The village of Hawthorn Woods spends $28K in legal fight to euthanize vicious dog

ILLINOIS -- The village of Hawthorn Woods has spent $28,000 in a protracted battle with a couple over the fate of their pet beagle, Heidi..

Heidi belongs to Hawthorn Woods couple Brian and Jean Bacardi, who readily admit that the dog bites when she feels threatened.

At police departments from Hawthorn Woods to West Palm Beach, Fla., Heidi has amassed a lengthy record.

And records show that in November 2012 the village ordered the Bacardis to relinquish ownership of Heidi. Mayor Joe Mancino declined to say much about the ongoing case but said the legal fees stem from the village response to a lawsuit filed by the Bacardis in February 2013.

"The village will always defend ourselves when we're being sued," Mancino said. "And we'll always protect the public health."

The Bacardis are now paying to keep Heidi at a kennel in Carol Stream. They argue that this protects the public health in Hawthorn Woods just fine.

"We're just trying to save her life," Jean Bacardi said.

But some who have worked closely with the family suggested the Bacardis could have done that before both sides started racking up legal bills.

"The city gave them so many opportunities to re-home the dog," said Stephanie Paluch, who founded a dog-rescue program that tried to help the Bacardis, then eventually turned them away.

Love, unleashed
Since last July, Heidi has lived at the Happy Paws Pet Resort in Carol Stream. Brian or Jean Bacardi visit her nearly every day. On an uncommonly warm March afternoon, Jean came by early to walk Heidi for a few blocks — she said that helps bring the 8-year-old dog's energy level down.

That afternoon, Jean had small red scratches on her right hand and wrist. She explained that Heidi gets excited when her owners visit. Jean makes no attempt to hide that her dog gets excited at different stimuli.

"We knew we had to keep her away from strangers, and it was going OK, until that day," she said.
"That day" was Halloween 2012, when Heidi mistook a trick-or-treater for an intruder, according to a Hawthorn Woods police report. But that day could have been several others, as well: Records from the McLean County Health Department, the Normal Police Department, Hawthorn Woods police and the Lake County Health Department show that Heidi's temperament has been an ongoing problem for the Bacardis.

"She's a beautiful, living thing, and she's a member of our family," Jean said. "As long as we have the means to keep fighting, we will."

The Bacardis say they have spent thousands of dollars to save Heidi's life. Even more, Brian spent eight days in the Lake County Jail in May 2014, held in contempt of court as the result of one of this case's many turns.

Jean has an explanation for every bite: Some she calls accidents; some she describes as chains of unlucky coincidences. Five took place in Hawthorn Woods, one downstate in Normal and one in Florida, according to records. But she says each was an isolated incident that will never happen again.

She and Brian designed fliers that asked the residents of Hawthorn Woods for their support, and printed enough to deliver one to every house in the village. They circulated a petition that, as of April 30, has 441 signatures.

They have an electronic fence around their yard, but no physical barrier. The bite reports say they let their dogs out unleashed.

Hawthorn Woods retains the firm of Schain, Banks, Kenny & Schwartz for legal counsel. Separate from all other legal expenses for which the village pays, it wrote four checks in 2013 and 11 more in 2014 marked "Bacardi litigation."

Pam Newton, the village's chief operating officer, said that when expenses from the first four months of 2015 are added in, Hawthorn Woods has paid $28,327 in legal bills for the Bacardi case.

Because the case remains in court, Newton offered little comment.
"The case speaks for itself," Newton said.

The Bacardis bought Heidi and her brother Hero, both 8-week-old beagle mixes, as 10th birthday presents for their son in March 2007. They took the puppies to six weeks of obedience classes, during which Hero displayed a calm demeanor. Thinking they had naturally laid-back pets, the Bacardis opted out of further instruction.

"I wish we had invested in that training when they were younger," Jean said. "That was a big mistake on our part."

Heidi's demeanor was far more energetic than Hero's.

"Heidi has always been a little more skittish than her brother," Jean said. "On a few occasions … unexpected visitors … she's nipped at them, and then run away. She was protecting her property."

The complaints about Hero and Heidi go back to June 18, 2008, and are mostly for barking.

But on April 28, 2009, the beagles allegedly both went after a delivery guy. "The two dogs bit him, one on the leg and the other on the scrotum," a police report reads. "He kicked one of the dogs to get it away."

One of the biting incidents led to a report from the Lake County Health Department, which states that the Bacardis have had trouble with other dogs for years. "She has had 4-other dogs in the past that have bitten the ComEd guy (4/15/97) and a FedEx guy (5/29/98)," the report reads.

Because they sometimes let their dogs out unrestrained, Jean said she knew Heidi needed to be inside the house on Halloween 2012. What followed was a chain of bad luck, she said: Her boys let the dogs into the backyard, but then she got an important phone call and she never checked to make sure her sons had brought Hero and Heidi back inside. Then a young girl in costume made her way to their house.

"The situation on Halloween … she had not had an incident in two and a half years," Jean said. "But, you know, accidents can happen."

The Bacardis have a beware-of-dog sign. The police report documenting the Halloween bite indicates the family believed this marker should be enough. "Because it was an accident, [Jean] did not feel she should be held responsible for the dog biting someone on her property," it reads.

Another incident happened on July 14, 2013, in Normal. The Bacardis drove downstate to watch their son's baseball team in a tournament, and brought Heidi along. During one game, a young boy spotted a cute little beagle and walked up to her. Startled by his approach, Heidi bit him.

"That was really an unfortunate event," Jean said. "I think any dog could have reacted like that. It was just terribly, terribly unlucky."

Hawthorn Woods Police Chief Jennifer Paulus had already seen enough of Heidi by then. Her department had four bite reports and 17 barking complaints during Heidi and Hero's tenure in the Bacardi home, plus another from a visit to West Palm Beach.

Paulus sent the family a certified letter declaring Heidi "vicious in nature" and ordering her out of village limits. The Bacardis challenged the police, and received a hearing in administrative adjudication — the court municipalities put on for traffic tickets and other local ordinances. The family lost. Believing their dog deserved a home in Hawthorn Woods, they filed an administrative complaint in the 19th Circuit Court of Lake County.

