Saturday, November 30, 2013

Cow has to be rescued after getting head stuck in plastic garden CHAIR

AUSTRALIA -- This shocked cow had to be rescued by RSPCA officers after it got its head stuck in a garden chair.

And the commotion even caused other cows to gather around to try and help their bemused companion using their noses.


New South Wales RSPCA Inspectors were reportedly called to Appin, near Sydney, Australia, after the farmer saw the brown and white beast trying to shake its new neck piece off.

As the camera moved in, another cow jumped over its poor chair-wearing companion to get away.

The officers tranquilized the beast before slowly easing the plastic chair back over its neck, according to reports.

It is believed the lucky creature is recovering in its field following the ordeal.

(Daily Mail - Nov 30, 2013)

Family accused of killing dog with baseball bat tells their side of the story

MICHIGAN -- Dan Morofsky says his neighbor's German Shepherd, Duke, has been terrorizing his family and their own family dog since August 2011, and that three prior "attacks" left injuries to them and their dog, Diesel.

The story of what happened to Duke on Tuesday, November 19, has heated tempers to the boiling point.


Duke's owner Linda Lorenzen admitted that her dog left the backyard and began to fight with the neighbor's leashed dog that was in front of the neighbor's house. But Lorenzen told Action News that she witnessed a relative of Morofsky fatally beat Duke with the bat about 25 times.

"There is no way that dog was hit 25 times," says Morofsky, a bail bondsman, who was forced to temporarily move his family out of their home in White Lake Township because of online death threats after the incident. "They said they were going to have a candlelight vigil and our house was going to be the candle."

We're told, that day, one of Morofsky's relatives was outside with Diesel when Duke came charging at them. Diesel had been on a leash on Morofsky's own property when it happened. We're told one of Morofsky's relatives, a young man who has not been identified, ran inside the house to get the bat when he couldn't separate the dogs.

And when he came back outside, the two dogs were still fighting when it seemed Duke was now coming for him, so he swung the bat two to three times to stop Duke.

Morofsky says in September of 2011, Duke even attacked the same young man who killed him the German Shepherd last week with the bat. Morofsky showed Action News photos of puncture wounds on the young man's arms from that day. We were shown photos of multiple puncture wounds on Diesel from previous "attacks" by Duke. We were also shown photos of injuries to Morofsky himself.

On November 14, just five days before Duke was loose again and reportedly attacked Diesel and the young man, Morofsky filed a lawsuit against Duke's owners.

"It was for continuously getting bit," Morofsky told Action News. "Our dog was getting attacked. I was getting attacked. The boy was getting attacked... this is enough."

White Lake Township Police are investigating Duke's death, looking to determine if the force used to stop the dog was appropriate and justified.

Results from a necropsy are still pending.

(WXYZ - Nov 25, 2013)

Animals rescued from deplorable conditions at Pottsville home

PENNSYLVANIA -- Pottsville police and code enforcement along with Hillside SPCA rescued 23 animals Tuesday from a condemned home in the city.

Police said they searched the home at 531A N. Centre St., executing a search warrant since it was reported that someone was living there, despite being posted Nov. 18 that it was dangerous and unsafe.


 
After contacting the tenant, Lesley Lynn Schenck, 35, police determined that multiple animals were also living in the home, although there was no heat and deplorable conditions. They contacted Hillside SPCA to come get the animals.

Janine Choplick, humane officer with Hillside SPCA, said they rescued 13 dogs, eight cats and two chinchillas.

There was also one dead chinchilla in the home.

She said that all are good-natured, except for two who were scared, and they were not starved.

All of the dogs were smaller breeds, including bulldogs, dachshunds, corgis, Boston terriers and mixes of the breeds.

"The house was deplorable, uninhabitable really," Choplick said.

Choplick said Hillside is now working to document each animal to see what their medical needs might be and get them all to the vet.

According to Choplick, some of them are missing fur, one had a bad eye and one had "something going on with the butt."

[Seriously? Try to sound like a professional. Please.]


Police also said that some had lesions, open wounds and ear mites.

"They're going to end up tearing the whole house down," Choplick said. "It was that bad. Every room, except one closet, was filled with feces and trash. Every single room on every floor. It's not the worst we've seen, but it's bad. They (Schenck and the animals) couldn't have been there much longer."

Police told Schenck to vacate the property and is facing charges that will include animal cruelty and trespassing.

The investigation is continuing, pending medical evaluations of the animals.

(Republican Herald - Nov 27, 2013)

West Dundee woman gets $75,000 after dog attacked her, cat

ILLINOIS -- A West Dundee woman recently was awarded $75,000 in damages after a neighbor's dog ran in her home in July 2011, attacked her cat and, in the process, bit the woman several times.

Kane County Judge James Murphy entered the judgment in favor of Judy Horton last week after the dog owners, Terry and Victoria Schuler, of the 600 block of South Fifth Street, failed to appear in court at least twice.

In a sworn affidavit, Horton said she was attacked July 1, 2011, by the dog in her home on the 500 block of Ryan Lane. She said she had left some cat food in a bowl on her rear deck for her cat.

She saw a dog eating from the bowl and opened the door in an effort to stop it, but the dog ran inside.

"It all happened so fast. It was difficult for me to stop the defendant's dog," part of Horton's affidavit read. "The defendant's dog went after my domestic pet, namely my cat. Defendant's dog bit my cat several times."

The next day, Horton was treated for multiple bite marks on her leg and arm and a cut on her hand. But the wounds became infected, requiring four days of hospitalization and other medical treatment, according to court records.

Records show the Schulers were served with the lawsuit, but failed to appear in court Oct. 17 and last week, triggering the judgment against them under the state's Animal Control Act.

Victoria Schuler, who acted as her own attorney for part of the proceedings, argued in November 2012 court filings that Horton "willfully" brought the dog into her home and the Schulers should not be held liable.

Schuler argued that the food left outside encouraged animals to go inside.

"This is an unwise practice that the plaintiff practices, which invited animals to come," read part of Schuler's defense, which also argued she and her husband never willingly allowed the dog to run freely.

