Michigan: Cat left locked inside tote nearly freezes to death in -17 degree weather outside Humane Society

MICHIGAN -- An older male cat left outside the Humane Society of Midland County overnight nearly froze to death.

The organization posted on Facebook that someone dropped off the cat trapped inside a plastic tote outside the main entrance of its facility at 4371 E. Ashman St.

 

It was -11 degrees Fahrenheit that night; with the windchill it felt

like -17 degrees Fahrenheit. This poor cat is lucky he didn't freeze to

death, locked inside this plastic tote with nothing to keep him warm.

An employee found him Friday morning with feces frozen to his body.

"Leaving him like this in these elements could have killed him," the post says.

The cat was treated for hypothermia and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the Humane Society.

A sign in the window right outside where the cat was left warns against leaving animals unattended and even threatens legal action.

 

"We understand it's often hard to know what to do with stray animals but in these weather conditions this is never the answer!" the organization's Facebook post says.

The Humane Society pointed out the Midland Police Department will transport stray animals in need during the winter and volunteers are willing to pick up animals after hours.

Anyone in Midland County who finds an animal in distress in the evening, overnight or on weekends should call the Midland County Central Dispatch nonemergency number at (989) 839-6464 or message the Humane Society's Facebook page to ask for a referral.

(ABC12 - Dec 29, 2017)

(November 2017) Florida: Orlando Police Officer rescues abandoned kitten

FLORIDA -- Orlando Police Twitter @OrlandoPolice November 21, 2017

OPD Officer Nick Pluta found this kitten in a box outside of the police office on Primrose Drive this morning. She’s getting lots of  love from our officers, who have named her “Primrose” and are finding her a home.

(July 2017) Florida: Angela Rogers stuffed her Chihuahua into a nylon travel bag and then left him inside her hot car for hours, cooking him to death

FLORIDA -- A woman from Alabama was arrested Saturday afternoon after her dog died in a hot car while she was cleaning condos.

Angela Delandra Rogers, 29, whose listed address is 2573 County Road 6639 in Banks, Alabama, was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after her two-year-old Chihuahua was found in the car inside a nylon bag, deceased.

Officers responded to the north parking area of the Calypso Condominiums at about 12:30 p.m. in reference to an animal left inside an unattended vehicle.

They found the 2014 Chevrolet Captiva not running with its windows cracked about an inch on each side. Inside the car was a nylon bag with no food or water, and the dog. Officers pulled the dog out of the car, but found it was too late and the animal had died.

Temperatures ranged between 85 and 90 degrees for much of Saturday. At that temperature, according to the website K9 Rescue Me, the heat index inside a car can skyrocket to 120 degrees in as little as 30 minutes.

Rogers was not located until several hours after the incident, when she was arrested and transported to Bay County Jail.

Rogers told police when questioned that she left the dog inside the car while she was working cleaning condos.

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday's temperatures reached 90 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees.

Cpl. Kevin Burns said the temperatures inside the car was estimated at around 115 degrees.

"It was a black car in a black paved parking lot," Burns said.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Angela Delandra Rogers
Booking Number: 1608044
Booking on: 7/22/2017
County: Bay
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Charge
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Bond Amount: $7,500.00

(AL.com -  July 24, 2017)

Florida: Roberto Poli put two kittens in a bucket, covered it with a tub, and left them to slowly die - killing one, say police

FLORIDA -- A suburban Boynton Beach man trapped two kittens in a bucket outdoors on a hot, humid day because he was “tired of cats” coming onto his property, according to a Palm Beach County report charging him with four counts of animal cruelty.

One of the kittens was euthanized following the May incident at Roberto Poli’s home, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control said. The other cat eventually recovered, but did not eat on its own for nine days after being rescued, according to the report.

Roberto H. Poli, 63, was arrested Monday and charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of unlawful abandonment of an animal. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail after posting a $6,000 bond.