While this played out, Hawthorn Woods' order was in effect, and the Bacardis handed Heidi over to out-of-town friends. She was a handful, though, and a Heidi-sharing network developed among the Bacardis' friends, many of whom have sons who play baseball together. Day by day, the beagle bounced from home to home. "Sometimes we weren't even aware of where she was," Jean said.

Wanting their companion to feel stability, the Bacardis brought Heidi home in May 2013 — a violation of Hawthorn Woods' order. Their sons had some friends over May 26. Heidi ended up biting one of their sons' friends.

"This is where it gets a little complicated," Jean said. "It was our bad luck. We thought everything was fine."

The ensuing police report came with a $1,000 fine and a firm stipulation. Heidi had already been labeled "vicious," and if she was seen in the village again that would be proof her owners could not be trusted to keep a dangerous dog off the streets. Authorities would seize her and end the threat.

The downstate bite occurred after that agreement, and Normal requested that a Hawthorn Woods officer deliver its ticket to the Bacardi home. An officer made that delivery on Aug. 27, 2013. "I could see two small dogs inside the home," an officer wrote in a report, adding nobody but the dogs was home when he dropped off the ticket.

The Bacardis assert Heidi was with friends that night, and that the officer only saw Hero — but this was a second record alleging they ignored the village's ban. Believing Heidi could be back in town on any day, posing a bite threat, Village Hall wanted her euthanized.

But they cannot seize her until the courts settle the Bacardis' grievances. "As long as the appeal goes on, she can live," Jean said.

On May 21, 2014, Brian appeared before Judge Jorge Ortiz, who expected to see proof of Heidi's whereabouts, most likely through documentation from a kennel — but their middle son had taken her to Florida with him, and had no paperwork to prove it. The judge held Brian in Waukegan for eight days, until the son drove Heidi back to the kennel.

On May 22, 2014, Brian's first full day in jail, the last Hawthorn Woods police report indicates Hero and the Bacardis' new dog — a beagle-lab mix named Panda they adopted in 2013 — chased several people around at a nearby bus stop. Paulus confirmed in an email that Heidi was not involved in this, but it was the 25th report coming from the Bacardi residence since 2008.

On March 16, the Bacardis came to Hawthorn Woods' Village Board meeting with a proposal: revoke the death warrant and the family would find a new home for Heidi and drop the suit. For Village Hall, no more suit would mean no more legal fees.

It would also mean uncertainty. Would the Bacardis keep their word this time and not sneak Heidi back to the house? Jean Bacardi said she expected officials to show trust.

The board took no action during the public session but discussed it privately. On March 19, village attorney Patrick Brankin sent a concise response.

"The unanimous consensus reached was not to settle," Brankin wrote.

Heidi's case is now in the Illinois Appellate Court's Second District, awaiting a date for oral arguments or a decision from a three-judge panel based on briefs filed by Village Hall and the family.
Boarding at Happy Paws costs $23 per day. Since October 2013, when Heidi spent her first night at a kennel in Lake Zurich, the family estimates it has spent nearly $10,000 on temporary shelter for the dog.

They say they are continuing their legal battle without representation, having spent more than $15,000 on legal fees earlier in the appeal process.

The Bacardis still do not have a physical fence. Hero and Panda have been abiding at home with no police complaints for nearly a year. Heidi sees her family most days, at Happy Paws.

INCIDENTS WITH THE BACARDI FAMILY'S DOGS(TIMELINE)
At police departments from West Palm Beach, Fla. to Hawthorn Woods and Normal, Ill., the Bacardi family's beagle mix, Heidi, has amassed a lengthy record. In Lake County courts, a long string of events has led to Heidi's death warrant.
March 2007
The Bacardis buy Heidi and the dog's brother, Hero, both 8-week-old beagle mixes, as 10th birthday presents for their son, Jared.

Jan. 2, 2008 - West Palm Beach, Fla.
Heidi is accused of biting a person in the leg while on a family trip to Florida, but the report says the circumstances of the bite are unknown.

July 5, 2008 - Hawthorn Woods
50-year-old gets minor bite on forearm.

Aug. 23, 2008 - Hawthorn Woods
From a Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center animal bite report: Woman at neighborhood block party receives treatment at Glenbrook Hospital after being bitten. Her injuries were minor.

April 8, 2009 - Hawthorn Woods
A delivery man receives bites to the leg and scrotum. Both Heidi and Hero are involved, according to the documents.

April 28, 2009 - Hawthorn Woods
From a Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center animal bite report: Another delivery man received bites to the leg and scrotum. Only Hero involved. Reports states Brian Bacardi says, "... victims are revengeful and make up stories."

June 18, 2010 - Hawthorn Woods
Victim bitten on the abdomen.

Oct. 31, 2012 - Hawthorn Woods
From a Hawthorn Woods police report: An 11-year-old trick-or-treater who arrives at the Bacardis' home is bitten on the right thigh by Heidi. Responding officer writes in report, "(Jean Bacardi) stated there is a sign in her yard warning there is a dog on the premise, therefore the warning should be enough."

Nov. 14, 2012 - Hawthorn Woods
From a Hawthorn Woods Police Department letter to Jean Bacardi: Police chief writes letter certifying Heidi as a vicious dog, banishing her from Hawthorn Woods.

May 26, 2013 - Hawthorn Woods
From a Hawthorn Woods police report: A boy is bit by Heidi on the right side of his stomach. It is the first violation of the Nov. 2012 vicious dog order.

July 14, 2013 - Normal, Ill.
From a McLean County incident report: A child is bitten in the groin area by Heidi. The responding officer writes in the police report, "(Victim) said that Brian did not seem to really care that his dog just bit (the victim) and was more worried in just telling him that the dog was fine and up-to-date on shots."

Aug. 27, 2013 - Hawthorn Woods
A Hawthorn Woods police officer delivers the Normal, Ill., citation to the Bacardis' home. He says he sees Heidi inside the home, but no other family members are there. The family says it is not Heidi, but a new dog named Panda. Heidi's death warrant is signed.