A message left with Troy Owens, who is the attorney for Horton, was not immediately returned.

(Daily Herald - Nov 27, 2013)

Teacher's dog attacked pupil, nine, on school trip

UNITED KINGDOM -- Marshall Gearing was stroking the labrador when it sank its teeth into the side of his head.

His right ear was torn so badly he needed two operations to re-attach it.

But after police carried out an investigation they told Marshall’s mum Amy they will not prosecute.


She is now considering suing the teacher and is demanding the dog is destroyed to prevent it attacking other children.

Amy, 23, said: “Marshall will be scarred for life and is now scared of dogs. He has nightmares and doesn’t want to leave my side when we go out.”

Marshall, a pupil at Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School in Northampton, was visiting Delapre Abbey Park in the town on October 24.

The school said it was “an awful accident that could not have been foreseen”.

(Daily Mail - Nov 29, 2013)

Friday, November 29, 2013

Horse doused in petrol and set alight in 'depraved' attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- ANIMAL welfare officers branded it one of the worst scenes of "depraved cruelty" they had witnessed, after a horse was doused in petrol and burnt alive.

Gardai have increased patrols in the Killinarden area of Tallaght, Dublin after a number of violent incidents.


The horse was set on fire in the early hours of yesterday morning, and gardai believe three teenagers were involved in the attack.

Gardai worked with the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) to remove five other horses from the green area where the horse was burnt alive.

Brian Gillen, the DSPCA's CEO, said the horrendous death the horse had endured was unimaginable.

"Whilst we encounter many horrific cruelty and neglect cases with regard to abandoned horses, we have never seen such levels of deliberate and depraved cruelty," he said.

(Irish Independent - Nov 29, 2013)

Two horses seized; man arrested for animal cruelty

TENNESSEE -- Horse Haven of Tennessee says two horses were seized from an Anderson County property Wednesday and the horses' owner was arrested by the sheriff's office.


 
According to the sheriff's office website, Jason Shipley was arrested for failure to appear, cruelty to animals, and theft of property.

He was booked into jail on $118,000 bond.



Horse Haven told Local 8 News the two geldings taken from the property were checked out by UT veterinarians.

"They were both very thin, one worse than the other. They seemed very happy to see us. They both loaded perfectly. After we loaded them up, we took them to UT Vet School and they were checked out thoroughly. They had their blood drawn and then they came here," said Sonja Cowsert, associate executive director for Horse Haven.



They also say Anderson County Animal Control was instrumental in this case.

(WVLT - Nov 27, 2013)

LETTER: Don't trust pit bulls

CALIFORNIA -- For centuries, dogs have been bred to perform specific tasks (“Debate on sterilization ordinance,” Nov. 8).

A pointer will point when hunting birds, a Labrador retriever will retrieve birds and a border collie will herd livestock.

The desire to 'point' is instinctive to Pointers
These traits are not from training. They are from instinct that has been bred into them. Regarding pit bulls, they have been bred to fight and attack. This is an inbred instinct.

Border Collies herd livestock, but do not kill them
They can be very gentle family dogs — until something triggers that instinct. Once it is triggered, they do what they have been bred to do.

I have no patience with an owner who says, after his dog has bitten someone, “My dog has never shown any signs of aggression. He’s always been loving and gentle.”

A pit bull can turn vicious no matter how it is trained or how gentle it seems.

- Bob Backes, San Jacinto

(Press-Enterprise - Nov 27, 2013)

Woman, 67, suffers serious dog bite in Cardiff park trying to save puppy from pit bull attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog walker has suffered severe bite wounds and seen her beloved pet killed in an horrific pit bull attack in a public park, just yards away from a busy children’s play area.

Elaine Seaborne, 67, from Lansdowne Road in Canton, Cardiff, was walking her 20-week-old Jack Russell terrier  in Victoria Park at approximately 2.15pm on Saturday, when they were confronted by a large pit bull dog,  which appeared without its owner.



Elaine tried to intervene as the pit bull went for her small puppy Jessie, but was forced to the ground and was attacked herself, sustaining severe bite wounds from her fingers down her forearm.

The attack took place inside the park, near its entrance on Cowbridge Road East, just yards away from a children’s play area, which was described as a “busy” scene on this particular weekend afternoon.

Elaine’s efforts to help her beloved pet were in vain, as the dog died from the injuries it sustained.
Elaine was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where she received antibiotics and tetanus shots for wounds on her right arm.

The pit bull was seized by South Wales Police, which currently is searching for its owner.
Elaine said: “My dog was on a lead and we were walking in the park.

“All of a sudden there was a very loud bark. I saw the dog on its own. It was wagging its tail – it looked playful and friendly at first.

“Out of nowhere it just attacked, and it was horrific. It forced me to the ground and I screamed for help. Then someone shouted and it backed off.

“My priority now is to see the dog put down. Imagine if it had got hold of a young person, because a child would have been defenseless.  And it happened just 20 yards from the children’s play area.”

Shane Harrison, 54, Elaine’s partner and a lorry driver by trade, added: “At the hospital, the nurse said Elaine’s injuries were the nastiest from a dog attack that she has seen for several years.

“They are bad, bad wounds. Elaine was wearing a coat, a jumper and gloves and the dog’s teeth pierced through them all.

“It was a powerful animal and a vicious attack. Elaine couldn’t have stitches because the wounds would be more likely to become infected, so she has to wait for them to heal under bandages.”

Chief Inspector Bob Nicholls of South Wales Police appealed for information in order to trace the dog’s owners.

In a police statement he said: “At 2.38pm on Saturday, November 23, South Wales Police responded to a report of a serious dog bite in Victoria Park, Cardiff.

“A lady sustained serious injuries to her forearms requiring treatment in hospital after being attacked by a dog that had attacked and killed her own dog in the park.

RIP Jessie
“The dog responsible has been seized by police officers however the owner is yet to be identified. The dog seized by police is described as being of a ‘Pit-bull’ type appearance and is a distinctive blue-grey in colour.”

South Wales Police is appealing for the owner of the dog to come forward.

