Tammy Maria Curtis of Lexington Park, MD charged with animal cruelty after allegedly throwing puppies into a dumpter

MARYLAND -- A Maryland woman has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly tossing three puppies into a dumpster.

Tammy Maria Curtis, 49, of Lexington Park was charged with three counts of animal cruelty after the owner of the puppies filed a complaint against her.

Curtis reportedly told the owner that she killed the puppies and refused to tell the owner where they were, according to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's office.

A witness later found the puppies inside a plastic bag in a nearby community dumpster.

The puppies, who were born on April 24, were still alive when they were found, but police said they were having trouble breathing.

Curtis was arrested and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center.

(WJLA - May 6, 2014)

Prince William farm operators charged with animal cruelty

VIRGINIA -- The operators of a Prince William County farm were charged Thursday with dozens of counts of animal cruelty for allegedly keeping 17 horses, 19 sheep, four dogs, a cow, a llama, and dozens more animals in filthy conditions.

Larry D. Sams, the proprietor of Cross States Stables in Bristow, was convicted last year of misdemeanor charges of inadequate care for agricultural animals. He was charged Thursday with 57 counts of animal cruelty.

Prince William police said that his daughter Carolyn Sams, also an owner of the farm, was charged with animal cruelty.

The Sams' did not immediately answer a phone call or email message to the farm, and the gate to the property’s long driveway was locked Thursday afternoon.

In an affidavit for a search warrant, a Prince William County police officer said that a citizen called police in April to alert them of ailing horses and dogs under Sams’ care.

The officer and a veterinarian who searched the property three days after that call found many animals that were sick and housed in unsanitary conditions.

One horse examined by the veterinarian had an open wound that was green and oozing, and a white rabbit was missing an ear.

Many of the 27 rabbits and roughly 50 poultry were housed in cages where they could not access food or water, and almost all cages were covered in feces, according to the affidavit.

A German shepherd named Sam was running in circles and biting himself in a poorly-lit enclosure, and a pit bull named Smiley had a leg so swollen he could hardly stand on it.

On its Facebook page and on websites that advertise local farms, Cross States Stables says it offers riding lessons, pony parties, and animal sales.

A sign outside the farm on Nokesville Road advertises “Goats, Lambs, Sheep, Taking Orders for Halal for Eid.”

The affidavit says that the farm has a slaughtering area in the rear, where an officer found bags of animal entrails and body parts including feet and hides that had not been disposed of and were covered in maggots.

Police said they seized four dogs, two horses, one cow, and 52 more animals from the property.

Police said that they are being kept by animal control. She said there were other horses stabled at Cross States that are not owned by the Samses, and the county is working on removing them.

Larry and Carolyn Sams are scheduled to appear in court on June 3.

(Washington Post - May 1, 2014)

NC woman charged with animal cruelty after dogs die in hot car

NORTH CAROLINA -- A Franklinton woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police say she left her dogs in a hot car while she shopped at Walmart Wednesday.

Both dogs reportedly died.

Jennifer King, 34, left her dogs unattended in the car for about two hours while she shopped around noon.

Officials say temperature inside of the car reached up to 120 degrees.

(WTVD - May 14, 2014)

Accused animal torturer's girlfriend told police he spoke of killing humans, sought protection order

CANADA -- The girlfriend of the Calgary man charged in the torture killings of a cat and dog told police he spoke to her about killing humans, the Sun has learned.

The man also mentioned to her that he hears voices and she’s seen him speak to people that aren’t there, according to testimony given by a Calgary cop in support of an emergency protection order.

“She said that he has not only spoken about harming and hurting animals, and she’s seen him harm animals, but that he has spoken about harming humans,” Const. Aaron Squirrell testified on March 10, according to a court transcript of the hearing.

“She mentioned that he has also ... spoken to her about murder and killing humans,” Squirrell told justice of the peace Lily MacKay.

Squirrell also testified Nicolino Camardi, who currently faces two animal cruelty charges, told police that voices have been telling him to kill his girlfriend.

The officer’s testimony was in support of an application on the girlfriend’s behalf for an emergency protection order barring Camardi from contacting her.

MacKay granted the application, but the order was not extended when it was reviewed by a Court of Queen’s Bench judge on April 30.