October 2013 - Lake Zurich
Heidi begins a stay at a kennel.

Jan. 7, 2014 - Hawthorn Woods
A police officer responds to a complaint of a large dog loose in the neighborhood. Jean Bacardi arrives and states the dog is hers. She says she got the dog a few weeks prior, and it's not yet trained on the family's electronic fence. The officer gives Bacardi a warning.

May 21, 2014 - Waukegan
Brian Bacardi starts an eight-day stay in the Lake County Jail, held in contempt of court as the result of one of this case's many complicated stories.

May 22, 2014 - Hawthorn Woods
Hero and the Bacardis' new dog, a beagle-mix named Panda they adopted in 2013, chase several people around at a nearby bus stop. The responding police officer receives a call later that afternoon from a concerned neighbor who saw the dogs were loose. The officer encourages her to keep calling police as, "this is a problem for the residents in this neighborhood."

July 2014 - Carol Stream
The Bacardis send Heidi to live at the Happy Paws Pet Resort.

March 16, 2015 - Hawthorn Woods
The Bacardis attend a Hawthorn Woods Village Board meeting with a proposal: revoke the death warrant on Heidi and the family would find a new home for the dog.

March 19, 2015 - Hawthorn Woods
Hawthorn Woods village attorney Patrick Branklin responds to the Bacardis' request: "The unanimous consensus reached was not to settle."

April 2015 - Hawthorn Woods
The Bacardis design fliers asking for support, and print enough to deliver to every house in the village. They circulate a petition to save Heidi's life that has received 441 signatures as of April 30.

(Chicago Tribune - Apr 30, 2015)

Jury awards $108,000 to woman bitten in face by dog owners knew was aggressive

OREGON -- A jury awarded more than $108,000 this week to a 43-year-old woman bitten in the face by a dog at an afternoon cocktail party in Yamhill County's wine country -- faulting the dog's owners after they let him run free amongst guests.

Christine H. Shertzer had to undergo plastic surgery to try to repair a large tear to her lower lip. Her attorney says she has suffered a permanent loss of sensation, has trouble eating and drinking without drooling and can't kiss without pain.

 

Shertzer, who works as a hostess at a Dundee winery, had attended a brunch as a guest along with members in the wine industry on March 31, 2013. When a smaller version of the party moved to the Carlton farm of Douglas and Jane Davis, she joined in.

During the five-day trial in Yamhill County Circuit Court, Shertzer contended that Hank -- a 65-pound Australian shepherd mix -- walked up next to her. She testified that she gently petted the dog on the top of the head and down the neck, but the dog suddenly lashed out without provocation by biting her.

"Blood is gushing out," said her attorney, Greg Kafoury of Portland. "She and her boyfriend rush to the truck to get to the hospital, and just as they're pulling out, they look back and Mr. Davis is already back at his table drinking beer."

Shertzer was here when she was attacked by the dog

The Davises contended that Shertzer was drunk, and they pointed to reports of three people who said Shertzer "was not just petting (Hank) on top of his head, she had grabbed both sides of his face and she was rubbing them back and forth, and had leaned in very close to him," according to court papers filed by Lake Oswego attorney Patricia Brockway, who represented the couple. Brockway couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday about Monday's verdict.

But a doctor who wasn't close to the Davises, but was at the party with a date, testified that Shertzer was only petting the dog and not interacting roughly with it. The doctor said he didn't notice any signs of impairment in Shertzer.

The Davises said they'd never seen Hank bite anyone since they adopted him five years ago from an eastern Oregon puppy mill, where he lived in deplorable conditions.

Shertzer's attorney, however, called on the testimony of four workers who all said the dog was aggressive toward them while they remodeled the Davises' home in 2013 and 2014. Three of the four said Hank bit them -- two of them while in the presence of Douglas Davis.

One worker said he always kept his hand on his hammer when the dog was around in case he needed to use it to protect himself. He said that when the dog bit him in the buttocks, Douglas Davis was there and said that the dog had not just bitten him.

Shertzer's side also called on the testimony of a veterinarian, who wrote in chart notes that Jane Davis told her in 2010 that the dog was unpredictable, aggressive with other dogs and aggressive with the Davises.

The vet also wrote in the chart notes that the dog bit her when she tried to take his temperature -- prompting her to write a warning in the chart for other clinic employees.

They're calling him an Australian Shepherd mix, but I'm thinking they mean
Australian Shepherd / German Shepherd mix

The chart notes also stated that the vet advised Jane Davis to immediately enroll Hank in formal training, something the Davises did not do.

The Davises disputed the accuracy of the veterinarian's notes and argued that they never considered Hank to be aggressive. During a pretrial deposition in December 2014, Douglas Davis said the dog socializes with children as young as 2 and 4 years old and he saw no need to warn their parents about the dog.

Douglas Davis said he was "very surprised" that Hank bit Shertzer and that he has no concerns about the dog injuring someone again.

"Because he's a good dog," said Davis, 66. He's a retired pilot who served 24 years in the military before entering the private sector and ultimately retiring to raise grass seed, cattle and chickens on the couple's farm.

Shertzer testified that strangers who encounter her do a double-take to get a better look at her scar. Because of the location of her scar, she said visitors to the winery where she works have asked her if she has herpes.

But the Davises' attorney argued that despite Shertzer's claims of disfigurement, she was still able to get a new job at a winery.

Shertzer had asked for $668,420 -- about $16,000 for past medical bills, almost $50,000 for future medical bills to cover twice yearly injections of filler to her lip area, $2,000 in punitive damages and $600,000 for her pain and suffering.

Jurors 12-0 found Shertzer 48 percent at fault -- Kafoury said he spoke with a few afterward and they said Shertzer shouldn't have been petting a dog that she didn't know. The jury found the Davises 52 percent at fault.