It is also interested to speak to anyone who believes they know the identity of the owner, or anyone with information about the attack itself.

South Wales Police can be contacted on 101, or members of the public can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting occurrence number 62130368937.

(Wales Online - Nov 24, 2013)

Two large dogs seized from Lisgar home following alleged second attack

CANADA -- Two large dogs that bit a woman after attacking and killing her pet Chihuahua last month have been seized by animal control officers after allegedly biting another neighbor.

Carol Jasmins alleges she was bit on the elbow by one of the dogs outside of her Greenbelt Cres. home in Lisgar on Nov. 13.

She says the dogs that live in the home beside her were untethered at the time of the incident.


John Murray, owner of the two large dogs, confirmed the two 100-pound Cane Corso dogs were seized and placed in the pound by Mississauga Animal Services, but denies that either one of them bit Jasmins.

Peel Regional Police were called after the alleged attack on Jasmins but no charges were filed against the owner of the dogs.

Jasmins said Animal Services placed the dogs on a 10-day quarantine.

It was the second such quarantine in a month for the two large dogs, following an Oct. 26 incident on the same street. The dogs escaped through a backyard gate that was left open and killed a Chihuahua pup. During the attack, they bit the small dog's owner, Monica Guisao, while she was huddled over her pet, trying to protect it.


Murray, who already is facing charges under the Dog Owners' Liability Act for the Oct. 26 incident, confirmed he's been charged again under the bylaw for the alleged attack on Jasmins.

The act states that owners can be found liable for a bite or attack by a dog on a person or a domestic animal. Charges could result in a $10,000 fine and/or six months in jail for the owner. The offending dog can be forced to wear a muzzle or even euthanized.

Murray, 23, is scheduled to appear in a Mississauga provincial courtroom on Dec. 17 to face the charges under the bylaw.

(Mississauga.com - Nov 26, 2013)

Earlier:

Misty the cat mauled by pit bull

AUSTRALIA -- A Canberra pensioner has been left distraught after her little cat Misty was savaged during a vicious dog attack in Kaleen.

Helen Forbes said her cat had managed to drag itself inside despite serious injuries. She found it in “terrible pain".

“The vet said she had been attacked by a dog," she said.

“The poor little thing was two days in the vet."


It took another two weeks before her cat could get back on its feet but she is unlikely to fully recover and will carry the effects of the injuries for the rest of her life.

The vet bill of almost $600 has meant Ms Forbes will forego the new refrigerator she had been saving up for.

A couple who were driving passed her house and witnessed the attack provided a description of the dog and the owner responsible. Ms Forbes, who uses a walking stick, said she has seen the man since but had been unable to confront him.

“He walks so quickly," she said. “I've called the animal services people at the government twice but they say I need to find out where he lives. But with a walking stick I can't follow him."

She believed the dog to be a pit bull but didn't blame the dog for the attack. “A pet is only what its owner lets it be," Ms Forbes said.

[She can be in denial all she wants, but statistics don't lie.]

In 2012-13 Domestic Animal Services processed 1400 dogs.

“Approximately 5 per cent, 76 dogs, of this total number were impounded for being allegedly involved in an attack or harassment incident," a Domestic Animal Services spokeswoman said.

Since 2012 American staffordshire terriers have been at the top of the list for dog attack and harassment incidents while pit bulls have been fourth. Crossbreeds, cattle dogs and German shepherds rounded out the top five.

“Statistically, these breeds are also among the most popular breeds in the ACT," a DAS spokeswoman said. “It should also be noted that there have also been attacks from smaller breeds such as Maltese, cavoodles and dachshund.

“The most important factors in whether a dog is involved in an attack or harassment incident relate to the way it has been trained and looked after."

(The Canberra Times - Nov 26, 2013)

"He's not aggressive," says owner of bull mastiff which put man in hospital for FIVE days

MASSACHUSETTS -- Rose Walsh, the owner of Rocco, a 6-year-old bull mastiff set to be euthanized after a severe biting incident, is appealing the decision.

"This is a really terrible situation. I really feel badly for the victim," she said. But she felt the attack was an "isolated incident."

"Rocco, he's not an aggressive dog," she said.


Meanwhile, in response to an article about Rocco on Somerville Patch, some have contacted us to emphasize the severity of the bites sustained by the victim of the attack, suggesting the incident involving Rocco went far beyond the average dog bite.

A bad attack
Walsh described what she's been through since the biting incident, which happened on Oct. 31.

She works in the restaurant industry and wasn't home on the night Rocco got out of the house, she said.

Her roommate was at their apartment, on Calvin Street, and the door popped open. The roommate didn't realize Rocco had escaped the apartment until she heard yelling on the street, Walsh said.

Based on what she heard from her roommate and the victim of the attack, Walsh said Rocco, out on
the street, went after a German shepherd that was walking by.

Both dogs received scratches and cuts in the fight, and when the German shepherd's owner tried to stop the fight, Rocco bit him on the hands, Walsh said.

She felt the combination of Rocco getting out and having a negative reaction to the German shepherd, and the victim getting between the two dogs, led to the bites. "I do not think he would bite a person under any other circumstance," she said, adding she doesn't absolve Rocco of what he did.

After the incident, Somerville Animal Control said Rocco would be put under at-home quarantine, mostly for rabies concerns, Walsh said.

According to Deputy Chief Michael Cabral of the Somerville Police Department, Walsh told authorities that Rocco was up-to-date with his vaccines, but the dog wasn't registered with the city of Somerville.

After a few days of being in quarantine at Walsh's home, Somerville Animal Control, after talking to the victim and taking into consideration his injuries, said it wanted to take Rocco into quarantine in the city's kennel, Walsh said.

"They said, 'We can do this the nice way, or we can get a warrant to pick him up,'" Walsh recalled them telling her.

Rocco was brought to the kennel on Nov. 4. On Nov. 14, there was a public hearing about the incident, which somewhat shocked Walsh, she said. She had been expecting a meeting, not a public hearing.

She, the victim of the attack, the victim's girlfriends, and 13 supporters of Rocco attended the hearing, she said.

