(April 2018) Virginia: Mail carrier reassigned after pepper spraying dogs: ‘Our kids are afraid of the mailman’

HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA -- Some Henrico residents say they have a new postal carrier thanks to a CBS 6 Problem Solvers investigation into their dogs being pepper sprayed.

The alleged incidents happened in the Westham neighborhood.

Melissa Banta says her dog Willow was sprayed in her yard April 2, when she was outside playing with her kids.

“The mailman sort of walked up behind us and when the dog saw the mailman over my shoulder she ran towards him barking and as soon as I saw what was happening and I got up and ran up with her and said, ‘it’s okay, it’s okay she’s nice’ and I saw him get out his pepper spray. I asked him don’t spray her, please don’t spray her, she won’t hurt you and then he sprayed her anyway,” Banta said.

“I asked him why he did that, and just sort of said I don’t think I got her too bad and walked away across the street to keep delivering mail.”

Banta immediately went inside to get her husband while she washed Willow’s eyes out, so her children did not come in contact with the repellant.

“He ran after him to find out what his name was, and the mailman covered his badge and would not let him know his name,” said Banta.

A week prior, Banta’s neighbor Bonnie Edwards says her dog Odis was sprayed by the same carrier after her nine-year-old son accidentally let the dog out while he was delivering their mail.

“I thought he was going to help me catch Odis,” said nine-year-old Reid Edwards. “He seemed really nice with the safari hat and everything I thought he was going to be nice. He just pulled out the pepper spray from his pocket,” he added. “In my mind, I’m like oh no and then he sprayed it. Odis took one step back, eyes closed shut and then sprayed it again. I feel really bad for Odis. I was crying.”

“My dog looked pathetic, my son was wandering hysterically through the house locking himself in the room thinking that it was his fault,” Reid’s mother Bonnie said. “When we were washing the dog, the fumes were getting up into our face and making me gag. It could have easily been him if he’d been a couple of feet closer.”

Statistics show that Richmond had the most dog attacks on carriers than any Virginia city, with 22 attacks last year. The USPS policy states that carriers can use repellents to defend themselves against attacks, but not when there is a danger of spraying people.

“It’s good to know the mailmen have a way to protect themselves, but at the same time we want to make sure the people are protected and that our dogs are treated fairly,” said Banta.

The neighbors reached out to their local post office.

“We tried to call and form a complaint,” said Banta. “We called the direct supervisor first and he wasn’t very receptive to us. He yelled at us and still wouldn’t give us the mailman’s name.”

Banta then called his supervisor.

“She felt like the mailman did what he was trained to do,” she said.

“We were very discouraged,” said Banta. “We felt like there was nothing we could really do to prevent this from happening again and were worried because the mailman comes every single day and we’re out here with our kids a lot. We’re concerned that it’s going to happen again, and our kids are really afraid of the mailman now.”

When she says they didn’t get answers, they wrote the USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. CBS 6 also made an inquiry.

“Once you all got involved we’ve gotten a very kind call from the postmaster saying what can we do? And has decided to give us a new mail carrier starting immediately. That’s what we were hoping for and we’re excited for the change,” said Edwards.

A USPS spokesperson said they were unable to reach anyone in the Richmond office on this case but released the following statement.

“The Postal Service takes the issue of dog bite prevention very seriously.

We ask that you share dog bite prevention tips with customers – it helps:

While the number of dog attacks in the city of Richmond remained about the same in 2017 as with the previous year, the number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide decreased in the same timeframe. The decline is linked to safety measures that the Postal Service introduced in recent years, including Package Pickup and Mobile Delivery Device features that alert letter carriers to dogs on their routes. We are encouraged by the progress and are grateful to pet owners for their support.

Dog bites can be reduced by following these tips:

• If a carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog in a separate room and close that door before opening the front door. Some dogs burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Dog owners should keep the family pet secured.
• Parents should remind their children and other family members not to take mail directly from carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view the person handing mail to a family member as a threatening gesture.
• The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at a Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If a dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner’s neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail at the area’s Post Office.
• Additional tips are available on the Postal Service’s YouTube channel.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week runs through Saturday. The number of postal employees attacked by dogs nationwide reached 6,244 in 2017 — more than 500 fewer than 2016.

(WTVR - April 11, 2018)

Delaware: Tiara is outraged that no one is talking about all the Cocker Spaniel attacks

DELAWARE -- Tiara Laureano posted on Facebook March 2, 2018 ·

What a load of shit!

All dogs can be aggressive, but making it out to be a breed cause it's bullshit!

My dogs have never bit anyone but those fucking cocker spaniels are quick to bite a face, where's the video for that?

Yes, there have been soooo many mauling deaths from Cocker Spaniels... not.