I'm sorry but I disagree. If you're at a party at someone's house and they have a dog freely mingling with guests, you assume that the dog is friendly. It's not like she went up to a chained dog and tried to pet it. Or that there was a dog that was locked in a kennel and she went up to it at the party and tried to pet it through the cage. In the interest of being fair, I would put 10% of the blame on her. I do not put my face close to any dog that is not mine. Period.

The jury determined that Shertzer had incurred about $56,000 in past and future medical expenses and $153,000 worth of pain and suffering -- for a total of nearly $209,000. But because jurors found Shertzer 48 percent at fault, she is due only 52 percent of that amount, or roughly $108,000.

Kafoury said the Davises had a $1 million homeowners' insurance policy, which is paying out the verdict.

Hank still lives with the Davises.

(OregonLive.com - Apr 29, 2015)

Therapy horse named Magic becomes a special Alachua County Sheriff's Deputy

FLORIDA -- Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell named "Magic" the therapy horse an honorary deputy of Alachua County.

Gentle Carousel, a Gainesville non-profit organization, provides therapy horses to victims of tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting and sick children and adults across the region.

 

Magic, one of Time Magazine's 10 most courageous animals, along with the rest of the horses visit patients at UF's Shands Rehab Hospital.

Jorge Garcia-Bengochea, Gentle Carousel's CEO, says it's the sound of Magic's hooves that get people smiling.

"It's a magical moment you'll never forget."

Magic visits patients at Shands every Wednesday hoping to bring a smile to their faces.

"This is the first time I've seen her get up and walk around the hospital a lot," Mike Jones says about her mother. "She actually got up today and got to see the horse and you could tell it let her up."

For another patient getting ready to head home, Adelina Gerry, it brought back old memories.

"In 1980, the first Saturday, there was a place that was selling miniature horses."

She says she and her husband stopped and looked. "We weren't tempted," she explains with a smile.

"Garcia-Bengochea says it's the tougher situations that make what they do worth it.

"It's the happiest time a child will have perhaps before their life ends," he explains if the child is suffering with a life-threatening illness or disease.

"It brings them back to a happy time with animals."

Magic was pinned an honorary deputy today for what she represents to Sheriff Sadie Darnell.

"The horse from a law enforcement stand point represents courage and good will."

Garcia-Begochea and his wife have been running Gentle Carousel for 15 years and says it's all about the effect Magic has on people.

"Sometimes you can't cure a child or an adult but you can put a smile on their face."

A smile that will keep him and his wife going.

Magic has been invited to Baltimore to visit with first responders after the riots. He is heading to Washington, D.C. for a law enforcement ceremony,

To learn more about Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses: click here.



(WCJB - April 29, 2015)

Maine woman high on bath salts stabbed ‘demon possessed’ dog: cops

MAINE -- A northern Maine woman was high on bath salts when she stabbed a neighbor's dog, claiming it was possessed by demons, authorities said.

Ashley Doody, 30, was at a neighbor's Perham home for Easter Sunday when she allegedly attacked the poor pooch — claiming the pet was "demon possessed" — and then threatened to harm herself with the same knife, the Bangor Daily News reported.

The mixed-breed dog named Trixie suffered serious injuries and lost a great deal of blood, Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall told the paper.

Fortunately, she was taken to a local veterinarian and is expected to make a full recovery, he said.

Doody, whose Facebook profile depicts her as a mother to young children, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals — a class C felony.

Crandall said state animal welfare agents have been notified of the case so Doody does not have access to animals in the future.

(NY Daily News - Apr 6, 2015)

Woman Charged for Animal Hoarding in Cox's Cove

CANADA -- A woman has now been charged in relation to a case of extreme animal hoarding in Cox's Cove on the west coast.

 In December 2014, Scaredy Cat Rescue discovered over 130 cats and kittens living in squalid conditions. Volunteers with the rescue group were able to gradually remove the animals and place them into foster and adoptive homes.

 

 The homeowner has now been charged under the Animal Health and Protection Act. The case goes to court on June 2nd.

(VOCM - April 30, 2015)

Lion with broken neck gets second chance in Colorado

COLORADO -- Guero, the 15-year-old African lion was rescued from Mexico this year with a broken back and badly damaged teeth.

To help save Guero, he was taken to the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences so veterinary experts could create a treatment plan.

Guero traveled to Fort Collins in a grass-lined trailer.

The 345-pound lion was airlifted from an animal rescue in Pachuca, Mexico April 24 to his new home at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg.

He had been living at the rescue in Mexico for two months after being surrendered by his owner.

Veterinary experts in many fields have collaborated to try to save Guero. They think he broke his neck two and a half years ago, perhaps by a guillotine-type gate in his cage. They say his owner came home from vacation and noticed Guero hanging his head, walking in circles and in pain.

In order to do any tests on him, Guero had to be sedated.

Dr. Gregg Griffenhagen, a CSU veterinary anesthesiologist stayed with Guero.

"Anesthetizing a lion is both different from a dog or a cat, and yet very much the same," said Griffenhagen. "Most of the differences arise from the facts that these animals are often large and they cannot be closely approached. My job was to remotely immobilize and anesthetize my patient without any physical exam, and to do it in such a manner that everyone, including the patient, stayed safe and healthy."

CSU veterinarians performed an MRI on Guero. It took six people using slings to lift him from his cage to a gurney for the MRI. Vets found a neck fracture that had healed wrong.

Veterinarians determined it would be hard to perform surgery because of his age, spinal disease and the time that had passed since his injury.

They started Guero on a steroid treatment to help him feel better and improve his mobility.

Veterinarians also found Guero had broken teeth, gum disease and exposed roots in his mouth, probably from gnawing on the bars of his cage. Specialists cleaned up his teeth but he will probably need root canals.

  

 

Guero returned to the Wild Animal Sanctuary on Monday to begin his steroid therapy and to receive more dental care.

Lions usually live between 12 and 15 years in the wild and up to 23 in captivity, so the sanctuary will likely be Guero's last home.

Rebecca Miceli, Director of Animal Care at the Wild Animal Sanctuary said Guero will be comfortable and happy with good food, soft ground, grass to play on and fresh air to breathe.