The victim described what happened to him in a "very composed, very factual" way, and didn't advocate one way or the other for Rocco's fate, Walsh said.

She said she privately adopted Rocco, about nine months earlier, from a situation in East Boston where Rocco was neglected. She said Rocco didn't have a history of violence or a record with Boston's animal control office. She said she spoke to two neighbors who knew Rocco since he was a puppy, and they told her he never had problems.

About the attack, Walsh said, "I feel terrible." She also said, "I think that Rocco isn't beyond help."

"This goes far beyond one bite"
Some have contacted Somerville Patch to stress the severity of the bite.

One of those people, Melissa McCue-McGrath, a dog trainer who has blogged on Somerville Patch, wrote in her own blog that, "The important piece that is missing from the reporting is that the mastiff bit the man at a level 5 of 6. Bite level 6 is death to the victim."

"There is a lot more to this than 'Somerville wants to euthanize a dog who bit a guy,'" she wrote.

She added, "It reminds me of the McDonalds Coffee Case—a case that was assumed a frivolous lawsuit, but what wasn't stated was the severity of her injuries—her sweatpants were melted to her legs, she needed multiple skin grafts, and she suffered 3rd degree burns (in some cases through muscle and down to the bone) on thighs and genitalia over 16 percent of her body."

McCue-McGrath wrote, "If this dog is going to be saved at all, public sympathy shouldn't be the deciding factor." She said "a legitimately certified behavior specialist" should evaluate Rocco and the nature of the attack.

She also said, "What I will say is that I know that the city of Somerville wouldn't even consider euthanasia for most dogs for one bite (thankfully), but this goes far beyond one bite."

Appealing the decision
Rocco is currently scheduled to be euthanized on Dec. 9, Walsh said, but because she appealed the city's decision, and because she hasn't heard about any court dates, she's not sure what will happen.

"It kind of feels like no one has really done this in a while," she said about the court process.

She's not sure if her case will be held in front of a judge at Somerville District Court or in front of a clerk magistrate.

"I want the opportunity to work with him"

Walsh said, "I would like Rocco to be returned to me. I would put him through a lot of intensive training."

"I would go through a lot of training, and I've been actively looking for a place to live out of the city," she said.

As horrible as the incident was, Walsh didn't feel it reflected who Rocco is, and she didn't think it was accurate to call the attack "unprovoked."

The victim and Rocco "are victims of terrible circumstances," she said.

She said, "I don't think euthanizing Rocco is justice for him."

She added that she holds no ill will toward the Somerville animal control office or Somerville police, because they're just doing their jobs in trying to protect the public. However, "I feel this is a circumstance where maybe they're being a little extreme," she said.

Meanwhile, a petition to save Rocco had attracted more than 3,000 signatures as of Tuesday night.

(Somerville Patch - Nov 26, 2013)

St. Pete couple fight to keep their mini goat and sheep

FLORIDA -- Winston Fiore and his girlfriend, Rachel Auer, haven't mowed their lawn in months.
That's a job for Shelby and Gabby.

Shelby, a miniature Shetland sheep, and Gabby, a Nigerian dwarf goat, love munching on grass.

Their owners love not having to use a machine to manicure their lot. The neighbors — especially the neighborhood kids — are equally enamored of the miniature breeds.



The city codes department? Not so much.

After seeing Shelby and Gabby in the back yard this month, city inspector Robert Hicks issued Fiore a violation.

St. Petersburg has an ordinance against livestock (goats, horses and cattle included) within 100 feet of a residence. Shelby and Gabby must go, the letter said.

Fiore, 28, and Auer, 27, are fighting back.

The couple, who moved here from Chicago this past summer, say Shelby and Gabby are their pets.

They're smaller than some medium-sized dogs (just fluffier). They don't make much noise (they're more of the cute, silent type). And they've already saved Fiore and Auer money on landscaping. They don't even smell that bad.

"Across the United States — Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco — cities allows this," Fiore said in a plea before the City Council on Monday. "I think it would be great if we could revisit this ordinance, or at least make an exception."

Indeed, city officials have before. City Attorney Mark Winn reminded officials at the meeting Monday that the city bent the rules for potbellied pigs, which have been allowed in St. Petersburg since 1992.

"I'm sure we can figure out a way for him to keep (Shelby and Gabby) if that's what the council wants to do," Winn said.

City leaders would have to amend the current code.

Fiore, a former Marine who recently completed an urban agriculture apprenticeship up North, hopes that will happen.

Shelby and Gabby, who grew up on a north Georgia petting farm, are a hit here in Fiore's Lake Euclid neighborhood, just north of 22nd Avenue N and west of 16th Street. Residents slip them treats through the fence. The pair, both females, already found plenty of work to do in the back yard, which once had knee-high weeds and grass. It's now mostly flat, with some shin-high clumps remaining.

Auer, who is doing a speech pathology fellowship at Bay Pines VA Medical Center, and Fiore hope to eventually grow their brood. Once Shelby and Gabby get the yard in better shape, they want to add chickens, rabbits, maybe a pig. All are allowed in the city.


At the suggestion of council Chairman Karl Nurse, Fiore plans to go to a council committee meeting next month that will include a discussion about urban farming. He has already been in touch with council member Leslie Curran.

The city originally told the couple they had until Thursday to get rid of Shelby and Gabby. Officials recently gave them 30 more days.

"They've been anything but a nuisance," Fiore said Tuesday, after feeding Shelby and Gabby a banana and carrot snack. They're "the most low-maintenance pets ever."

(Tampa Bay Times - Nov 26, 2013)

Family pets can turn into killers when allowed too much freedom

OHIO -- All animal lovers dream of a world where they can let their pets run free. But sometimes that freedom comes at too costly a price.

Last week, two pet dogs — one a house pet for six years — wandered on to a Perrysville farm off Ohio 95 and attacked a flock of 27 sheep.

Only seven sheep were still standing at the end.

“Country folks like to let their animals run lose. They say that’s why the live out there, but you just can’t do that,” Richland County Dog Warden Dave Jordan said. “You need to know where your dog is at all times.”