According to an Animal Care and Control report made public Tuesday, officers responded at about 1:15 p.m. May 2 to Poli’s home in Greater Boynton Place, a community west of Military Trail and south of Boynton Beach Boulevard, after a neighbor reported that Poli had a dog unattended in his backyard.

The heat index — the “feels-like” combination of air temperature and relative humidity — that day was 88, the report said.

An animal-care officer who responded to do a welfare check on Poli's dog heard what sounded like a kitten crying and saw a gray plastic bucket with a blue recycle bin turned upside down in Poli’s backyard, according to the report. 

The officer questioned Poli about the bucket, and he admitted to putting two kittens inside because he was upset they were on his property. He told the officer he put the kittens in the bucket at about 4:30 a.m. that morning, according to the report.

Poli took the officer to the bucket, revealing the two kittens laying in the bottom. The officer described the kittens as wet and panting. The smaller of the two kittens was too weak to move, and both were taken to a veterinarian for evaluation.

The vet determined the smaller kitten was not responding to treatment and opted to euthanize the animal to prevent further suffering, the report said.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Roberto Poli
Gender: Male
Race: Hispanic
Block: 5500 Boynton Pl
City: Boynton Beach, Florida 33437
Birthdate: 06/04/1954
Arrest Age: 63
Arrest Date: 07/24/2017
Arrest Time: 11:34 AM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Charges
#1 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
STATUTE: 828.12-3009

#2 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
STATUTE: 828.12-3009

#3 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICENT FOOD WATER
STATUTE: 828.13-8115

#4 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICENT FOOD WATER
STATUTE: 828.13-8115

(Palm Beach Post - July 26, 2017)

Georgia: Children find Jack Russell puppy sealed inside box and abandoned on street

GEORGIA -- The Dalton Police Department is seeking information from the public to help officers determine who abandoned a puppy on the side of the road sealed in a taped up cardboard box.

The puppy was found by some kids in the neighborhood and rescued by Dalton firefighters who called police to investigate.

The puppy was found near the intersection of Needham Drive and Kammi Street in Dalton around noon on Wednesday.

   

 

Some kids in the area found the box and called 911, and when firefighters from Engine 2 responded, they were able to get the puppy out of the box. They then called Dalton police officers to investigate.

The puppy was sealed in a box with markings from Doctors Foster And Smith Affordable Quality Pet Care.

 

The puppy is a female white and black dog, most likely a Jack Russell terrier. She appears to be approximately eight weeks old. Despite being sealed in a box with temperatures in the 80s, the puppy was healthy and playful once she was freed.

The dog was taken by Animal Control and turned over to a local rescue organization. She is safe.

Officers are hoping that someone will recognize the puppy and know who owned her or possibly know who owned the litter from which she came.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Officer Serena Martin at 706 278-9085, dial 9 and enter extension 240 or email smartin@cityofdalton-ga.gov.

(Chattanoogan - June 8, 2017)

Florida: Ernest Martin arrested after being caught on camera last year shoving puppies stuffed into pillowcases down a storm drain

FLORIDA -- A Florida man caught on video last September putting puppies into pillowcases, throwing them over a fence and then shoving them into a storm drain finally has been arrested.

Seven months after doing the deed, Ernest Martin, 39, was arrested by Jacksonville, Florida police on April 22, reports News4Jax.

Martin now faces six counts — one per puppy — of abandoning an animal in public without providing for its welfare.

According to police, Martin was caught on a surveillance camera last September, cramming pillowcases containing puppies into a culvert at a cross street in Jacksonville.

'It just breaks my heart to see someone hurting animals like that,' the unidentified surveillance camera owner told News4Jax, proceeding to describe what Martin did with the puppies.

'He throws them real high into the air and over the fence and they're hitting the ground,' the man said. 'He came back outside with some pillow cases, grabbed the puppies up one by one, came out here to the drain and started shoving them into the drain.'

Unable to fit all six of the puppies into the culvert, he walked over to another culvert and tried to cram the canines into that one, the camera owner said.

'When they started moving around, he was kicking them, trying to shove them back into the drain,' he added. 