(The Coloradoan - May 1, 2015)

Drakesville animal hoarder, Roger Blew, at it again

MISSOURI -- Despite a court order and threat of jail time, Roger Blew just can't seem to stay away from animals.

Davis County's best-known animal hoarder is in the news again after 100-200 animals were found caged on his property at 600 Fifth St. in Glenwood, Missouri. He moved to Missouri sometime in December 2014.

 

 

Found caged were exotic birds, pot-bellied pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits. Schuyler County Sheriff Joe Wuebker said some of the animals were dead while others were in poor and deteriorating health, under-nourished and neglected. His department started to receive complaints from neighbors about Blew's residence this past December.

It was over a year ago, February 2014, when dozens of animals were found dead and hundreds seized at Blew's home in Drakesville in what was called one of the largest hoarding cases in Iowa. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa estimated 300 animals were placed in its custody to find new homes.

In December 2014, Blew was convicted on several counts of animal neglect and cruelty of animals in Davis County. He was sentenced to one year in jail, but all but 10 days were suspended.

Dozens of animals suffered and died slow deaths. Hundreds of animals suffered at his hands and all he got was 10 lousy days in jail. Way to be tough on animal cruelty, Iowa!

Tuesday and Wednesday, the Humane Society of Missouri was on the scene to remove the animals and take them to their office in St. Louis, Missouri. There, the animals would be treated by veterinarians and undergo testing for diseases.

Schuyler County Times Editor Herb Austin said the scene at the Blew residence nearly rivaled that of Blew's residence in Drakesville. "I'm told it was bad, but not quite as bad as his former residence in Iowa."

Austin said he was admitted inside the trailer where Blew was residing. "I don't know how anybody could live in those conditions." Dead animals and animal feces covered the floors. Animal carcasses were found strewn about the property.

In a probable cause statement submitted to the court, Wuebker noted his office was contacted in on Dec. 22, 2104, with a complaint from a Glenwood city board member. During his initial visit, the sheriff could see that many animals appeared to be in poor condition, and a call to the animal abuse hotline was made.

Over the course of the next several weeks, visits by law enforcement officials were made to the Blew residence. Each visit, according to the report, showed lack of care for animals on the property. "There was insufficient bedding, food and water," Wuebker noted. "I could clearly see animals suffering through their shivering, overall appearance and lack of movement."

Conditions grew worse in January, when Webker and Animal Cruelty Task Force Investigator Carmen Skelly visited Blew's property. "Animals ranged from good to poor condition with two chickens dead."

Blew signed at release at the time to take two Angora rabbits found to be in poor condition to a local veterinary center in Kirksville, Missouri. The probable cause complaint stated, "The rabbits had filthy coats, with fecal and urine matter attached. They had splayed legs out to the side and unable to rest or bear weight on them. They also had matted eyes and were unresponsive."

Over the course of the next several days, the rabbits' condition worsened and both had to be euthanized. Necropsies were performed on each rabbit, and each had a heavy load of internal and external parasites.

In the months following, Schuyler County Sheriff deputies continued to visit the Blew residence. With each visit, the number of animals in Blew's custody continued to grow. The sheriff also contacted the Division of Health and Senior Services along with the Mark Twain Behavior Health for help.

Finally on April 23, the sheriff submitted his probable cause statement to the county attorney for charges to be filed. "It is my belief Roger Blew knows he does not have the capacity to care for the number of animals in his possession. He's is on a limited income and cannot provide for himself nor the animals," Wuebker wrote.

Blew was taken into custody Tuesday and transported to the Davis County to begin serving his one-year sentence. He was transported to Schuyler County on Thursday for his arraignment. He is facing two counts of felony animal abuse as a persistent offender.

(Ottumwa Courier - April 30, 2015)

Earlier:

• Sentence ends Davis Co. hoarding case

Texas: Not just one ugly hag in the family: Mom took photo of cat-killer daughter Kristen Lindsey holding 'trophy kill'

WYOMING -- In Big Horn County, Wyoming, the parents of the Texas bow and arrow touting veterinarian, have also aroused the ire of animal advocates throughout the nation, reports the Greybull Standard.

Kristin Lindsey, DVM, who posed with a dead cat on her Facebook page - arrow through its head, and bragged how "awesome" she was as a veterinarian, has been paying the consequences of her actions; no criminal charges have been against her as of Friday afternoon.

In less than a week, Lindsey has been fired from her position as a veterinarian, and her license to practice may even be at stake. Kristen Lindsey has not made any public statements; her Facebook page has been deleted.

Did they really kill this poor cat and photograph it? If so,
Kristen and Becky Lindsey have blackened hearts and are soulless
creatures, destined to walk among the damned in the afterlife

Jack and Becky Lindsey have also been taken to task. The photo of Kristen holding the dead cat, was taken by her mother. Becky admitted to have taken the picture.

...Becky, the Big Horn County treasurer, has also been widely criticized online for the role that she played in the matter. The Lindseys were visiting Kristen when the cat was killed, and Becky stated under Kristen’s original post, when questions were raised about its authenticity, that she had taken the picture.

Animal advocates claimed Becky Lindsey approved of what her daughter has alleged to have done to the "feral" cat - which seems to have been a domestic pet, named Tiger, who lovingly belonged to an elderly neighbor.

In Becky's hometown, she has been the deputy county treasurer for the last 14 years. A petition to have her removed from the public office circulates throughout social media.

Felines and Friends of Wyoming, a group dedicated to helping all animals and encouraging the spay and neuter of all cats to control feline populations clarified their position on the death of Tiger on Friday:

Becky Lindsey is among Big Horn County’s longest tenured
department heads at the Big Horn County Commission.

"Like the entire world I am heartbroken over the death of Tiger. This is a sad day for everyone. There are people who will say "it is just a cat" but those same people would have a fit if someone did that to their dog or other pet. Not only was the photo horrible, the comments that followed were as well. It is quite clear that Tiger was not a feral cat. Felines and Friends doesn't believe in killing a cat just because it is "feral" anyway."