Camardi, 19, faces four charges in connection with alleged incidents which occurred March 9, including the unlawful confinement of his girlfriend which triggered the protection order application.

At the time he was under investigation in connection with incidents on Jan. 9 and 16 in which a Siberian husky and domestic short hair cat were found tossed in a Willow Park alley, their muzzles taped shut.

The dog died of starvation and the cat was strangled after suffering blows to the head.

Camardi was charged May 5, in connection with the killings and is currently on a 30-day psychiatric remand to determine his fitness to stand trial.

In his evidence before MacKay, Squirrell testified Camardi “has a history of psychosis,” and of crack cocaine use.

“(The girlfriend) believes that he is still using crack cocaine behind her back,” he testified at the March 10 hearing.

“While (Camardi) was in police custody he made comments to the officer that he’s hearing voices and that the voices are telling him to kill her,” Squirrell said.

“And that he needs to kill her soon, and if he doesn’t kill her, she’ll kill him first.”

Camardi returns to provincial court from his assessment on June 6.

(Calgary Sun - May 14, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dead dog, cat found muzzled in southeast Calgary alley

Shelter does the right thing and refuses to adopt out dog which attacked little boy

CALIFORNIA -- After video of heroic Tara the cat went viral -- showing her ninja-body-slamming a dog that's biting 4-year-old Jeremy Triantafilo -- most people agreed the dog should be put down.

But not everyone. Websites and at least one online petition have popped up urging the dog be saved. The 8-month-old male Labrador-Chow mix that bit the boy Tuesday is under quarantine for 10 days and then will be put down.

Calls have flooded the phones at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center, director Julie Johnson said Friday on "First Look with Scott Cox."

Johnson has been taking calls from rescue operation centers that claim they can change the behavior of the dog. But the dog is not being turned over to anyone.

"I get concerned that we are fielding so many calls for this one dog," Johnson said. "I have 200 other dogs that need a home, who haven't bit anyone and make great family pets."

Californian columnist Lois Henry echoed Johnson's sentiments and said putting the dog down is the appropriate thing to do.

"I admire their animal compassion, but this dog attacked a child," Henry said. "It's a vicious animal."
And the dog's attitude has not changed since he's been under quarantine.

According to Johnson, the dog is actively trying to fight and bite workers who are adding food and water in his kennel.

"We need to put our energy into saving other animals who are euthanized because there's not enough room in the shelter, not on a dog who has attacked a child," Johnson said.

And speaking of adoption, you can adopt Jack the cat, who visited "First Look" as Friday's Pet of the Week and bares a significant similarity to Tara.

You can visit Jack and other pets at the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center at 201 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. or call 832-7387.

Meanwhile, accolades continue rolling in for Tara the cat.

A representative for state Sen. Andy Vidak, R-Hanford, has indicated the senator would like to recognize the fast and furry-ious feline with a certificate. No word yet from Tara's people.

(Bakersfield Californian - May 16 2014)

Earlier:

• Hero cat proves felines may be more protective than dogs

Kalamazoo officer attacked by pit bull: Dog was 'staring directly at me, as if he acquired his target'

MICHIGAN -- A Kalamazoo Public Safety officer who shot and killed a pit bull in the Edison neighborhood was acting in self defense, according to a police report from the incident.

Witnesses reported that Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officer Ryan Preston appeared to be trying to defend himself May 8 when he shot "Boss," a 70-pound red nose pit bull, according to the police report obtained by the Kalamazoo Gazette through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act.

Nichole Perry, 34, the owner of the pit bull, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of harboring a vicious dog. Perry has a pre-trial hearing set for June 17 in front of Judge Richard Santoni for the criminal charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.

On the day of the incident, Preston was investigating a fight in the Edison neighborhood, knocking on doors of potential witnesses, according to the police report. When he arrived at Perry's house in the 1600 block of Lay Boulevard, a man named Dillon Burgett came to the side door.

Burgett refused to open the door and told the officer to leave, according to the report. As Preston was leaving, he went to check the address at the front of the house. As he did that, Burgett opened the front door and the pit bull ran out of the house.

"The pit bull was staring directly at me, as if he acquired his target," Preston wrote in the report.