Minnesota: "From playing in the white sand to patient at the vet. Attacked by a pit bull on our walk this morning"

MINNESOTA -- Katrina Welch posted to Facebook February 16, 2018 ·

From playing in the white sand to patient at the vet.

Attacked by a pit bull on our walk this morning.

Tough girl is doing ok but in some serious pain. Think mom might be more traumatized than girl but, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, pain meds and a whole lot of rest and she will be ok.

Gonna be a rough week ahead.

United Kingdom: After her Pit Bull attacks another dog, woman grabbed her mauler and fled

UNITED KINGDOM -- Sandra Teasdale is feeling furious. Posted on Facebook
January 22, 2018 at 2:27pm · Litherland, United Kingdom ·

Well today our poor little dog Jet was attacked by a staffordshire pit bull terrier.

"PIT AND RUN"

The dog was off its lead and to add insult to injury the woman didn’t even ask how ste and jet were !!!!!! She just got her dog and put it on the lead and did one! how irresponsible, if i see her i won’t be able to contain myself.

Reported it to the dog warden with a description of her and her dog. the next poor dog might not be as lucky as jet x

New York: Six morons said Nyoka Brown wasn't guilty of neglecting her elderly dog to the point where it had to be euthanized

NEW YORK -- A Winthrop woman was found not guilty of animal abuse Friday following a one-day trial in Stockholm Town Court.

Nyoka M. Brown, 54, was charged with one count of misdemeanor torturing or injuring animals/failing to provide substance after she was accused of using garland to tie up her cocker spaniel’s hind legs in mid-May and leaving it in a ditch along a stretch of Route 11C in Stockholm.

“After examination at the humane society, it was determined the dog was not cared for properly for some time,” according to court documents. The dog, who St. Lawrence County Assistant District Attorney Dewey M. Golkin said was between 15 and 20 years old and that Ms. Brown called “Muffy,” was euthanized on June 11.

Veterinarians and the staff at the shelter said the senior dog came in emaciated with overgrown nails, bad teeth, had a hard time walking and had been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

“He was found blind and deaf … he could have been there days, weeks, or months without food or water,” Mr. Golkin told the jurors during his opening statements at about 1:15 p.m. “Muffy needed unconditional love,” but instead of spending his remaining days loved Mr. Golkin raised his voice and said he was bound and thrown in the ditch like a piece of trash.”

But a jury of three men and three women rendered a not guilty verdict about 7:24 p.m. after 25 minutes of deliberation, Ms. Brown’s attorney, Peter A. Dumas, of Dumas & Narrow P.C., Canton, said.

“It was a hard fought battle,” Mr. Dumas said. “Dewey did an admirable job prosecuting, but the evidence was not there, because she didn’t commit this heinous crime she was accused of.”

Mr. Dumas said Ms. Brown was relieved to have this put behind her.
“She has been very upset because this dog was a part of her family for 15 years,” Mr. Dumas said. And so many people adjudicated her guilty without even hearing the evidence. There was such a public outcry.”

The case raised the ire of community members, including members of the Potsdam Humane Society and Brasher couple Christopher J. Smith and his wife, Cindy M. Edwards. Ms. Edwards found the dog, who they named Joe, in the ditch on May 18. Ms. Edwards posted about Joe on Facebook after he was found and taken to the animal shelter. A “Justice for Joe” page caught the attention of friends and others, who began to mobilize in the effort to curb animal abuse.

But before she was called to testify Friday morning, Ms. Edwards said she wasn’t accusing Ms. Brown of throwing the dog in the ditch, but that it was clear from the poor condition he was in, there was a long period of neglect that shouldn’t go ignored.

And although there was a not guilty verdict, Mr. Smith said the trial and the awareness raised was important because too often these types of cases go overlooked.

“It’s still a victory for the campaign because we got the DA’s office prosecuting this kind of case to the full extent of the law and it is being taken seriously and the awareness is increased enormously,” Mr. Smith said following the verdict. “Hopefully this will result in people calling these types of crimes in and will result in a reduction in their numbers.”

(Watertown Daily Times - April 29, 2017)

Kansas: "My sweet cocker spaniel was killed by my mom's pit bull today"

KANSAS -- My sweet cocker spaniel was killed by my mom's pit bull today and today now sucks

Florida: Pit bulls attack 52-year-old woman, her Cocker Spaniel and a neighbor's Chihuahua mix

FLORIDA -- A 52-year-old woman is recovering after being attacked by a dog along Beaconhill Road in Ocean Pines.

The incident happened Wednesday, April 5 at around 11:32 a.m. An Ocean Pines police officer was dispatched to Beaconhill Road for the reported dog bite.