"Jack Lindsey has brought many a stray and abandoned kitten to us. The Lindseys have always appeared to love their pets. This is what makes it harder to believe. What ever led them to making a decision to kill Tiger is baffling. They obviously did not think about the horrific nature of the death and the impact it would have on the family of Tiger. It was a horrible and bad decision. A bad decision can change a lot of lives in just an instant. That was proven here. Let's not forget that the biggest victim in this was Tiger."

Since the death of Tiger, there have been no reported sightings of Kristen Lindsey.

(Examiner.com - April 24, 2015)

Earlier:

• 'Vet of the year' fired after posing holding a dead pet cat she killed with a bow and arrow after 'hunting it down in her backyard'

Kevin Vicente update: Valley boy mauled by dog gets new lease on life

ARIZONA -- Kevin Vicente's giggle is infectious. His smile is too, but until now you might not have noticed it behind all his scars.

In February of 2014, Kevin was attacked by a pit bull at his babysitter's house. He spent weeks in the hospital, eating through a feeding tube. Kevin couldn't even open his right eye.

 

The damage looked irreversible, and Kevin's mom resigned herself to a lifetime of pain for her little boy.

ABC15 checked in with Kevin just before Christmas. With mounting medical bills, Kevin's mom couldn't afford the big tree he wanted.

But you could.

Our viewers didn't just give Kevin a Christmas tree; you gave him the best Christmas ever.  Kevin got toys and love and financial help for his mom.

But the generosity didn't stop there.

Dr. William Leighton saw Kevin's story and wanted to help. He offered to fix Kevin's scars for free.

We saw Kevin this week at his follow up appointment after his final operation. Kevin had three surgeries this year to fix his scars. His last operation was just a week ago. He's still pretty swollen and his stitches make his new scars look worse than they really are.

"Now he looks at least 80% better than when he started," Leighton said.

Not only does Kevin look better, he feels better. He can open that right eye now and see out of it, something his mom thought might never happen.

The biggest change is to his personality. Kevin no longer hides his face when you try to talk to him. We finally get to see who he really is, and Kevin gets to see that his future looks brighter than ever.

(ABC15 Arizona - Apr 24, 2015)

Earlier:

• Boy disfigured and in critical condition while nutbags clamor to protest, raise money and try to save pit bull's life
• Mauling of Phoenix boy keys debate over fate of pit bull
• Sheriff Arpaio says "Mickey the pit bull an 'exemplary inmate'"
• Webcam lets you observe vicious pit bull's life behind bars
• Mom of boy mauled by pit bull can't understand why dog has webcam
• Sheriff Arpaio donates gifts to Phoenix boy mauled by Mickey

Related:

• The Truth About the Lexus Project
• For the Love of Kevin

Kaine Fowler and Melissa Candela sentenced for animal cruelty, cat throwing

OHIO -- Two people, Kaine Fowler and Melissa Candela, were sentenced on Thursday for animal cruelty after a video went public in February of them throwing a cat back and forth while babysitting.

Fowler and Candela were sentenced to 20 days in jail, which they have to report for in about three months. They also have to perform 120 hours of community service, all served at the Animal Protective League. They cannot own pets for 2 years, unless they are approved.

 

 

 

 

They also have to issue a public apology on YouTube and Facebook within one week.

The incident happened on February 16, then Fowler uploaded the video to his Facebook page. He is seen throwing the cat  with Candela and dropping it at one point.

Fowler admitted to Fox 8 back in February that he was drunk and high at the time, even while babysitting. However, Ashtabula City Solicitor Michael Franklin said child endangering charges were not likely because the kids weren’t harmed.

(fox8.com - Apr 30, 2015)

Earlier:

• Kaine Fowler and Melissa Candela think it's funny to throw cats across the room at each other
• Ohio cat throwing couple - Kaine Fowler and Melissa Candela - pleads guilty

Soapbox: It's time for Fort Collins to ban pit bulls

COLORADO -- Editor's Note: Laurence Budd presented the following before the Fort Collins City Council at a recent meeting.

raise a long overdue topic that needs to be addressed.

Some of you know me: I worked in forensics for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and am a former sighthound breeder. So, of course, I love big fast dogs, which are, at their core, highly efficient hunters.

(On April 12) in Fort Collins, a loose pit bull dog entered another property, biting a 9-year-old girl, puncturing her shoulder. Pit bulls are allowed in Fort Collins and Larimer County. The dog is currently at the owner's house.

The police were called; a report was filed.

Working in New Mexico, I have seen children and adults maimed and killed by pit bull dogs. Seeing just one was enough. But let's look at this from the scientific, not an emotional, aspect.

Pit bulls were bred in Britain centuries ago to bait bulls and other large mammals, hanging onto their larynxes until the bull or deer went down. In 1835 the British govt banned them from blood sports. These are specialized hunting dogs, refined over centuries to kill.

We all know pit bulls that are the kindest dogs around. I am a former sighthound breeder, in this same class of dogs. They were also refined over 2,000 years to pursue and take down large mammals, even horses in battle. We breeders are very aware that these dogs have a deeply ingrained genetic disposition to attack mammals they perceive as prey. A switch is flipped, and Cuddly Mr. Biggles becomes what he was originally designed to do. Very much a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation.

Heres some stats for you: Dogsbite.org reports that nine Colorado cities ban pit bulls, including the city and county of Denver. Since 1989. That's 35 years.

Nationally, in the one-year period of 1997 to 1998, 27 people were killed by dog attacks; 67 percent of those dogs were pit bulls and rottweilers.

From Wikipedia with noted sources: A nine-year (1979–88) study of fatal dog attacks in the U.S. found that dogs characterized as pit bulls were implicated in 42 of the 101 attacks where the breed was known.

And perhaps most telling, the American Academy of Pediatrics states: A 1991 study found that 94 percent of attacks on children by pit bulls were unprovoked, compared to 43 percent for other breeds.
Again, these dogs were, for centuries, selected for the strongest traits to attack and kill large game animals.