Preston wrote that he began to backpedal in order to distance himself from the dog, and the pit bull charged at him. The dog chased the officer into the roadway, jumping on the officer, biting him on the right leg. As the dog was jumping on him, Preston shot three rounds at the dog, the report said.

Dash cam video from police cruisers didn't capture the incident, but Preston's microphone recorded audio. Shortly after Preston finishes talking to Burgett, the dog can be heard growling and barking, followed by shouting and then three gun shots.

Preston can then be heard saying, "It bit me twice on my knee. I'm leaking blood."

Investigators interviewed seven witnesses of the shooting, and all of them said the officer appeared to be acting in self defense, according to the police report.

Burgett and Perry were upset and hostile with officers after the shooting, according to the report and recordings. Perry said her dog was not vicious and said Boss had never attacked anyone before.

"You guys killed him," Perry said while crying. "I don't believe it. He's never bit anybody."

Burgett told police that the dog charged at Preston because the officer was running away, according to the report.

Three complaints had been made against the dog in the past, including a loose dog report on March 12. Perry pleaded guilty to a charge of dog at large earlier this month, stemming from the March 12 incident.

(The Kalamazoo Gazette - June 5, 2014)

Earlier:

• Officer recording of pit bull shooting released

Tip leads to animal cruelty charges against kennel owner

PENNSYLVANIA -- Five dogs in poor health were removed from a well-known dog kennel in Berks County, and now the owner is facing charges, said officials.

The Pennsylvania SPCA said a tip call led officials to Celtic Farms and Kennels Inc. in Penn Township in early May. According to court records, the kennel's owner, Paul Ober, has been charged with five counts of animal cruelty as a summary offense.

The PSPCA executed a search warrant and found 60 dogs. Forensic veterinarians evaluated the animals and five dogs were removed because of lack of care, said officials.

One dog had to be euthanized because of serious health issues, added Sarah Eremus, spokeswoman for PSPCA.

"There's always a lot of dogs up there and I would be surprised if they're not over the limit on the amount of dogs they're actually supposed to have," said Paula Grose, who lives down the street from the kennel.

Many neighbors in the area told 69 News they were not surprised by the charges that were filed against Ober because they've had a mountain of complaints over the years.

"Mostly noise and dogs barking all the time," said William Spatz.

According to officials, Ober surrendered the dogs that were taken. They have since been sent to a breed rescue.

69 News tried reaching out to Ober for comment, but we were told he was not available.

Now, some neighbors said they hope the charges serve as a wake-up call.

"I just want to see them abide by the laws and on the number of dogs and how they treat them and that the dogs are treated fairly," said Grose.

The PSPCA would not release any other information because the case is still under investigation.
Ober has been fined and a court date has not yet been set.

(WFMZ Allentown - May 27, 2014)

Earlier:

• PSPCA removes sick dogs from noted Berks Co. breeder

Florida: Fifth Suspect Arrested In Cantonment Animal Cruelty Case

FLORIDA -- A fifth and final suspect has been arrested in connection with a Cantonment animal cruelty case.

George Washington Ahl (aka George Ahl), 76, was charged with three counts of causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals,  and four counts of unlawful confinement of animals. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on his own recognizance.

An entire family of animal abusers. How nice.

Last month, George Edward Kenneth Ahl (George Ahl), 23, Casey Tyler Ahl (Casey Ahl), 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl (Frances Ahl), 72, and  Randolph Hewell Rigby (aka Randolph Rigby, Randall Rigby, Randy Rigby), 43, were arrested on similar charges. The charges against the five defendants were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office.

According to case documents, multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.

Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation last December. A 17-page document released  by the State Attorney’s office details the investigation and provides numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.

Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. 

Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus.

Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces.

Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office,
Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers
 use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in
Cantonment.. Photos for NorthEscambia.com

There was little food available for the animals.

Animal Control also located eight Poodles, a Doberman and five cats on the property.

One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.

Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized.

Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save  Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s able to walk and run on her own and has gained several pounds.

As of Friday morning, George Edward Kenneth Ahl, remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $55,000. Casey Ahl and Frances Ahl were released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and  Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond.

Each has pleaded not guilty the charges against them.

(North Escambia - May 30, 2014)

Braceville man charged with animal cruelty

ILLINOIS -- A Braceville man is facing animal cruelty charges after authorities allege he starved two dogs.