Upon arrival, the officer located Mary Christine Ernst, 52, of Ocean Pines, sitting on her front steps with a towel around her left leg. The responding officer checked her injuries and noticed two long deep lacerations in her left calf with bleeding, a puncture to her right upper arm and scraped knees.

According to a witness, Ernst and her dog, an American Cocker Spaniel, were leaving the witness’s home when he heard her screaming outside. William Jerry Jones, 82, of Ocean Pines, said he quickly ran outside and saw his neighbor’s Pit Bull Terrier biting into the leg of Ernst.

It appears two Pit Bulls had gotten out of a fenced-in gate, according to police. Jones said he managed to get a Pit Bull dog known as “Manny” off of Ernst by kicking it.

But “Manny” then ran into Jones’ attached garage and attacked his 7-year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog.

Armed with a shovel, Jones chased the two Pit Bulls back onto their deck and secured the gate.

Ernst was transported by Ocean Pines EMS to Atlantic General Hospital. Police said “Manny” had attacked the 52 year-old woman, her American Cocker Spaniel and the neighbor’s seven year-old male mixed Rat Terrier/Chihuahua dog. The Worcester County Animal Control was requested to respond to the scene.

The pit bull was turned over to the Worcester County Animal Control to be euthanized.

Ocean Pines Police Department contacted the dog owners, Robert Leo Riden Jr, 47, and his wife, Geri Riden, 46, both of Ocean Pines. Mr. Riden told police he pulled the sunroom door shut, but may not have shut it all the way. Mr. Riden stated that he had renters insurance.

Mr. Riden was cited for a leash-law violation and was given two $100 Uniform Civil Citations.

(SBYNews - April 11, 2017)

Florida: Accused repeat animal abuser Dolores Saverese target of petition seeking stiffer penalties

FLORIDA -- Outraged that an accused animal abuser has escaped any significant jail time, a group of Boca Raton neighbors has started a petition drive, gathering nearly 4,000 signatures.

The Change.org petition, which seeks 5,000 signatures and the attention of local and state authorities, asks that 56-year-old Dolores Saverese be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

Saverese was arrested last October on 18 animal cruelty and confinement charges after Boca Raton police found seven dead dogs and nine distressed others living in reportedly “deplorable” conditions at her West Camino Real home.

After a judge ordered Saverese to have no contact with animals, she left jail that same night on a $24,000 bond, according to court records.

But in late February she was arrested once again after police found a German shepherd in her home. A judge ordered her jailed.

“Please sign the petition I created,” wrote Danielle Riggin, a local lawyer and animal rescue advocate who organized the drive, in an online neighborhood forum. “I will deliver to the judge, state prosecutor, Boca Police and Palm Beach Animal Care and Control after we collect as many signatures as possible.”

Area resident and fellow dog lover Shari Jorge quickly backed the cause.

“It hits me hard to realize what has happened in that house for years. She’s been arrested repeatedly and nothing really happens to her. She goes on with her behavior,” says Jorge, a local yoga instructor, told The Post Saturday.

As some area residents have echoed on the online neighborhood forum, Jorge suggests the punishment for the animal cruelty should extend to the property owner who resides at the home where the dogs died.

Property records show the home is owned by Jake Saverese, 81. The petition identifies him as the accused woman’s brother, but that could not be confirmed. He could not be reached for comment.

 

Dolores Saverese remains in jail, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records.

Petitioning Florida Prosecutor's Office - "Prosecute repeated animal abuser Dolores Eva Saverese to the fullest extent of the law"

Since 2006, Dolores Eva Saverese, a resident of Boca Raton, has 11 separate animal-related abuse cases filed against her.

In 2008, Boca Police discovered 20 dogs stuffed in small crates without food or water living in absolute deplorable conditions with feces and urine all throughout the crates and the home of Dolores Eva Saverese and her brother, Jake Saverese. There were 23 dogs found living in the home; all of which were removed due to the deplorable conditions that they were found in and due to the overall poor condition of their health and well-being.

Dolores Saverese was charged with "confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise; abandonment of animals."

Unfortunately, a plea bargain was made and adjudication was withheld. Dolores was only sentenced to one (1) year probation.

She continued to abuse helpless, defenseless dogs and was again charged in 2009 and 2011.

In 2011, police responded to a report of a dog being beaten at the residence of Dolores Eva Saverese and Jake Saverese. Ms. Saverese unfortunately managed to stay under the radar until 2016 (despite that abuse likely continued throughout the years as we know that abusers such as herself do not suddenly stop abusing).

Most recently, in 2016, police responded to another report about abused animals in the home. Police and animal control officers found the home (still) littered with debris, trash, feces and witnessed rats and rodents.

Trash completely filling her car

Officers tragically discovered SEVEN DECEASED ANIMALS including a skull and in another crate, the skin of a dog and dog's head with missing eyes.