It is past the time for Fort Collins to ban pit bulls. It is not this breed's fault they were designed to kill, but they cannot turn off that genetic switch. And nor can their owners, as we have seen over and over.
I call upon you, the City Council, to move with all expedience to legislate a ban on pit bull type dogs, including mixed breed, in the City of Fort Collins.

Laurence Budd lives in Fort Collins.

(The Coloradoan  - ‎Apr 24, 2015‎)

Arkansas mechanic jailed on manslaughter charge after pack of pit bulls mauled man

ARKANSAS -- A mechanic has been arrested after authorities say his pack of pit bull dogs mauled a man to death in central Arkansas.

Sixty-two-year-old John Chester Smith of Pine Bluff has been charged with manslaughter and is being held Friday at the Jefferson County Jail.

The county prosecutor charged Smith in the March death of 36-year-old De'Trick Omar Johnson of Pine Bluff.

Authorities say Johnson was approaching Smith's business when the dogs rushed under a fence and attacked him. Smith wasn't present at the time. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

A sheet covers the victim's body by the fenceline

The county sheriff's office said Smith had been warned about the dogs in the past because of their aggressive behavior.

It was not clear how many dogs were involved in the attack.

(Fox News  - ‎Apr 24, 2015‎)

Earlier:

• Pine Bluff man mauled to death by group of pit bulls, one still at large
• Pit bull stigma resurfaces after Pine Bluff dogs attack

Officers fatally shoot pit bull who attacked girl, police say

ILLINOIS -- Chicago Police officers shot and killed a pit bull Sunday after they say the dog attacked a girl on the city's Northwest Side.

The dog reportedly bit a 12-year-old girl on both of her arms in the 4900-block of North Troy in the Albany Park neighborhood.

When police got there they opened fire on the pit bull. It is unclear what led to the shooting.

It's unclear what led to the shooting? Umm, my guess is that the dog was in a frenzy after trying to rip this little girl's arms off and then went after the police...

The girl was taken to a hospital. There is no word on her condition.

(WLS-TV ‎21  - April 26, 2015)

Accused cat killer, Donovan Mackey's animal cruelty charge heads to Luzerne County Court

PENNSYLVANIA -- A city man accused of killing his girlfriend’s cat now faces an animal cruelty charge in Luzerne County Court.

Donovan Mackey, 20, of North Pennsylvania Avenue via video Thursday waived his right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Martin Kane.

Police say Mackey on April 13 caused a cat’s death when he put it in a washing machine and slammed it against a wall.

Kane forwarded Mackey’s cruelty to animals charge to county court and allowed the withdrawal of a disorderly conduct charge with the understanding Mackey would negotiate a guilty plea with prosecutors.

“I really have a cold heart for this man,” Kane said.

Mackey remains incarcerated at Luzerne County Correctional Facility, held on a detainer related to $334 in unpaid fines from two traffic violations.

According to police, Mackey went looking for his girlfriend — who was not home — at her North Main Street residence.

 

He allegedly captured the woman’s cat, placed the animal in the washing machine and turned it on.

Police say Mackey then wrapped the cat in a bed sheet and slammed it against several walls, putting holes in some of the walls.

When the cat was dead, police say Mackey put its carcass in a garbage bag and tossed it in back yard.

(Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - Apr 30, 2015)

Earlier:

• Donovan Mackey Arrested for Killing Cat after Putting it in Washing Machine

Marshall County Sheriff''s Department Investigating Animal Abuse Case

WEST VIRGINIA -- The Marshall County Sheriff's Department is investigating a case of animal abuse and neglect on U.S. 250 outside of Cameron.

The incident is reportedly happening on the Midcap property, where officers found nine dead animals in various stages of decay. Some of the animals were skeletons, while others have been dead for a few months. They also found seven animals alive, but three of them were reportedly in bad shape.

Officers were removing the animals from the property on Thursday night. They executed a search warrant and discovered the cases of abuse and neglect.

The animals involved appear to be horses and cattle. Charges are expected to be filed in the case, and additional information should be released on Friday.

(WTRF - April 30, 2015)

Animal abuser, Beth Lynne Hoskins, loses appeal of 52 counts of animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- Beth Lynne Hoskins’ convictions on 52 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty will stand.

The Aurora horse farm owner lost her appeal of the convictions this week as Erie County Judge Michael F. Pietruszka affirmed Aurora Town Justice Douglas W. Marky’s guilty verdicts on the 52 counts after a 14-month nonjury trial that ended in 2013.

Marky sentenced Hoskins to three years’ probation, but she violated the probation and was sentenced by Marky in December to three months in jail. She started serving her sentence Dec. 12 and was released in early February after getting time off for good behavior.

In affirming the 52 guilty verdicts more than five years after the SPCA raided Hoskins’ horse farm, Pietruszka rejected defense attorney Thomas J. Eoannou’s contention that they were inconsistent with the not-guilty verdicts on the other 22 counts.

“In the case at bar, each count involved a different horse, and it is obvious that the trial court (Marky) reviewed the elements of each of the crimes charged,” Pietruszka said.

“And a finding of ‘not guilty’ with regard to one count does not affect the analysis of the counts upon which the trial court convicted the appellant (Hoskins). It is reasonable for the trial court to determine that one horse was neglected while finding other horses were properly cared for.”

Pietruszka also rejected the defense contention that the guilty verdicts were not supported by legally sufficient evidence.

He said prosecutors “introduced ample evidence” of Hoskins’ guilt on each of the 52 counts.

Based on the evidence, he said, “a rational finder of fact could determine that the appellant failed to provide food, drink or sustenance to the horses identified in those counts or that the appellant’s neglect unjustifiably caused” those horses pain.

Pietruszka also rejected the defense contention that the prosecution’s repeated violations of pretrial disclosure requirements violated Hoskins’ rights to due process and a fair trial, requiring reversal of the verdicts.

The judge said the prosecution provided Hoskins’ attorney with more than 18,000 documents “during the course of the extended proceeding.”

When it became apparent that “a small number of documents” were not turned over in a timely fashion, he said, those documents were given to the defense before the end of the trial.

He noted that Marky gave the defense the opportunity to review the documents and recall witnesses, but the defense opted not to recall any witnesses.