Alex A. Vandervort, 25, is charged with two counts of cruel treatment of an animal, a Class A misdemeanor; two counts of failure to provide food and water to an animal, a Class B misdemeanor; and two counts of failure to provide humane care and treatment to an animal, a Class B misdemeanor.

Vandervort is not being charged with felonies because according to state law, felony charges are only warranted if the animals died, Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland said Monday.

The two dogs are on the mend at the Grundy County Animal Control department.

“It’s a slow process. It takes a lot of time, but the dogs are doing very well for the condition they came in,” Animal Control Director June Krull said Monday.

The dogs were brought in last week after an investigation by animal control, she said.

According to court documents, a golden retriever mix named Melvin and a terrier mix named Dots were kept by Vandervort in South Wilmington where they were “cruelly treated and/or starved” by leaving the dogs confined in a trailer at a mobile home park for “an excessive period” and were not provided adequate food and/or water.

In addition, the documents allege Vandervort failed to provide humane care and treatment to the dogs by confining them to the trailer and not checking on their welfare.

One of the dogs stayed at a veterinarian’s office for a few days before joining the other at the animal control facility, Krull said. Once the dogs are in better health, they will be adopted out.

Class A misdemeanors are punishable up to one year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, according to a news release from Helland’s office. Class B misdemeanors are punishable up to six months in jail and up to a $1,500 fine.

Helland and state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, have been working for months on legislation that would stop people convicted of an animal abuse crime from being able to adopt an animal again. The legislation is up for reintroduction in the fall legislation session, Helland said.

The proposed bill would require all Illinois residents convicted of an animal abuse crime to be listed in the national Do Not Adopt Registry. It’s proposed to be maintained by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, but when Helland went before state committees in March, some concerns were returned regarding having a non-government body maintaining the site. Officials are now working with state police to see if the site is something that agency can maintain.

(Morris Daily Herald - May 19, 2014)

New Mexico: Benjamin Trujillo, 54, charged with extreme animal cruelty after wrapping chain so tightly around his dog's neck it ripped it open

NEW MEXICO -- What an Albuquerque man allegedly did to his dog, landed him in jail.

Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies say 54-year-old Benjamin Trujillo wrapped a chain so tightly around his dog’s neck it caused a severe open wound.

Benjamin Trujillo 

Trujillo is also accused of tying up the pit bull mix to a dog house and it had no access to food and water.

Deputies say Trujillo admitted that he put the chain on the dog six months ago and that he never noticed the wound.

 

The dog was taken to a vet and had to undergo surgery.

Trujillo was arrested Tuesday night and charged with extreme animal cruelty.

(KRQE - May 29, 2014)

Karin Holmes charged with four counts of animal cruelty

FLORIDA -- A Loxahatchee woman has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty.

Investigators from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control received a call from Karin Holmes stating that she broke her leg and could not care for her five dogs.

Animal Care and Control says that Holmes had five large dogs that were kept in outside Kennels.
Four of the dogs are adult pit bull mixes and the other was a German shepherd.

Officers say that there was a strong smell of urine and feces as they approached the kennels.

The dogs, according to investigators, had buckets of water that were dirty and full of green algae.

Holmes also had four Yorkshire terriers in the house that were in good health.

Officers say that Holmes told them that her husband owned the dogs and was incarcerated and she was not able to care for them after she broke her leg.

All of the large dogs, according to investigators, had health problems caused by neglect.

Animal care and Control officers say that the problems that the dogs suffered from began before Holmes broke her leg.

 Holmes was charged with four counts of animal cruelty.

(WPTV - May 30, 2014)

Ugly skanks who tortured and killed animals in horrific porn videos will escape prosecution because the statute of limitations has expired

FLORIDA -- A pair of fetish models who allegedly filmed sex scenes featuring them torturing fish, bunnies, and chickens may never see a day in court because the statute of limitations has expired.

Sara Zamora, 28, and Stephanie Hird, 29, performed in the sickening videos roughly a decade ago. A wait that prosecutors say has left them helpless.

The pair were arrested in April after PETA found the online sex scenes, but prosecutors never filed the felony animal cruelty charges they would have otherwise faced.

Under Miami-Dade County's state attorney the statute of limitations has already expired.

Outside their Thursday court appearance in which the women were set free, Zamora said they were actually victims.

