North Carolian: Police say dog trainer Matthew Leeth abandoned his animals to slowly starve to death

NORTH CAROLINA -- Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman shook his head in disgust Thursday as he talked about an animal cruelty case and the man who has been charged.

"I don't feel for him at all," Bowman said, talking about 29-year-old Matthew Leeth who ran a dog training business called K-9 Training Institute in Bethlehem.

 

  

 

Officials say Leeth would acquire dogs and train them as hunting dogs or security animals and then sell them. Thursday morning, he was accused of mistreating and abandoning several animals there.

Leeth was charged with 19 counts of felony cruelty to animals and 19 counts of misdemeanor abandonment of an animal.

"It's just uncalled for," said Bowman.

 

Investigators went to the business Wednesday night after a tip was called in about a potential problem. Deputies found the front door padlocked, the electricity cut off, and the sounds of dogs in distress inside.

Once they made their way into the building, they found several dogs in what they describe as bad physical shape.

One dog was found dead on the floor and two others, along with a cockatoo, were found dead in a freezer. Nine quail were also found dead.

 

"They starved to death," said Bowman. "There was no food or water for them for at least seven to ten days."

An African Gray bird and two dogs were found in cages without food or water, according to the Alexander County Sheriff's Office.

When asked if he had done what he is accused of, Leeth told WBTV "no."

 

Investigators say he told them someone was supposed to be taking care of the animals for him. So far, though, officials say they have been unable to locate the person. - does this person even exist??

In any case, the sheriff says he believes Leeth is still responsible for what happened to the animals at his business.

  

 

The five surviving dogs are now at the Alexander County Animal Shelter where officials say they are getting the care they need. They also say the road to recovery will take some time.

Leeth was jailed under a bond of $200,000 with a court appearance scheduled for April 10.

(WBTV - April 6, 2017)

Tennessee: Tip leads to over 350 animals being seized from South Nashville home

TENNESSEE -- Metro Animal Care and Control seized hundreds of birds, chickens and rabbits from a home in South Nashville over the weekend.

In total, 368 animals, including 111 rabbits, 158 quail, 52 pigeons and 27 chickens, were taken after MACC received a tip last Wednesday.

At the home, investigators found hundreds of animals, many of which they say were living in abysmal conditions.

“Unfortunately, we found animals housed in overcrowded coops and cleanliness issues and animals not being appropriately cared for and we also witnesses several deceased animals on property as well,” Rebecca Morris with Metro Animal Control said.

Officials said there were nearly 20 dead animals that were removed from the home as well.

“The animals passed away because of failure to provide vet care,” Morris said, adding, “This was a residential suburb with animals being house on less than a fourth acre lot.”

According to investigators, the family who owned the animals were slaughtering them and using them for meat to eat.

“The family shares with us he was raising the animals for meat – that is legal, perfectly ok, but you do have to provide humane care for the animals while they are in your care,” Morris said.

Metro Animal Control said the owner signed the remaining animals over to the agency.

“He did select to sign the animals over to us, and now it is our job to care for them and find safe placement for them,” Morris explained.

News 2 went to the home where Metro Codes was speaking to the man’s wife about vehicles parked in the front yard.

The woman, who does not speak English well, said through a neighbor, that she would prefer not to comment.

“She said I don’t want to say anything. My husband is not here and I don’t’ want to say anything unless he’s here,” the neighbor said on her behalf.

The owner of the animals has not been cited, but charges are possible.

The rescued animals will be placed with various agencies and the healthy rabbits will go with a national operation out of Roanoke, Virginia.

(WKRN - April 3, 2017)

Utah: Animal Control and a city Drain Inspector rescue baby quail trapped in storm drain

UTAH -- Like Lassie of old who rescued Timmy, two Pleasant Grove city employees saved four baby quail from a well Monday.

In a slight departure from their regular work schedules, Sandy Sargent, Pleasant Grove's animal control officer, and Jake Pettersson, a city storm drain inspector, answered the cries of the baby quail, who had fallen down a storm drain outside the Pleasant Grove City Library on East Center Street. They were alerted to the quail’s plight by a group who were meeting at the library.

“We all heard tiny squeaking sounds and … there were two quail right outside our meeting door in a state of anxiety. We saw the parents running around frantically and squawking. We also heard tiny little tweeting sounds coming from down in the grate,” said Sue Winmill, one of the women at the library meeting.