After Martin left the area, police say that a passerby saw the pillowcases in the culvert. The dogs were then taken away to be cared for by other people.

The investigation determined that Martin had stolen the six puppies — all of which survived — from his stepfather, who has not been identified.

Martin's stepfather kept one of the puppies and doled out the remaining five puppies involved in Martin's attack to members of his family.

When speaking with News4Jax, Martin's mother, who requested anonymity, claimed that her son suffered from schizophrenia.

'When he saw the dogs, he thought they were little demons,' she said. 'He goes through little spasms, but he put them in there. He put them in the ditch.'

Martin is held on a $90,000 bond and awaiting trial, according to jail records.

(Dailymail.com - April 27, 2017)

Pennsylvania: Garbage men rescue cat found doused in gasoline, tied up and sealed inside a trash bag

PENNSYLVANIA -- Authorities in a Pennsylvania town are investigating this week after garbage collectors found a cat that was tied up and doused with gasoline inside a trash truck.

On Wednesday, Humane Pennsylvania asked the public for help locating those responsible in the case of animal abuse. A $1,000 reward is available for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The incident occurred Tuesday in Reading, Berks County where rescue workers are calling the female cat, "Miracle Maisy."

The garbage was being compacted in the truck when collectors heard cries from inside the vehicle. The workers found the cat inside one of the trash bags. The animal was found tied up and doused with gasoline.

Miracle Maisy was immediately transported to the Humane Society of Berks County for an evaluation but was sent to Humane Veterinary Hospitals Reading for treatment.

Officials said Miracle Maisy is recovering from her injuries but medical expenses are mounting. Humane Pennsylvania is covering all costs but asks the public for donations to her medical fund.

The Reading Police Department is currently investigating the report of animal cruelty. Anyone with information is urged to call police at (610) 655-6116.

(Philly Voice - April 5, 2017)

Maryland: Police Investigating Puppy Abuse Case After Dog Was Left For Dead

MARYLAND -- Howard County Animal Control is pleading with the public for information about a heartbreaking case of animal cruelty.

Over the weekend, a 10-week-old puppy was left to die on the side on the road. But now, thanks to one family, the puppy who has been nicknamed “Eddy,” is responding well to treatment.

The 10-week-old pit bull puppy was found malnourished, missing fur, and barely clinging on to life in a Columbia neighborhood over the weekend.

“I’ve been here 44 years, I haven’t seen anything like that,” says one neighbor.

An act of such despicable animal cruelty, many couldn’t believe the condition the pup was found in.

“Basically, it looks like someone starved the animal to death.”

The puppy was found trapped inside a plastic bin, covered in its own filth and open wounds.

The person responsible left the covered container off Braeburn Road.

The container had holes poked in so the pup would have some small access to air, but he was left without food or water.

WJZ found and spoke with the family that gave the puppy a second chance at life, by giving it the water it so desperately needed.”

“He was so weak, but he stood up and he drank the water,” says Jill Eberhart and her son, Thomas.

Jill and her son were the first to notice the out of place container. The two stayed with the puppy until animal control arrived.

Understandably, the question on their minds like many others: who would do such a thing?

“What’s it take to give an animal some water? We don’t live in a war zone here,” says Jill.

Animal control is now actively searching for an owner or the person responsible.

“We really are depending on the public to take a look at these photos think about someone you might know who had a puppy that doesn’t at this time,” says Sherry Lewellyn, with Howard County Police,

Police say are plenty of people calling asking to adopt “Eddy.”

Eddy has been responding well to treatment, and the shelter has already gotten requests to adopt the dog after he completes his lengthy recovery.

Authorities are asking anyone with possible information about the dog’s owner and/or the person who discarded him to call animal control at (410) 313-2780 or email animalcontrol@howardcountymd.gov.

(CBS Local - March 27, 2017)

United Kingdom: Police searching for person who stuffed two pet rabbits into bag and dumped them outside charity shop

UNITED KINGDOM -- Guildford charity volunteers found two live rabbits dumped in the bottom of a bag of donations.