'We were 18 years old and we were manipulated into a situation that we, unfortunately, cannot take back,' she told reporters for Local 10.

Zamora and Hird blamed Adam Redford, a South Florida boat captain who they say made the videos for fetish site 'SOS Barn.'

Zamora pleasured one man while karate chopping bunnies and slitting a chicken's neck with hedge clippers in one video.

In another Hird crushed live fish with her bare hands, abused rabbits, shot rats, and set a pile of vermin ablaze all while wearing a revealing outfit, the Miami Herald reports.

After their arrest, it was reported Zamora faced eight felony charges and Hird five.

'We were manipulated and convinced that these things were alright,' Zamora said. 'And unfortunately they were very wrong and now we have to pay the consequences, even if it was 10 years ago.'

Hird added: 'The truth always comes out. I wasn’t guilty from the get-go. Those were other models.'

Redford, who is listed as a co-defendant in the case, has not been arrested.

'If you're out there Adam Redford, I hope you get everything you deserve,' Zamora told reporters.

As for those who still believe she's tortured and killed animals, Zamora had a message for them.

'They can all go to hell.'

(Daily Mail - May 30, 2014)

Ohio: Police say animal abuse case committed by Mahmoud Abukhalil, 41, and Richard Newton, 49, ‘one of worst’ in Lorain County

OHIO -- Two men stand accused in what is being described as one of the worst animal abuse cases in Lorain County.

An anonymous tip about neglect of a horse led authorities to a barn on Route 303 in Grafton Township Friday. Lorain County Humane Officer Denise Willis said they were sickened by what they found.

“We got back by the barn, and the smell and the flies were deplorable. We went to look at the horse, two looked OK, and two looked real good. One was very emaciated — hair loss, skinny, bony, flies all over it,” said Willis.

  

Two men there claimed to be the caretakers of the property and the animals.

“They said the horse had got sick in the winter and they had not taken it to a vet. So, this horse has been like this for a while. This didn’t happen in a few weeks or a month,” said Willis.

On another part of the property, authorities found animal carcasses piled on top of each other.

Richard Newton, 49

“And, when he went into this fenced-in area, he started moving bags, and in the bags were bones and decaying animals, lots of them, lots of them. I couldn’t even tell you how many,” she said.

While it is not clear who actually owns the farm animals, Greg Willey, Executive Director of the Friendship APL said the law is clear when it comes to the person responsible for their care.

“If an owner falls out of the picture, you don’t get to just stop feeding the animals. That’s not a choice. You have to continue to care for them,” Willis said.

Mahmoud Abukhalil, 41

Mahmoud Abukhalil, 41, and Richard Newton, 49, have both been charged with animal cruelty and obstructing official business. They are to be arraigned Monday.

The five horses found are being fostered through the Friendship Animal Protective League of Lorain County.

Depending on what happens with the court case, they could go up for adoption.

(FOX8 - May 31, 2014)

Monster sentenced to 10 years in prison for torturing animals to death in sexually perverted videos

TEXAS -- A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for torturing dogs and cats to death to make videos for people who found the sick treatment sexually arousing.

Ashley Nichole Richards pleaded guilty to three counts of animal cruelty in Houston, Texas, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson announced on Thursday morning.

She created as many as 27 'crush' videos between February 2010 and August 2012 and was eventually stopped after PETA discovered the footage and alerted the authorities.

After her arrest in 2012, prosecutors said she tortured a puppy, kittens, a rabbit, mice, a pigeon, fish, lobsters and crabs using high heeled shoes, a meat cleaver, knives, screwdrivers and pliers.

A graphic statement from PETA at the time revealed that she had often killed up to two animals a day, including a kitten who was bound with masking tape before being stomped on with a high heel that went into its eye.

Another video shows her using a meat cleaver to cut off a puppy's leg, PETA said.

She allegedly filmed the videos with the help of Brent Justice, 52, who is also charged with animal cruelty.

They would then give the videos to people who were sexually aroused by the treatment, prosecutors said, the Houston Chronicle reported.

'When a person tortures and kills an animal, that raises a red flag about that person’s capacity for violent behavior in general,' District Attorney Devon Anderson said, News92 reported.

'It will always be a priority for our office to aggressively prosecute offenders who abuse animals.'