Two weeks ago, Mary Ann and Tom Bowers had owned a small hobby farm where they kept 27 Shetland and Old English Southdown babydoll sheep safely penned in an open pasture. Mary Ann used the sheep wool to spin her own yarn, which she sold for a side income.


Now, everything has changed, she said.

Just after dawn on Nov. 19, the drawl of the Bowers’ pet Basset Hound, Beckett, alerted them to trouble in their field. They watched in horror as a pit bull and a black Labrador decimated their flock.

“They weren’t stopping,” Mary Ann said through tears. “They picked them off one by one.”

Three sheep died outright in the attack, another four had to be put down because of injuries, Mary Ann said. Thirteen sheep remain severely injured and under near-constant care.

By the time Tom was able to put the dogs down, only seven of the sheep remained unharmed. Per state law, homeowners have the right to shoot any animal attacking their livestock or posing a threat to their well being, Jordan said.

“They all have names; they all have personalities,” Mary Ann said of the sheep. “This has been really traumatic. Even the ones unscathed are not themselves.

"The whole family unit is torn apart.”

Animal instinct
Jordan believes a natural wolf-like instinct turned the dogs into killers that morning.

When two or more dogs get together, they sometimes form a pack mentality where they become more aggressive than normal, Jordan explained. The feeling can even overcome dogs who have never before shown such aggression, he said.

Another recent case in Shelby involved two Siberian huskies that killed eight chickens, Jordan said. The breed of dog doesn’t matter, he said.

“Most dogs see it as playtime, unlike a coyote, which only kills as much as it can eat,” Jordan said. “It’s their natural instincts, so they do things typically not in their character.”

That seemed the be the case with one of the dogs in particular, the black lab.

The owner said the dog had lived in the house with him and his three children for six years, but never shown aggression like this. He had only let the dog out to use the restroom that morning.

He met the Bowers on their farm to apologize for the tragedy, Mary Ann said.

“He was a stand-up kind of guy,” Mary Ann said. “I don’t blame the owners. It was a perfect storm of bad things, but they did not contain the dogs the way they should have.”

Neighbors said the pit bull was never confined.

Both dog owners are financially responsible for the damage to the flock and for ongoing medical bills, according to Ohio law. Jordan estimated that costs may be around $6,000 collectively.

“It’s the law,” Jordan said. “You have to keep dogs confined on the property at all times, or under control.”

Trying to heal
Even 11 days after the attack, Mary Ann said she’s not sure all 13 of the wounded sheep will survive. Several of them are in a critical state, having been bitten in the throat, back of neck and rear end areas.

Veterinarians worked on the animals for two days. Then Mary Ann took over their care, giving them daily penicillin shots, B12 supplements as an appetite stimulant and coating their wounds with antiseptic twice a day.

“It took sun up to sun down to stitch them back together, and we’re still not certain if some are going to make it,” Mary Ann said. “It was a massacre.”

Now, Mary Ann said all that is left to do is wait and to try to help the remaining sheep feel safe again.

The sheep had been with her on the farm for seven years. Some she had raised from birth. She said they used to follow her around eating animal cookies out of the palm of her hand, but now flee from her.

The day after the attack, she said a squirrel moved in the woods near the barn and two guard llamas let out a frantic warning, gathering the sheep behind them for protection.

“It’s changed the farm for sure,” Mary Ann said.

Mary Ann said she hopes other dog owners use her tragedy as a reminder of why they can’t let their pets just roam free.

“Just because a dog is a family pet does not mean that given the right set of circumstances things won’t go horribly wrong,” Mary Ann said.

“Any dog’s instincts can kick in and it’s not what you see when they’re laying at your feet.”

(Mansfield News Journal - Nov 29, 2013)

Man complains after police shoot to save attacked dog

ARKANSAS -- Animal Control and police responded to a vicious dog attack Tuesday, which ended with one dog being shot and later euthanized.

Now the dog's owner, Randy Ward, is speaking out against police, saying they should've handled the situation differently and is looking for answers.

Ward said he wasn't home when his neighbor called 911 to report his four dogs were fighting, three of them specifically attacking and seriously injuring the other dog.


"It's like somebody just came in and shot one of my kids," Ward said. "I'm upset, I think it could've been handled in a more professional way, and he wouldn't have had to shoot my dog."

Benton Police said they went to Ward's home after a 911 call came in about his four dogs, a Mastiff and three Dobermans, fighting in the front yard. When police tried to separate the injured dog from the others, police said one of the dogs started to attack the Animal Control Officers.

"The officer had no choice but to discharge his weapon toward the dog, one time," said Lt. Kevin Russell, Benton Police Department.

"If they hadn't come into the yard, they could've used a tranquilizer gun, or if they would've just had some way of calling the fire department and spray water on them," Ward said.

It's one of the ways Ward says works when breaking up a fight between his dogs.

Ward's neighbor Theresa Dennie has seen the dogs fight before, but not to this extent. So she picked up the phone and called 911.

"It was very bad. It was something from a Stephen King Cujo movie," Dennie said. "His mouth was clamped on his throat and then he started dragging him through the yard."

While the injured dog is now back home, he's still recovering from puncture wounds and cuts. While it's proof it's not playful, Ward assures his dogs are not vicious.

"These dogs have never showed any aggression to any people. People come by and pet them and give them treats," Ward said.

Ward plans on talking to police soon. Police said they had to act on the dog who started attacking officers.

(KARK - Nov 27, 2013)

Man fights city's vicious dog ordinance

NEW MEXICO -- A dog that allegedly chased a little boy, but never attacked, now stands a good chance of being put to death.

It is all because of how a city ordinance identifies vicious dogs.

The dog in the center of it all is Boomer, a 2-year-old pit bull mix. Carlsbad animal control officers deemed him vicious, so vicious he hass been confined inside two chain link fences at Noah's Ark Animal Shelter since June.


"It's hard to see him in that condition and not fly off the handle at people," said Boomer's owner Rickey Johnson. "I realize they can't touch him because he's a vicious dog, well potentially vicious dog."