“When I got the call, I was told they’d fallen down a window well," Sargent said. "When I got there, the ladies showed me the storm drain where the babies were. I thought, this is a whole different ball game. That storm drain is 10 to 15 feet deep. I really wasn’t sure if we’d be able to get down there.

“The ladies asked me if it was worth trying to get them out. Their parents were running back and forth calling to them, and the babies were cheeping back. My heart was breaking for them, so I had to.”

She couldn’t get the heavy storm grate off, so she called into the street department. Pettersson came out, and it took some public works machinery, a long ladder and a bucket to rescue the babies.

“Those babies, I don’t think I have ever held something so tiny in my hands. They were maybe the size of a 50-cent piece. They were so much tinier than, when I was looking down the drain I first thought they were,” Sargent said.

After Pettersson retrieved the quail from the drain, Sargent checked the babies, and surprisingly, none of them were injured in the fall. She couldn’t get near their parents, so she placed them in some bushes nearby. As soon as she and bystanders backed away, the parents came running.

“It was a happy reunion,” Sargent said.

The regular day-to-day duties of city employees usually involve less happy tasks, and Sargent’s usual animal dealings have less joyful outcomes.

“For me, when things like that happen, it makes it all worth it,” she said.

(Daily Herald - Aug 11, 2016)

River Road man, Iradj “John” Dashti, accused of animal abuse pleads not guilty

WASHINGTON --Sequim man Iradj “John” Dashti, 61, pleaded not guilty to two counts of alleged misdemeanor animal cruelty in the second degree at his arraignment hearing in Clallam County District Court on July 31.

Clallam County deputies first seized two donkeys, two sheep and four goats from Dashti’s property at 21 Serenity Lane off River Road on June 24 due to low levels of sanitation.

Deputies later reported to Dashti’s property on June 29 to investigate a dead, 100-pound pig, that was later found to be fed and watered.

Sequim resident John Dashti, 61, faces two misdemeanor
counts of animal cruelty in the second degree.— image credit:
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

However, deputies obtained another search warrant and seized the rest of Dashti’s animals including a dog, quail, pigs and rabbits except for a few free-range chickens they were unable to capture.
The animals now reside at Chimacum’s Central Valley Animal Rescue.

Prior to seizing the animals, Dashti was given multiple warnings by Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas regarding animal care in the past month.

Attention to Dashti’s property heightened following an anonymous online post showing photos of carcasses on Dashti’s property.

 

Dashti told the Sequim Gazette in a previous interview that he wasn’t hiding anything and that some of his animals were killed when tree branches fell on them during last winter’s storm that flooded his property.

Dashti said he kept some carcasses because a Seattle company buys them for $60-$80 each.

However, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said Dashti also told law enforcement he’s kept the carcasses as collections and for research, too.

Dashti must pay a $250 bail bond by Aug. 7 or face jail time.

His readiness hearing tentatively is set for Sept. 8.

His misdemeanor charges could lead Dashti to pay up to $5,000 per charge or up to 364 days in jail per charge.

Animal cruelty in the second degree means a “person knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.”

Dashti’s landlord filed to evict Dashti but he had not been evicted from the property as of Aug. 4.

(Sequim Gazette - Aug 5, 2015)

Earlier:

• River Road resident, John Dashti, charged with animal cruelty

River Road resident, John Dashti, charged with animal cruelty

WASHINGTON -- Sequim resident John Dashti, 61, faces two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty in the second degree after most of his animals were seized in late June at his residence off of River Road.

The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed the charges after a multi-week investigation by County Sheriff’s Office officials and repeated visits to Dashti’s property at 21 Serenity Lane.

 

 

Dashti also is being evicted the property and was given 20 days from his court appearance July 10 to vacate the premises, Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King, said.

 

Sequim resident John Dashti, 61, faces two misdemeanor
counts of animal cruelty in the second degree.— image credit:
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

Dashti’s next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, July 31, in Clallam County District Court 1 for the charges of animal cruelty in second degree, defined as when a “person knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.”

 

On June 24, Animal Control Deputy Tracey Kellas, sheriff’s office deputies, a veterinarian and representatives from Chimacum’s Central Valley Animal Rescue seized two donkeys, two sheep and four goats from the property for alleged neglect.

 

 

The animals were taken to the rescue because of the low level of sanitation inside their pen where two animal carcasses were found buried, King told the Gazette in a previous interview.