The case is the first time anyone has been prosecuted for 'crush' videos in Harris County.

'While we are satisfied that the defendant received the maximum penalty in these cases,' Anderson said. 'We will fight at the next legislative session to increase the punishment range for this offense to better protect these animals and all citizens of Harris County.'

Stephanie Bell from PETA added: 'Given the undeniable link between cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence, the community at large is safer when convicted abusers such as Richards are behind bars.'

Some charges in the case were dismissed last year because a federal judge dismissed the statue as overbroad and a violation of their First Amendment rights. Four months later, prosecutors filed an appeal.

'As with child pornography, it is necessary to dry up the market in animal crush videos, which have little if any social value, in order to effectively prevent the criminal acts that necessarily occur when the videos are produced,' prosecutors had claimed, the Houston Press reported last year.

Justice is being held in the Harris County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

(Daily Mail - May 29, 2014)

Earlier:

• Houston pair charged with torturing, killing puppy

Hamilton man charged with felony animal cruelty

MONTANA -- The elderly owner of a menagerie captured at his Hamilton home last March faces a felony county of aggravated animal cruelty.

Chancy Charles Ralls, 75, appeared Thursday before Ravalli County Justice of the Peace Robin Clute and was released on his own recognizance with the condition he doesn’t bring new animals home.

In March, sheriff’s deputies were joined by volunteers to capture and remove yaks, Watusi cattle, sheep, donkey, horse, chickens and ducks from Ralls’ home on Blodgett View Road west of Hamilton.

The animals have since found temporary homes in a variety of locations.

A pair of yaks and several long-horned Watusi were moved to the Ravalli
County Fairgrounds after being seized from Ralls' home near Hamilton.

Court documents filed in the case said Ralls was initially approached by Ravalli County sheriff’s deputies in February following a number of reports that his animals were being mistreated.

Ralls told the deputy then he had 10 to 15 cows and 10 sheep, which he fed five bales of hay every other day. Ralls said he purchased his hay exclusively from Lakeland Feed.

At that time, Ralls refused to allow the deputy to inspect his animals.

From the roadway, the deputy counted 21 cattle. He contacted Lakeland Feed, who told him that Ralls only purchased five bales of hay each week.

The deputy was told the cattle alone should be fed five bales of hay every day.

The deputy county attorney said the county initially agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement with Ralls, with the stipulation that he find new homes for his animals.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ralls was supposed to reimburse the county for its costs of caring for the animals and provide documentation they had legally been transferred to someone else by May 22.

When the county didn’t receive that, it opted to move forward with prosecution of the case.

(Ravalli Republic - May 31, 2014)

Princeton dog trainer pleads guilty to animal cruelty charge, sentenced to 5 years for role in dog's death

NEW JERSEY -- A dog trainer accused of severely beating a dog in his care that died pleaded guilty today to a third-degree animal cruelty charge stemming from the August 2012 incident.

Under the terms of the plea deal, accepted by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Mark Fleming, Michael Rosenberg, 32, of Princeton, will serve five years for his role in the death of the 3-year-old German shepherd mix owned by his client Tracy Stanton of Lawrence.

Michael Rosenberg waits in the Trenton courtroom of Judge Mark J. Fleming
on July 12, 2013. Rosenberg pleaded guilty Tuesday to a third-degree
 animal cruelty charge. (Martin Griff / The Times of Trenton)

Rosenberg had been accused of dragging Stanton’s dog, Shyanne, along a road in Princeton.
Authorities also alleged that Rosenberg hit the dog with a crop whip, slammed it into the ground and poked its ribs. It was also alleged that he had abused his own dogs.

A necropsy showed the probable cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting in four broken ribs, a punctured lung, and hyperthermia.

“The dog died from hyperthermia, the dog was overheated, but there were also signs of abuse,” she said. “So he had to have beaten the dog. The dog was in extreme distress.”

Stanton said she was referred to Rosenberg by a childhood friend who had recently met him and was aware of Stanton’s desire to have Shyanne trained.

She brought Shyanne to Rosenberg, who convinced her to let him keep the dog to train further. Two days later, Rosenberg called her saying Shyanne had collapsed while running.