Oxfam, in High Street, found two live rabbits inside the bag it had received on Tuesday March 14.

The rabbits were dehydrated and staff worked out they must have been there for at least three days, but maybe up to a week.

Staff acted quickly and contacted Next Chapter Animal Rescue, based in Farnborough, which took the rabbits into care as soon as they were called.

Oxfam deputy manager, Tanya Jenkins, said: "They were popped just in a black bag, we have a big donation bay out the back of the shop and we get so much stuff that people just leave them in the bay outside.

"We're not sure how many days they were there but we think between three and seven. There were donations put on top so it's amazing they were able to survive it.

"One volunteer thought they were stuffed at first as they weren't moving, then they started to move so our volunteers got them out and fed them straight away."

Mrs Jenkins added it was one of the strangest donations the shop has ever had.

"It's shocking that people have just left them," she said. "It's awful.

"The volunteers were a bit shocked as you don't expect to find animals at the bottom of our bays, I'm surprised they didn't get suffocated.

"We're glad they did get found and have moved on to a better home, but if anyone knows who did drop them off that would be good so they can be charged in some way."

'Heartless act of abandonment and cruelty'

Once cleaned, fed and given water, the rescue centre said the rabbits had demonstrated that they are used to human company.

Carole Waite, the Next Chapter Animal Rescues’ treasurer, now has the rabbits in her care and is thrilled with how well they are doing considering their ordeal.

She said: “This is a heartless act of abandonment and cruelty and these rabbits could easily have died and are lucky to be alive. How can someone be so cruel?

“They deserved better from their previous callous owner.

“Every animal deserted and handed into rescue costs Next Chapter money and fortunately the vet says these two have recovered well, at first they were very shy and nervous but now they are loving life again.”

(Get Hampshire - March 24, 2017)

United Kingdom: Police searching for the person who dumped three animals inside crates in the middle of the road

UNITED KINGDOM -- Three small furry animals were found dumped in the middle of a road.

A rabbit and two guinea pigs were found in plastic boxes with bedding, food and water by a member of the public.

The SSPCA is now looking to track down the person responsible.

The trio, who are now waiting to be rehomed at the charity’s rehoming centre near Dundee, were found next to Keir House by Dunblane.

Staff at the centre have named them Ellie, Diego and Sid.

 

The animals were fortunate not to have been struck by a car, according to centre manager Elliot Hay.

He said: “The animals did not appear to have been mistreated and apart from long nails and some slightly matted hair, they are in good condition.

“The boxes could have easily been hit by an oncoming car. We are appealing for anyone who has any information or noticed any suspicious activity.”

Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period, or life.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.

(Evening Telegraph UK - Jan 5, 2017)

Ohio: Kittens Rescued During Snowstorm After Being Abandoned In Box

OHIO -- Four kittens named after “Sandlot” characters are looking for new homes after being abandoned in a box on the side of a Cleveland road during a snowstorm.

A woman found the kittens Thursday night, when temperatures were in the teens, and called police, according to Cleveland Animal Protective League President and CEO Sharon Harvey.

“If that wonderful woman hadn’t called the police to say ‘What do I do,’ and brought them into her house, they wouldn’t have lasted long,” Harvey said.

After receiving a call from police, a Cleveland APL team brought the tiny tabbies to their shelter to warm up and be evaluated.

“Thankfully – we had no idea how long they had been outside – their eyes were a little runny, maybe from the cold, but they checked out okay,” Harvey said.

The roughly 6-week-old kittens were named Smalls, Squints, Repeat and Benny, after the movie characters. All four are currently at a foster home where they will live until they are strong enough to be adopted.

Harvey said it’s not clear who abandoned the kittens, but if any witnesses come forward it would be a prosecutable offense.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cleveland APL human investigation hotline at (216) 377 – 1630.

