New York: Jessica Block, 32, charged after her child and her pets were found living in filth

NEW YORK -- A Grand Island woman is facing animal cruelty charges after police say they found seven dogs and two cats living in filth at her home.

According to the police, the animals didn't even have food or water.

Jessica Block, 32, is charged with torturing animals, disorderly conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.

The Erie County SPCA  has seized the animals.

(WGRZ - June 10, 2016)

Apparently, Jessica Block runs a business called JB's All Breed Dog & Cat Grooming and Daycare. On the Facebook page, it says "Jbs all breed grooming is starting basic obedience and schutzhund obedience/protection classes. Were ready when you are 716-418-9187".

 

My question is: Does she have any training or certification in guard dog/protection dog training? Or is she just pretending to know what she's doing? This could be a HUGE liability if a family were to send their dog to be trained by her and then that dog attacks someone (a neighbor, a child)... and police find out that they purposely trained it to be a guard dog. And Block could be held criminally responsible for having falsified her credentials...

The Facebook page says that, on top of boarding and grooming, she is now involved in the unofficial rescue business, selling cats for $35 and dogs for $150.

 

Although not all "unofficial" rescue groups are committing animal cruelty/neglect, it's much better if they have a 501c3 non-profit status because they typically have a board of directors and they have to report to the IRS so their paperwork and records must be on point. I don't doubt that she cares for animals - she has a lot of posts commenting about how she hates people who are cruel to animals, but she is the exact type of person who can get in over their heads and neglect the animals she proclaims to love and care about. That is why having a non-profit status is so important - having more than one person running the show to try to put in checks and balances to keep things from getting out of control.