She said her boyfriend subsequently went to pick up Shyanne and found her unresponsive and hosed down with water. Shyanne stopped breathing while being brought to Northstar Vets in Robbinsville.

Stanton said she requested a necropsy be performed after noticing Shyanne’s paws were bloodied.

According to archives, Princeton Animal Control Officer Mark Johnson had previously issued Rosenberg disorderly persons summons for cruelty to animals after witnessing Rosenberg dragging another dog on Elm Road in October 2012.

Rosenberg’s five-year term will run concurrently with a four-year sentence he received in 2011 on child endangerment charges for engaging in sexual activity with a juvenile.

The sentence had been suspended, but his attorney, James Wronko, said the sentence was reinstated after Rosenberg violated his probation by failing a drug test and attempting to cheat on another.

However, Wronko said had it not been for the drug failures, the animal cruelty charges would have still triggered a parole violation.

Another animal cruelty charge was dismissed under the terms of the agreement. The other charge would have carried an additional five-year sentence.

After the hearing, Stanton, who described Rosenberg as “a sick person” said she is glad to be able to move forward.

“I’m happy that people, the court and everybody who has supported this have sent a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated,” she said. “When this happened there was nothing else he could have taken from me that could have hurt me more. That dog was my life. She was my baby.”

A sentence hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 5 at 9 a.m.

(NJ.com - June 1, 2014)

Earlier:

• Man pleads not guilty in another animal cruelty case

Related:

• PUNISH - Princeton NJ dog killer & registered sex offender - MICHAEL G ROSENBERG

Owner of suspected puppy mill charged with animal cruelty

MICHIGAN -- A Howell Township woman is facing animal cruelty charges after being formally charged Thursday morning, according to a report in the Livingston Daily.

Margaret Elaine Komorny

Margaret Elaine Komorny was charged with animal cruelty to 10 or more animals, according to the report. Animal control officers say Komorny did not provide adequate care to about 90 dogs living in unsanitary conditions on her property.

The dogs were all seized by animal control officers in Livingston County.

Komorny denies the charges, and has called her business a kennel, according to the report.

 



As a part of her bond, she is no longer allowed to obtain new animals but can continue caring for the horses on her farm and two stray cats that live near her home, the report stated.

(The Ann Arbor News - May 30, 2014)

Earlier:

• Alleged puppy mill operator disputes county's allegations

"Hey, Charlene! Get the stroller and bring Billy Bob over so's he can learn how to have fun torturing critters!"

KENTUCKY -- Authorities said that when they found out the Coon Dog Treeing Contest wasn't sanctioned by the Fair Board, they [refused to do anything about it].

The Raccoon was severely hurt in the attack.

[After being mauled by three dogs trying to rip its limbs from its body, the dogs' owner stomped on the poor animal's head three times - in front of police who did nothing - and then threw the animal into a cage and drove off with it Please God. Please let it be dead at this point and not still suffering.]

This happened in Danville KY. There is an official "investigation" going on, but I wouldn't hold my breath for any punishment. While it was happening I overheard a cop say "I'm not P.E.T.A., what do you want me to do?"- tourettes_on_Tuesday (posted on reddit.com)

LEX18 Lexington KY News says that one witness says the raccoon survived that attack, but when one of the dog owners saw it was still alive, he stomped on the raccoon's head.



"Some hick from the woods just released this little guy
at the county fair and let his three dogs loose so they
 could nearly rip it apart in front of dozens of young kids".
 (i.imgur.com, submitted by Shortofcoleandklay)

Officials have identified three individuals who own the dogs that were attacking the raccoon.

They are still trying to figure out if criminal charges will be filed.

[If?! If charges will be filed?! God.]

(WTVQ - June 1, 2014)

From Reddit.com:

Tonight, around 9 pm at the fairgrounds, a group of men in a pickup truck rolled into the horse grounds and brought out three dogs and a caged raccoon.

The head man of the “event” got out of the truck proclaiming “Gather around for Live Action!” repeatedly. Most of the slowly growing crowd were unaware as to what was about to happen next.

 

That same man claiming the “Live Action” looked to a group of kids and asked “You want us to let the coon go?”.

Of course all the kids watching were screaming NO NO NO after seeing the three dogs surround the cage, barking loudly and drawing more attention. The man didn't seem to care about what the kids thought so what he and his group of guys did was have a competition (his words) of sorts to see which dog could chase the raccoon down and kill it first. They set the cage a good 15-20 yards from the three dogs and opened the cage.