According to the Carlsbad animal control ordinance, a vicious animal is any animal which at any time shall bite, injure, attack, chase or menace any person who was peacefully conducting themselves.

Boomer was deemed vicious after he allegedly chased a 4-year-old boy who was riding his scooter down a Carlsbad street.

Johnson says his dog was not leashed at the time.

"No physical contact was made. We don't know if the dog growled. We don't believe the dog did. We don't even believe the dog bore its teeth," said Johnson's attorney William Wiess.

According to the city, who is pushing for the dog's destruction, witnesses have a different story.

They claim the dog not only chased the boy, but was attempting to attack him and trying to get at his ankles.

Either way, because the dog chased the kid it was enough to seize Boomer under the ordinance and it might be enough to have him destroyed.

Johnson's court fight has delayed the dog's euthanization. He says he has other concerns too.

He says his dog hasn't gotten the proper care while at the animal shelter. In fact, Johnson says Boomer has lost nearly 15 pounds.

"It's collar hangs loose. You can see his ribs. You can see his hip bones. You can see his spine. His nails are so long he's standing on the nails not even on the pads of his feet hardly anymore," said Johnson.

Johnson says Boomer's absence has taken a major toll on him.

"We're fighting for Boomer's life," Johnson said. "We're fighting for the ordinance to be changed."

The city attorney says the dog's fate will have to be determined by a judge, but she defends the ordinance saying the community's safety is the city's first priority.

As for Boomer, he was released at a special hearing Monday because of his health issues. Trial is set for January.

(krqe.com - Nov 27, 2013)

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

POS Cop Prevents Animal Rescue, Shoots, Threatens Arrest

CANADA -- What is with the fresh round of stories about law enforcement (enjoying?) shooting animals? Animals who might not be that injured. Animals shot in front of families. Animals shot for no reason but the thrill of the kill? But then imagine afterward, you being the one who might be under arrest - and getting your car impounded!

When other countries are emulating the exact same actions, that's a sorry sign.
 


A few days ago in Chelsea, Quebec, Greg Searle was driving down a highway and witnessed a fawn hit by a vehicle. He carried it to the roadside. While unable or unwilling to walk with hind legs, there were no signs of injury except a couple of scratches, as you can see from the actual photo above.

Searle checked to see if there might be internal injuries and called his wife, Samantha, who has experience with animals and helping with law enforcement - she took her young daughter. His intent was to get rescuers since he could tell it would not soon die - it could keep living with some attention.

The actual driver who hit the fawn was also at the scene and helped make calls for animal help. It sounds like there were other bystanders at the scene. That's when Officer Roy came to the "rescue."

He pulled up and without hesitation insisted it was his job to shoot the fawn.

The whole Searle family and bystanders pleaded with him - it might not be dying - and pleaded to be able to take it for medical treatment. Greg had a rescue plan and offered to take care of all of it - they had reached some veterinarian help. But to no avail...

“You need to move aside so I can end its suffering,” said the brave officer.

That's when Samantha got vocal and tried harder to reason while standing over the deer: How can you be sure it’s going to die? Are you a vet?

Even if it’s your job to end it’s suffering, you have the discretion to give us some time to try to find someone qualified to help it first. I worked as a civilian with the police for two years, and did plenty of ride-alongs, and I know other cops who wouldn’t rush this.

Officer Roy was adamant repeatedly told her to move aside and repeated that it was his job. This is when he made repeated threats to arrest her, emphasizing that she would have a criminal record several times.

If you don’t move, you will end up with a criminal record.

The daughter began crying and hugging her father's legs while Roy called in for backup. He told Samantha this was her final warning. Greg had Samantha take their daughter home so she wouldn't have to witness what happened next, which is where the photo leaves off. Greg has had to put animals out of misery, but "couldn’t understand the officer’s haste and inflexibility."

Greg says on his way home, this same (POS) officer pulled him over for having an expired license plate sticker and impounded his vehicle. [In a different article it says the plates were ONE DAY expired. Greg offered to make other arrangements for driving but again to no avail. The officer confiscated the keys and impounded the truck, now still locked away.]

“Yeah, sure that’s the law, but I was actually on a country road a couple hundred meters from my house and he could have just let me park it and go get a new sticker for the plate,” he said. “I kind of felt that was a bit vengeful of him, perhaps, even though it was legal.”

Metronews Canada reports:

The force’s spokesman Martin Fournel said the officer couldn’t legally allow Searle and Biron to drive off with the animal. Fournel told the paper police are empowered to end an animal’s suffering and the constable made a judgment call. Fournel also told the Low Down the impounding of Searle's vehicle was simply the officer doing his job.

Searle contacted other agencies and wildlife outreaches. It doesn't appear that the officer had to do that and was taking a suggestion to euthanize to the extreme. Greg believes if local shelters had more support they could help prevent shootings. But this is not why the officer "took the shortcut" and put the deer down - help already could have been easily provided.

There are people in law enforcement who are called heroes for saving injured animals. You can see stories like that for a change on Real Men Are Kind to Animals.

Wouldn't you think Internet heroism would encourage better behavior? A lot of them don't seem to mind being high-profile animal killers.

(Activist Post - Sept 15, 2013)

Three wolves shot dead after being cornered by police when they escaped zoo through damaged fence

UNITED KINGDOM --  Three wolves were shot dead yesterday after their pack escaped from a zoo near a residential street.

Families were told to keep children indoors as experts warned the animals could pose a threat.


 
A police helicopter, dozens of police cars and armed zookeepers were scrambled after the pack of five escaped through a damaged fence.

Four were quickly recovered with two shot dead, but it took more than eight hours before the final wolf was found and killed.

Last night, the zoo in Essex was investigating how the timber wolves managed to break out.

At around 7.30am yesterday, keepers at Colchester Zoo found that the fence around the wolf enclosure was damaged and five of the six wolves had escaped.

One of the wolves returned to the enclosure and another was successfully drugged with an anesthetic dart and recaptured.



But the zoo said it had to kill the other three wolves as they managed to escape from the zoo’s grounds, posing a public risk.

Two were shot dead close to the zoo. Police, helped by a helicopter, searched a nearby wooded area for several hours before the final wolf was found.