 

Other animals they inspected including a dog, chickens, quail, pigs and rabbits were found in adequate health at the time, he said.

 

Prior to seizing the animals, Dashti was given multiple warnings regarding animal care in the past month.

 

 

Deputies later reported to Dashti’s property on June 29 to investigate a dead, 100-pound pig. A necropsy performed on the pig revealed it was fed and watered and doesn’t initially appear to be dehydrated, King said.

 

However, with another animal found dead, King said they obtained another search warrant and seized the rest of the animals except for a few free-range chickens they were unable to capture.

 

An anonymous post online showed photos of carcasses on Dashti’s property.

 

 

 

Dashti told the Sequim Gazette in a previous interview that he isn’t hiding anything and that some of his animals were killed when tree branches fell on them during last winter’s storm that flooded his property.

 

Dashti said he kept some carcasses because a Seattle company buys them for $60-$80 each.

However, King said Dashti also told law enforcement he’s kept the carcasses as collections and for research, too.

 

(Sequim Gazette - Jul 15, 2015)

Thomas Knox stole and tortured 200 rare birds and stuffed carcasses into mailboxes

UNITED KINGDOM -- A teenager who tortured more than 200 rare birds before posting the carcasses through people's letterboxes with a grin has been jailed for six months.

Thomas Knox, 19, squeezed, kicked and battered the birds to death after stealing them from a life-long collector's aviary in Brownhills, West Midlands.

  

CCTV footage shows the teenager arrive with three others at a block of flats in Walsall, with bags and boxes containing the dead and alive animals, including doves and rare jays and quails.

The video shows him grinning as the gang then post the birds through resident's letterboxes and force them through 'barely open' living room windows.

One shocking image shows one of the vile yobs kick a bird across the hallway while others were jammed into drawers and even chased by a dog.

On Wednesday Knox, from Bloxwich, appeared via video-link at Walsall Magistrates Court and was jailed for six months.

He was also ordered to pay £350 compensation and £80 victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench, Bob Thomas, described the case as the 'most disturbing' he had ever seen.

He added: 'The animals must have suffered significant distress. Your trial was one of the most disturbing I have ever had the misfortune to sit in.'

Mr Thomas also cirticised Knox for spending most of the trial giggling with his co-accused in the dock.

The court heard Knox went along to the flats with pals Jake Higgs, 23, Chad Worgan, 19, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They had earlier bundled the birds into sacks and containers after stealing them from a collectors house in Brownhills, West Midlands.

Owner Lee Williams, 43, who spent his life collecting rare jays, finches, budgerigars, doves, quails and pigeons, was 'devastated' after the yobs only left one bird alive.

Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said it would cost £1,500 to replace the birds, and added: 'He cannot afford to replace the birds and he cannot claim on the insurance.'

Knox was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, receiving stolen goods, common assault and using threatening words or behavior.

The latter charges related to his behavior towards a dog warden and housing staff when he was told his dog was going to be taken away.

Vaughn Whistance, defending, said Knox was a vulnerable young man who suffered with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.

He added: 'He has been greatly influenced by the behavior of others.'

Co-accused Higgs from Mossley, West Midlands, was also due to learn his fate on Wednesday but failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Worgan, from Goscote, Walsall, was jailed for six months last Friday for his role in the act of animal cruelty.

The other defendant, 16-year-old boy, was given an 18-month rehabilitation order.

(Daily Mail - May 14, 2015)

Quail family reunited after rescue from Henderson storm drain

NEVADA -- Thanks to a Henderson animal control officer and a woman’s sharp observation, a family of quail was reunited after a swift rescue at a southeast neighborhood Saturday.

A woman, Connie Meek, was leaving her driveway in Sun City Macdonald Ranch Saturday afternoon when she saw a baby quail “disappear into the storm drain” and fall 3 feet in, her husband Ron Meek wrote to Henderson Ward II Councilwoman Debra March.

  

The Meeks found four baby quail running “hopelessly” in the drain, Ron Meek said.

When they called the non-emergency number for Henderson police, the woman on dispatch, who was only named as Loretta, sent out animal control officer Michael Cluff.

Cluff arrived “within a short time” Ron Meek said, and “immediately began to work on the rescue.”

Minutes later, Cluff netted the four quail out, Ron Meek said. The parents rant to them when the babies began to peep. They were then released to safety.

(Las Vegas Review-Journal - May 10, 2015)