The raccoon hopelessly scrambling away from the dogs was promptly chased down by all three dogs and nearly ripped apart in front of DOZENS of kids and parents. All of this is going on while kids are screaming and parents are yelling for the men to put the dogs away and stop this thing I would compare to a public execution.

The raccoon did manage to get away from the dogs and find its way towards me in hopes of putting something between it and certain death. However the man leading this horrific scene was stating to the approaching cops that he has to kill the raccoon, because “that's what the dogs are for”.

And while he is talking to the cops, the bloody and mangled raccoon is making its way into the crowd of kids.

I don't know what the cops said to the man but the next thing I see is him walking towards the raccoon, he decides to stomp on its head THREE times in front of the on looking crowd.

This doesn't kill the raccoon, cops tell him he cannot kill it there in front of all those people so the man puts the raccoon back in the cage and after some talking to the police is told to go somewhere else.

I talked the police that were there, and they told me that whatever he was doing was an actual scheduled event for the day but he was doing it in the wrong place.

I have video of a 26 second portion of the ”hunt” and you can hear kids protesting it and the raccoon squealing in pain. - Shortofcoleandklay, reddit.com

Oregon: No criminal charges for owner of three Pit Bulls that attacked and tried to kill 63-year-old Ashton teacher Aneda Ebert

OREGON -- The owner of three pit bulls that attacked and seriously injured 63-year-old Ashton teacher Aneda Ebert will not face criminal charges, Ogle County State's Attorney Mike Rock said in a news release.

"After reviewing the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department investigative reports and potential criminal statutes, it has been determined that prosecution is not viable," Rock said in the release, sent late Friday afternoon.

Ebert was attacked April 21 while jogging. Her husband, Larry, was riding his bike and happened upon the scene. He drove off the dogs, which had Aneda pinned down in a ditch, and called 911, likely saving his wife's life.

She had severe injuries to her neck, shoulder, arms and leg, spent 4 days in the hospital and underwent surgery to repair her wounds.

The dogs were impounded by Ogle County Animal Control officers shortly after the attack and later euthanized with the consent of the owner, who has not been publicly identified.

At the time, Tom Champley, Ogle’s animal control administrator, said the county can cite an owner of dogs running loose dogs, but “there’s not a fine if a dog bites.”

Vanessa Scott, Whiteside County’s animal control warden, said authorities can charge owners of attacking dogs when there is evidence the owners knew their dogs had the potential to do harm without provocation. Previous incidents, she said, can serve as proof.

Champley agreed. “Legally, there has to be a prior report on these dogs” before animal control can pursue charges, he said.

The Eberts were familiar with the dogs and said they never had been a problem before, and they didn't know what prompted the attack.

"They've been in our yard when our grandchildren have been here," Aneda said at the time.

Almost every day, weather permitting, he and Aneda bike and run past the house where the dogs were kept, Larry added.

Aneda, a retired physical education teacher, teaches one day a week at Tilton Elementary School in Rochelle. In a May 4 interview, she said she was healing nicely and couldn't wait to go jogging again.

A call to the Eberts Saturday night to check on Aneda's progress had not been returned as of this posting.

(Saukvalley - May 31, 2014)

Earlier:

• Dog attack victim: 'It hurt so bad. I just wanted to die'

Toddler Injured In Waco Dog Attack Taken To Temple For Surgery

TEXAS -- A 2-year-old girl who was attacked by a dog late Thursday afternoon in a North Waco neighborhood has been transferred from Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center to McLane Children’s Hospital in Temple for surgery, a family friend said Friday.

Cynthia Wills had no further details.

 

The girl was bitten on the head, face, shoulder and arms, but was conscious and crying when paramedics arrived.

Officers and paramedics were dispatched late Thursday afternoon to a home at 2019 Summer Ave. in response to the incident.

Wills pulled up outside the house just after the attack and administered first aid to the girl before police and paramedics arrived.

Animal control officers took custody of the dog, which police said was chained in the yard of a neighbor’s home.

It wasn’t clear whether the animal was provoked before the attack.

The incident is under investigation.

(KWTX - May 30, 2014)