(KFSM - Jan 6, 2017)

Connecticut: Authorities searching for person who dumped sick pit bull puppy, locked inside a box, to die

CONNECTICUT -- Authorities in Wolcott are looking for the owner of a puppy that was found dead last Friday on the banks of the Scovill Reservoir.

"It hurts when you see this," said Roslyn Nenninger, Wolcott's Animal Control officer. "I don't care how many times you've seen things, how many times you go through things, it's still, I mean, you're human. It still affects you mentally and physically when you unnecessarily see a little baby life just gone for no reason."

  

 

Detectives believe the 4-month-old pit bull-mix puppy was alive when he was left for dead in a box last Thursday. A passerby noticed the box and called police.

Preliminary necroposy reports reveal the puppy died due to owner neglect. The puppy had been dehydrated and malnourished.

 

"This is a baby. This is a baby. It could have been prevented," Nenninger said.

"To whomever did this: I'm going to guarantee you this puppy loved you," added Nenninger. "That puppy probably knew no better and the puppy suffered. He was innocent."

A $400 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to an arrest.

If you saw anyone in the area of the Scovill Reservoir that seemed suspicious, or have information, please call police at 203-879-1414.

(Fox61 - Jan 3, 2017)

Michigan: Jogger in park finds box full of 19 abandoned puppies in urine-soaked cardboard box

MICHIGAN -- A woman in Michigan discovered a box full of 19 puppies while out for a jog in a park.

Julie Newman was jogging on Northville Road in Hines Park about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when she heard "little yelps" and noticed movement inside a cardboard box.

"I could hear little yelps," she said. "And then I saw a box that was moving."

She found 19 abandoned puppies climbing over each other and trying to escape a urine-soaked box. Newman, who has two rescue dogs of her own, called her sister and they took the puppies to the Humane Society.

"I'm just heartbroken," Newman said. "I just don't understand how anyone could do this."

The nine male and 10 female puppies, believed to be pit bull terrier mixed breed, received medical care upon arriving at the humane society and will be available for adoption once their treatment is completed. Some of the puppies were suffering from dehydration.

The Humane Society of Huron Valley is seeking information about the person who abandoned the puppies.

"It's hard to say why someone would dump puppies in a park. But there is no good reason for such a careless act. This is exactly why animal shelters exist -- to provide safety and care to animals in need," HSHV CEO Tanya Hilgendorf said. "We don't ever want to see animals, especially babies, abandoned in the cold, left to fend for themselves.

"Thanks to a compassionate community member willing to take action, these innocent puppies will get the help they deserve. When they're ready, they'll be adopted into loving homes -- but first spayed or neutered to help ensure this doesn't happen again."

(UPI - Dec 30, 2016)

Florida: Beatrice Turner, 21, arrested after officers rescued a rabbit sealed in a box and pit bull weighed down with logging chain from her hot car

FLORIDA -- A 21-year-old woman faces animal cruelty charges after a dog and rabbit were found locked in a car in Boynton Beach.

At 6:26 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to The Inn located at 480 W. Boynton Beach Blvd and found a juvenile pit bull they described in “obvious distress.”

Two witnesses said the dog, which had a heavy chain tightly wrapped around its neck, had been in the car between one and two hours with all of the windows closed.

The owner, later identified as Beatrice Madeline Turner, was not present so officers broke the rear back window and rescued the dog, which they said was panting and sluggish.

 

Officers provided water and aid to the young dog.

While still at the vehicle, they observed a box in the backseat that was tightly sealed with tape.  They heard noises coming from the box and opened it to find a live rabbit.

There were no air holes in the box and police said the rabbit would have died if it was left in the car much longer.

While on scene, officers eventually located Turner, who said “the dog is fine in the car” and expressed no concern for the well-being of the animals inside.

Police had to assist in cutting the heavy chain from the dog’s neck because they said it was so tight that it restricted the dogs breathing.

Did she have the rabbit to use as a bait animal to train the pit bull?

Turner was arrested on animal cruelty charges, two warrants and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.

(WPTV NBC West Palm Beach - October 26, 2016)