He found that Marky’s actions on this issue “were thoughtful, proper, reasonable and not an abuse of discretion.”

“The Constitution of the State of New York guarantees the accused a fair trial, not a perfect one,” he said. “This court find that the appellant was given a fair trial.”

(Buffalo News - April 30, 2015)

Earlier:

• Hoskins got less than a tap on the wrist for her shocking crimes of animal abuse
• Years-long animal cruelty case culminates with Hoskins’ reporting to jail
• This is what having money gets you in America -- animal abuser Beth Lynne Hoskins, convicted of 52 COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, has already been released from jail

Related:

• 73 Horses, 53 Cats, 4 Dogs Rescued by SPCA from East Aurora Property
• Photos: 73 horses, 53 cats, & 4 dogs rescued by the SPCA from Beth Lynne Hoskins' "Eden Farm" in East Aurora March 18, 2010

As family mourns, propaganda hides danger of pit bull attacks

TEXAS - A tragic deception has been perpetrated on the American public, says Colleen Lynn of Austin.

And the gruesome consequences were seen in Dallas last weekend.

In a scene almost too sickening to imagine, a 2-month-old baby in a bouncy seat was attacked and fatally mutilated by the family’s pit bull.

The baby’s grandmother expressed the family’s complete shock. The dog had been in the family and around other children for eight years without problems, she said.

But it’s no surprise at all for Lynn. In fact, it’s disgustingly familiar.

“It’s what they always say. They’re always shocked,” she said.

Lynn is founder of Dogsbite.org, an advocacy group working to reduce serious dog attacks, particularly by pit bulls.

Lynn was the victim of an attack herself while jogging in 2007. A woman was walking a pit bull. As Lynn ran by, the dog lunged, jerking the leash from the owner’s hands.

“The dog jumped up and hit me in the chest, knocking me down. And just as they are bred to do, it went for my face and throat,” Lynn said.

Fortunately, she had instinctively crossed her forearms in front of her face. The dog grabbed her right forearm and began to drag her.

In the few seconds before the owner pulled the dog away, Lynn’s forearm was lacerated and a bone was broken. Two surgeries were required.

While recuperating, Lynn began to research dog attacks. “What I found was all these propaganda websites saying wonderful things about pit bulls. They were even called ‘nanny dogs’ for supposedly being so good with kids,” she said.

The more she dug, however, the clearer it became that pit bulls are responsible for most serious attacks every year.

“Yes, all dogs bite. That’s a big part of the propaganda. But the real issue is the severity of the attacks,” Lynn said. “Most dogs bite and release. Pit bulls bite and hold. They rip and they tear.”

She says it’s like holding a firecracker in one hand and a hand grenade in the other. “Yes, either one of them can explode. But one of them is going to do a whole lot more damage than the other.”

Because there are no uniform reporting requirements, statistics on serious dog attacks are hard to come by. For one basic measure, Dogsbite.org tracks news reports of fatal dog attacks across the country.

Last year, there were 42 such attacks. Pit bulls were responsible for 64 percent of the deaths. Pit bulls make up about 6 percent of the total dog population.

And deaths tell only a small part of the story. Horrific injuries are far more frequent. “As part of my work, I have to look at the imagery sometimes, and it’s unbelievable,” Lynn said.

“People buy into this idea that it’s all in how you raise them. That’s the bottom-line propaganda,” she said. “But it’s just not honest. It denies all the heritage of the breed. For centuries, these dogs were bred to attack and to kill.

“We all do breed research before we buy a dog. That’s just normal. We understand breed traits. But there’s this big cover-up about pit bulls.

“If people had more complete information about these dogs, they would make better decisions — parents especially,” she said.

Lynn supports laws that specifically regulate pit bulls. Most veterinary and animal-welfare groups say breed-specific laws are ineffective. We won’t settle that debate any time soon.

But we can do much as individuals. Spaying and neutering to curb aggression. Not leaving children alone with a dog. And easiest of all, never allowing anyone you love near a pit bull.

I know from experience that I will hear from irate pit bull owners telling me what wonderful dogs they are. Try telling it to one Dallas family.

The funeral is Friday morning for 10-week-old Brayden Lamar Wilson.

(Dallas News - April 23, 2015)

Owner Expects To Face Charges After Pit Bull Mauls Neighbor’s Pomeranian

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Springdale Township dog owner whose pit bull mauled a neighbor’s pet says he expects to face charges.

James Puorro says he owns six put bulls, and two bull dogs.

On Thursday night, one of the pit bulls got out of his pen, crawled under a neighbor’s deck and attacked a Pomeranian named Benny.

Eileen Vansach, who lives next door to Puorro, says her husband went out to call Benny in, and the pit bull came out from behind their hot tub with Benny in his mouth.

Vansach told KDKA TV’s Ralph Iannotti, “We’ve been complaining about the neighbor’s dogs for years, but neither the police nor animal control does anything about it.”

Puorro, close to tears, apologized for the attack. He said his dog has now been quarantined for next week to 10 days. He described the attack as “a terrible accident.”

“I didn’t know [Vansach’s] dog was out there, I would have never let him out,” Puorro said. “My dog got out because their dog was barking at him.”

Vansach said, “We don’t need a kennel in this neighborhood. This is a family neighborhood, not a dog neighborhood. If you want dogs, go out in the country.”

(CBS Local - April 25, 2015)

Texas: Yesenia Garza charged with animal cruelty for starving her pit bull

TEXAS -- A woman has been arrested on an animal cruelty charge after a severely malnourished young pit bull was found by local authorities.

Yesenia Garza, 37, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to non-livestock animals, failure to provide care at about 5:30 p.m. in the 6400 block of Saguero Lane.

  

Laredo Animal Control had called police to notify them of an animal cruelty case on Saguero in East Laredo. LPD reports state that a pit bull had no food and “little to no water,” according to police.

Investigator Joe E. Baeza, LPD spokesman, said officers “could see the dog’s bones (protruding) through his skin.”

(Laredo Morning Times  - Apr 30, 2015)