inside of a house not at a yardsale like the man who was with him said. he lied to everyone, making us search for hours on end for a dog when he knew where it was.making my son go through rabies shots. He also told.me his conscious was clear. people in this world are just sad. cops are still outside the house waiting for the owner to come home.

Angela Envy LaMorgese: Kick that guys ass. Poor kid didn't deserve this.

Cody Farmer: cops will deal with it. im calling lawyer in morning

Angela Envy LaMorgese: Good luck man, karma is going to get him one way or another.

 

 

(MyPanhandle - May 31, 2016)

Earlier:

• Florida: Four-year-old recovering from pit bull attack, authorities are looking for dog

South Africa: Family devastated after their Dachshund is mauled to death by two large dogs at a public park

SOUTH AFRICA -- A Sunningdale family say they are devastated after their beloved pet was fatally mauled at a public park in the area.

Murray Staats said his wife, Molly, had taken Izzy and Ernie, their dachshunds, to the park in Sunningdale for a walk. However, within minutes of arriving, his rescue pet, Izzy, was attacked by two dogs that were off their leashes.

The attack has left the family deeply traumatised and Staats has urged pet owners to take more responsibility for their dogs.

“My wife, who is on maternity leave, took our baby and the dogs down to the park. When she arrived, she let Izzy out and as she was unpacking items from the car, she saw two dogs off leashes run towards Izzy. She tried to put herself between the two dogs while trying to hold on to our six-week old baby.

"The lady who was looking after the dogs soon arrived to help take them away. Molly rushed Izzy to the vet who said the dogs had gone for her jugular, she died a few days later from the wounds sustained.

“Marshall Security was fantastic in helping me track down the owner of the dogs. This is not about pointing fingers but I do think these dogs should be banned from using the park. What if that had been a little child? This could also happen to another small dog. We frequent the park quite a lot and now we’re reluctant to use it because we are wary,” he said.

Staats said Izzy, who was a rescue dog, had just begun to come out of her shell.

“She was rescued from a breeder who had kept her in a cage for four years and initially she was skittish. She really just come out of her shell and showed what a beautiful dog she was. My hope is that owners begin to take more responsibility for their pets. The owner has argued that my dachshund was off the leash too but she would never harm a soul.

“People know their pets; if their dogs are aggressive or highly-strung, they should be on leashes. We also loved taking walks on the beaches, and I’ve noticed responsible pet owners shorten their leashes if they know their dog is going to react to other dogs. I’d do the same and pick my dachshund up if need be. We live in a fantastic neighbourhood but this whole experience has just spoiled it for us,” he said.

(Northglen News - May 30, 2016)

California: Chris Iles ran over two dogs being walked by their owner and fled as the animals died

CALIFORNIA --  A Los Gatos dog walker who gained Internet fame for portraits of perfectly posed canines has been arrested on suspicion of running over two Labradors last week and fleeing the scene, authorities said.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said Christopher James Iles, 44, of Los Gatos, was driving a Ford pickup truck that hit the animals as they were being walked by their owner on Dagmar Drive at Holiday Court around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Labradors, named Sadie and Chudley, were pulled under the truck, and their owner, a Saratoga woman, was knocked to the ground as a result, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Both animals had to be euthanized because of the severity of their injuries.

Investigators received a tip about a potential location of the truck and its owner, which led them to a residence in Los Gatos. They spotted the vehicle Saturday morning, pulled it over and arrested Iles, the Sheriff’s Office said. He is currently out of custody.

Anne Palmer of Saratoga was walking her two Labradors, Sadie and Chudley, Wednesday when a Ford truck came around a corner and hit the pups, pulling them under the vehicle and causing Palmer, who was holding onto their leashes, to fall to the ground.

Though Palmer had only moderate injuries, Sadie and Chudley were badly hurt and had to be euthanized at a veterinary hospital, officials said.

The driver fled the scene near Dagmar Drive and Holiday Court. The vehicle was described as a newer model Ford with a long bed and camper shell, crew cab and large tires. A security camera in the neighborhood caught images of the truck.

Searching for a Suspect

Luckily, a nearby security camera caught footage of the truck, but not the license plate.

For 3 days, investigators hit the streets and pleaded with the public for help, posting fliers and even using road signs to search for the truck. With the public’s help, investigators located Iles, and he was arrested Saturday night.

Anne Palmer’s neighbor told reporters: “I don’t know how that man who did it…was able to sleep at night.”

Iles has been featured in articles on several websites, most of which are related to dog-walking, but also had a photo array that appeared on BuzzFeed of leashed dogs in proper poses looking at the camera.

Social-media pages of Iles’ dog-walking business — he also describes himself as specializing in “dog socialization” — have been taken offline.

Attempts to reach Iles on Sunday were unsuccessful.

Anyone with information about the Friday hit-and-run can contact 408-299-2311.

Iles was once featured in a post on BuzzFeed for taking cute posed snapshots of dogs and inventing the WalkPro leash, a leash that has an attached pouch for walkers to store scooped poop and other items.

“It carries your full and empty poop sacs and has a stretchy sac that holds your mobile device, wallet [and keys],” Iles explained.