At around 4pm, seven shots rang out as it was killed. It was placed into a large black bag and carried away by officers and keepers.


Zoo curator Sarah Forsyth last night said: ‘At 7.30am this morning we discovered that the perimeter fence of Colchester Zoo’s wolf enclosure had actually been damaged and five of our six timber wolves had left the enclosure.

‘It is not known at this stage how the damage occurred despite the fence being checked by the keepers on a daily basis.

‘One of the wolves did return to the enclosure almost immediately of its own accord, another one was secured within the zoo and was darted and recaptured and put back into the enclosure.


‘Unfortunately three of the other wolves did make their way out of the zoo, out of the safety of the zoo’s perimeter grounds.

‘An anesthetic dart can take 15 minutes or more to work. In a highly stressed or excited animal it may not work at all.

‘So, we did have to make the decision that these animals had to be shot on sight. These are wild animals, they are dangerous wild animals, they are not pets and they are in a very unpredictable situation and they would have posed a very real risk to the public.’


Dog walkers at a nearby beauty spot had earlier spoken of their concerns about the missing wolf.

Malcolm Lawrence, 62, said: ‘We saw the helicopter go up over the woods and I certainly am worried about my dog. I’m keeping a close eye on him as you just don’t know what might happen.

‘I think people will need to be careful but it seems that a lot of them are not even aware of it.’

During the search Richard Morley, of the Wolves and Humans Foundation, warned residents to stay indoors. He said: ‘I would suggest that people keep young children inside until the wolf is found. If it has been hand fed and it is used to approaching a keeper for food then it is more likely to approach the public.

‘People are at most risk if they are out on their own in woodland areas with food or pets. As with any wild animals I would advise people to take precautions.’


Five timber wolves escaped from Colchester Zoo in October 1986 when heavy rain undermined their fence, but on that occasion all were safely recaptured.

In July this year, the zoo warned the public not to approach a red river hog after it escaped from its enclosure.

(Daily Mail - Nov 26, 2013)

Over 100 animals rescued from suspected N.C. puppy mill

NORTH CAROLINA --  Approximately 40 dogs and more than 75 other animals were rescued from a suspected puppy mill in Gates County, N.C. Tuesday.

Humane Society spokeswoman Kaitlin Sanderson told WVEC.com that local law enforcement became concerned after somebody filed a complaint regarding an emaciated horse.



A variety of small-breed dogs and puppies, including Pugs, Boston terriers and Border Collies, were suffering from lack of basic care, with no access to clean water or food, Sanderson said.  HSUS says some dogs were found living outside without proper shelter and others were found living inside a building filled with filth.
 
 Sanderson said more than 75 other animals, including cats, mini ponies, bunnies and chickens were found on the property.


The owner agreed to surrender some of the animals.

The Humane Society, SPCA of Wake County, SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina and the Gates County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the rescue and removal of the animals.
 

 "The animals will be held at a temporary shelter until final disposition of the case. Pending the outcome, we along with The SPCA of Wake County will work with placement shelters and rescues in the area to get the animals adopted – which could include Norfolk/Hampton Roads area," Sanderson told WVEC.com.

This is the 15th North Carolina puppy mill rescue The HSUS has been involved in since June 2011.

(WVEC - Nov 26, 2013)

Earlier:
Gates County, N.C. – A complaint about an emaciated horse led officials in Gates County to a home where they rescued over 100 animals including dogs, cats, mini ponies, bunnies and chickens.

They seized 40 dogs and 75 other animals from the Gates County property on Tuesday, Nov. 26th.


They say the dogs were suffering from lack of basic care and they had no access to clean water or food. They say many of the dogs also lacked the proper shelter and a few were found living inside of a filthy building. The owner surrendered some of the animals.

The dogs have now been taken to a temporary emergency animal shelter where they are waiting to be examined.

Officials say this is the 15th puppy mill rescue since 2011.


If you have any information leading up to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator, you could receive a reward up to $5,000.

Call 1-877-MILL-TIP to submit information to authorities.

Dog killer accused of animal cruelty

VIRGINIA -- A Virginia Beach man who was convicted killing a dog three years ago is facing new animal cruelty charges.

In August 2010, police arrested Byron McAdoo for throwing a Yorkshire Terrier mix across a room so hard it died.  Police say it happened at his home on Lavender Lane.


"He was raised around dogs all his life," said father Bryon McAdoo, Sr. "I've had a dog ever since he was a baby. No, he wouldn't hurt no dog."

McAdoo never served jail time for the dog abuse in 2010. Just after the crime he 10 On Your Side he found a small dog in his front yard and claimed he took the dog to give it care.

"I'm sorry that the dog died," McAdoo said in that 2010 interview. "I did not mean for the dog to die at all. I wish I could still have it right now."

The dog wandered from its home just around the corner. His name was Nooch and his owner was heartbroken at the loss.

McAdoo pleaded guilty to killing Nooch in August 2011. Part of the plea agreement said he wouldn't own or live with any dogs for three years.

"We had a dog at our residence in Virginia Beach," said wife Savanna McAdoo.

Savanna McAdoo said she and Byron are now separated. She believes police found out about the dog when they went to register the dog for a license. A red flag about McAdoo's past came up.

"At that time, I thought it was okay for Byron to have a dog," she said. "I didn't know that it was three years that he couldn't have a dog."

10 On Your Side uncovered a letter from the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney to Judge Les Lilley asking the court to issue a warrant for McAdoo's arrest.

The letter says animal control found McAdoo with two dogs and suspects him of abusing another.  A spokesperson for the commonwealth's attorney said more information could not be released because of the ongoing investigation.

WAVY.com found at least two dogs at McAdoo's Chesapeake home, where he lives with his parents.
McAdoo will be back in court Friday morning.

(WAVY - Nov 27, 2013)

Earlier:

3 dogs rescued, owners charged in animal cruelty case

NORTH CAROLINA -- Two people have been charged with felony animal cruelty following three abused dogs being discovered last week.

Veterinarians believe the dogs may not have been fed for two weeks. One was literally hours from death.