When asked how he managed to pose the dogs so well, Iles said: “I have a natural connection to dogs and it comes [naturally] working with them. I work with each dog, and it takes patience and understanding.… I cry from happiness and have amazing moments with my pack. They are all so very happy.”

(East Bay Times - May 29, 2016)

Illinois: Man rescues ducklings from certain death on Chicago expressway

ILLINOIS -- Five ducklings were rescued along the Kennedy Expressway Thursday morning.

Chopper 7 HD spotted the group scurrying along the right shoulder of the Armitage Avenue on-ramp around 8:40 a.m. Thursday, dodging cars and trying to get to the other side. The mother was nowhere to be found.

A man in a light-colored SUV stopped, snapped a photo and guided them to the grass just past the left shoulder. He then got back into his car and drove onto the expressway.

But the baby ducks waddled back onto the roadway, trying to cross back to where they came from. A few cars maneuvered around the tiny animals, but one SUV didn't see them and nearly ran them over. But thank fully they did make it to the right shoulder.

Lucky for the ducklings, Cory Wurst and Steve Bennett were in the right place at the right time. The pair - service technicians for an Elgin pumping contractor - were on their way to a job downtown and were in the inbound Kennedy near North Avenue.

"We're on the Kennedy Expressway and we see a car stopped in the middle of I-90 and wonder what's going on," says Bennett.

When they realized what had happened, they went into rescue mode.

"A lot of people went around, but pretty much all we did was pull over, put our flashers on and blocked traffic while he got out," Wurst says.

One of the men scooped the ducklings into a cardboard box got out of a white pickup parked on the right side of the Kennedy. Bennett thought he would be able to release them to safety nearby, but he was wrong.

"I let them go on the off ramp at North Avenue and 90 and they started walking right back up the ramp. So I couldn't just leave them there. I don't think they would have made it," Bennett says.

The men gathered the five ducklings back into the box and headed to Lincoln Park Zoo for help, but were told the facility couldn't take ducklings in distress. Undeterred, the men then drove to the Anti-Cruelty Society.

"This is very unusual. Most of our intakes are cats and dogs, so we're excited to have some ducklings," says Colette Bradley, Anti-Cruelty Society.

The Anti-Cruelty Society will make sure the ducklings are turned over to a wildlife rescue, which will find them a permanent home and try to locate their mother.

"I'm glad they're okay now. I'm glad they're in a good home and didn't get hurt," says Bennett.

(ABC7 - May 27, 2016)

Florida: Three teenage girls repeatedly kick and throw rabbit against wall while laughing and recording for Snapchat

FLORIDA -- Deputies say 3 teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 14 were arrested Saturday and charged with felony animal cruelty after a video of them throwing a bunny against a wall, repeatedly, surface on social media.

According to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a home on Lina Road in Nassauville Saturday morning, where they found the injured bunny.

In the video, you can hear the girls laughing as each of them take a turn throwing and kicking the bunny.

The Snapchat caption reads: She threw her bunny.

 

First Coast News stopped by where deputies told us the incident happened at. A woman and her teenage daughter answered the door.

"It wasn't my child," the woman said.

The woman, who would not give us her name, admitted the incident happened in her home. She said she was not aware it was going on.

 

"They weren't related to us in anyway," the woman said.

The woman claimed the three girls are her daughter's friends and that her child was asleep when the incident happened.

The video also found its way to Facebook where the 26 second clip was viewed and shared hundreds of times.

"My heart dropped. I almost got sick to my stomach... I stopped the video and I started crying," neighbor Katie Sparkman said.

The bunny was handed over to the Nassau County Animal Services.

   
The shelter says the bunny suffered a fractured leg but was safe, according to a post on the group's Facebook page.

Sparkman said she planned to donate items to the shelter to help the bunny through the recovery process.

"... bring him bedding, food, carrots, lettuce, treats," said Sparkman.

Sparkman said one of the suspects apologized on Facebook, then deactivated her page.

"Sorry to me is just not enough," said Sparkman.

Several people have expressed interest in adopting the bunny, bthe NCAS says the bunny would not be available for adoption any time soon.

(First Coast news - May 29, 2016)

Why It's Not "Just A Rabbit" The FBI has, for decades, recognized that animal abuse is a gateway crime to other serious crimes such as rape and murder. This is why animal lovers are up in arms about these "girls" - not even old enough to be referred to as women - and what they did REPEATEDLY for fun.  To derive pleasure from the suffering and pain of others, even small animals, is sociopathic behavior. Child Killer: Brenda Spencer is notorious for shooting a gun into a crowd of children. Eleven children were hit by her bullets with two dying. When she was a child, Spencer lit the tails of cats and dogs, which she found in the neighborhood, on fire Three Teen Girls in Florida: Videotaped themselves repeatedly kicking and throwing a rabbit against the bedroom wall, while laughing and videotaping the abuse and torture. They were so proud of themselves they posted the 'torture porn' on Snapchat, expecting viewers to enjoy watching the abuse as much as they enjoyed inflicting the abuse on a defenseless creature. Child Killer: Ian Brady boasted that he killed his first cat aged just ten. As a child, he tortured and killed animals, stoning dogs and cutting the heads off rabbits. He burnt a cat alive. He later killed five children.