Police say the dogs, especially one named Hope, have a long road to recovery but their lives were saved thanks to an anonymous tip.

 
 
 
 
 
Investigators believe Hope and two other dogs, now named Amber and Lewis, were ignored by their owners.

Edwin Javier Flores and Brittany Dawn Epperson were both charged with felony animal cruelty.

Flores and Epperson are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 18.

Brittany Epperson and her boyfriend, Edwin Flores

Law enforcement encourages people to speak out if they see an animal being neglected or abused.

Dogs found abused or neglected in the past would have been euthanized due to lack of resources but Ginger’s Fund, a non-profit, helps give animals a second chance.

(myfox8 - Nov 19, 2013)

Hoskins got less than a tap on the wrist for her shocking crimes of animal abuse

NEW YORK -- It has taken more than 3 ½ years, a period pockmarked by interminable delays and staggering costs, and what it produced was this:

A wealthy woman, described by prosecutors as “the most prolific animal abuser in modern history in Erie County,” has to pay a fine she can easily afford as punishment for maltreating dozens of horses on her farm in East Aurora.

And she can keep her horses.


Aurora Town Justice Douglas W. Marky last week refused to sentence Beth Lynn Hoskins to any jail time, overruling the wishes of prosecutors and the recommendation of the county probation department.

Instead, he placed her on three years’ probation and fined her $52,410. She must also perform 500 hours of community service and comply with 14 stipulations.

That’s justice? That balances the scales for malnourishing 52 horses, leaving them to stand in their own manure and denying them the care of veterinarians and farriers?


 
Not remotely.

Hoskins may not have been intentionally cruel, as her lawyer insisted. She may simply have been overwhelmed. But she had to know matters were beyond her control long before the SPCA Serving Erie County seized her 73 horses in 2010. She could have sought help. That was no impossible task.


It’s why Marky could easily have sentenced her to the maximum two years in jail allowed by the law, as prosecutors requested. It wouldn’t have been unjust.

As prosecutor Michael Drmacich pointedly observed, “I personally, in 26 years as a prosecutor, have not seen a defendant convicted of 52 crimes who has not seen jail.”

But, frankly, even a short stretch in jail would have served the needs of justice by getting the attention of Hoskins and other animal owners. Even no time could have been made acceptable if only Marky had made the sentence serious in any other way.


As a member of a wealthy Western New York family, the fine means far less than it would to most county residents who had mistreated at least 52 horses. And most, we suspect, would have kissed their horse-owning days goodbye after being convicted of so shocking an offense, not just against the law, but against decency and common sense.


It doesn’t matter that she professes to love the horses. If parents who love their children lose them when they can’t provide for them, why are horses allowed to suffer?

This has been a terrible episode, starting with Hoskins’ abuse of these animals. That led to the interminable delays in the case and to the $1.3 million paid by the SPCA to care for Hoskins’ horses and to the joke sentence imposed by Marky.


The matter isn’t over. A civil case between Hoskins and the SPCA is also dragging on. In delivering his sentence, Marky ordered Hoskins to comply with all directives of the judge overseeing that case.

Here’s hoping that judge issues directives commensurate with the crime of abusing 52 horses.

(Buffalo News - Nov 4, 2013)

Related:

Dog shot by police on Lansing River Trail

MICHIGAN --  A Lansing police officer on Monday shot and killed a pit bull after it attacked a dog being walked by its owner on the River Trail in the Moores Park area.

Lansing police Public Information Officer Robert Merritt said dispatchers received several calls about a loose pit bull in the area shortly after 5 p.m., including one from someone who said the dog was fighting with another dog.

As police arrived, the man who had been walking his dog was trying to separate the fighting animals, Merritt said. The pit bull broke free but was shot after it resumed its attack on the second dog, he said.

The man was treated for apparently minor injuries. It was unclear if his dog suffered serious injuries.

The dead pit bull carried no microchip or other identification, and police turned it over to Ingham County Animal Control for a followup investigation, Merritt said.

(Lansing State Journal - Nov 27, 2013)

Dog snatch elderly woman's beloved cat and maul it to death

NEW ZEALAND -- Pensioner Olive Saunders lost her companion of 14 years when a pair of dogs on a killing spree in Feilding mauled her cat.

Mrs Saunders' pet Mishka was taken by the throat on Monday morning by one of the dogs that has claimed five known victims in northern Feilding since late last month.

A red boxer and a dark-coloured huntaway are believed to be behind the attacks.


Manawatu District Council animal control officer Lesley Butler said the animals were still on the loose.

Mrs Saunders' cat was born on the first day of the millennium and had lived with her since she was 7 weeks' old.

A visibly upset Mrs Saunders said losing her beloved cat had been traumatic.

"It's just like losing a baby," she said. "I just don't know how I'm going to get on without her. She was just so beautiful, it's just a shock."

In her eighties, Mrs Saunders has two photo albums dedicated to Mishka, who she described as large, energetic and intelligent. Mrs Saunders could talk to her and she provided company for the widow.

"I wouldn't have another one now, it's a bit too late."

Her daughter Eunice Hughes said people needed to realise it wasn't just the pets affected by the killer dogs, their deaths also had an emotional impact on owners.

The incident happened outside Mrs Saunders' pensioner flat in Derby St just before 7am on Monday.

Her neighbour saw Mishka in the mouth of one of the dogs, which was running along the street followed by the other dog. From a distance she thought it could have been a baby as she chased the dogs, yelling at them to drop it.

"If she hadn't seen what happened I wouldn't have known where my cat had gone," Mrs Saunders said.

The cat was taken to the vet but had to be put down.

The council is warning people to keep pets inside as much as possible, especially at night and early morning until the dogs are caught.

This month's attacks have happened in Derby, York, Denbigh and Duke streets, all in the northern part of town.

It's been a bad few years for Feilding cats. The spate of killings comes three years after a pit bull-shar pei cross and a huntaway-mastiff cross killed nine cats in southern Feilding.

Those dogs were found after help from the public.

(Manawatu Standard - ‎Nov 26, 2013‎)