Dolores Saverese admitted to officers that she also had a deceased lab puppy and a German Shepherd wrapped up in a plastic bag. 

Officers also found nine live dogs in the home; all were filthy, matted with urine and feces and were suffering with various medical conditions resulting from their lack of basic care, such as  urine scalded skin, ear and eye infections and intestinal parasites.

These dogs were all removed from her home and within one month, she acquired two more puppies.

Dolores Saverese was arrested for eight (8) separate counts of Felony Cruelty to Animals and eight (8) separate counts of unlawful confinement or abandonment of animals.

On November 4, 2016, officers AGAIN discovered an animal skull and various bones in cages in Dolores Saverese's room.

A court order was entered on or about November 8, 2016 prohibiting Dolores Saverese from owning, possessing or coming into contact with any animal; however, on February 5, 2017, Dolores Saverese was again found to be in possession of a German Shepherd and was re-arrested in violation of the Court Order prohibiting her from residing with any animals.

Dolores Saverese repeatedly causes intentional harm, pain, suffering and death to countless number of animals. We respectfully request that Dolores Saverese face the most severe punishment for her heinous crimes and that no plea bargains be offered to Dolores Saverese due to her repeated actions.

It is clear that she has a complete disregard for Court Order's as evidenced by her failure to comply with the Court's prior Order prohibiting her from owning, possessing or coming into contact with any animal.

We also respectfully request that continued checks by Palm Beach Animal Care & Control be continued and if any animal is found in the home, that Palm Beach Animal Care & Control be granted authority to immediately remove the animal without the need for further court Order, to prevent needless delay.

To engage in such malevolent behavior absolutely suggests sociopathic and sadistic tendencies and demonstrates an incontrovertible lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards animals has, disturbingly enough, the ability to show such indifference towards humans.

This link between animal and human abuse has been proven and established, and if we excuse or ignore the animals' neglect, abuse and the deaths at the hands of Dolores Saverese and her brother, we would be serving an injustice to both animals and society.

When animals are subjected to such brutality with no human accountability, our society inaccurately concludes that animals are not worthy of empathy, compassion, or rights. We become desensitized to the issue of animal abuse, and our children learn troubling lessons that are contrary to respect of and towards animals, which often evolves into a lack of empathy for humans.

We must do everything in our power to allocate necessary resources to investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of animal cruelty cases.

Dolores Saverese's brother, Jake Saverese is an accomplice and it is unknown why he has not been charged with any crimes as he resides in the same household and has allowed all of this abuse and death to occur and repeatedly continue. He should also be facing criminal charges and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as well.

Please proceed with the most severe penalties.

Thank you for your time and attention.

(Palm Beach Post - April 2, 2017)

Earlier:

• Florida: Police find 7 dead dogs, 9 more alive in Dolores Saverese’s home. They say she has a history of animal abuse going back to 2008.
• Florida: Nine live dogs and seven dead dogs seized from repeat animal hoarder Dolores Saverese, 56
• Florida: A judge ordered Dolores Saverese to stay away from animals. She ignored him and is now back in jail 

South Africa: Pit bull attack on Bluff beach

SOUTH AFRICA -- Two women and their dog have been attacked on Garvies beach by two pit bulls on Sloan Road, Bluff.

  

 

Rescue Care paramedics are on scene at the moment, treating the dog and women’s  injuries.

Police are on scene but the pit bulls are nowhere to be found.

(Southland Sun - March 16, 2017)

Florida: A judge ordered Dolores Saverese to stay away from animals. She ignored him and is now back in jail

FLORIDA -- The Boca Raton woman arrested last year on more than a dozen animal cruelty charges is headed back to jail, a judge ordered Thursday, after police found at least one German shepherd in her home.

Dolores Saverese, 56, was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on bond in late October. One of the terms of her release was that she not own any animals.

 

However, on Feb. 5, a neighbor saw dogs being dropped off at the woman’s Boca Raton home, court records state. Saverese told Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officials she bought the dogs — it is unclear how many — from a longtime friend, although documents showed she paid $700 to Lake Effect Snow White German Shepherds for the dogs.

Saverese agreed to surrender the dogs to Animal Care and Control, records state.

 

Officials took 16 Cocker Spaniels from the woman’s home in late August. Nine made it out alive. Seven didn’t.

The bodies of German shepherd and a Labrador retriever puppy were also found, wrapped in plastic, surrounded by filth, officials said.

Saverese told police the animals had been dead for years.

Saverese bought the dogs from a breeder in Missouri, according to the police report. Just days after the spaniels were taken from her home, Saverese called the breeder multiple times, asking about buying new puppies, the breeder told police. By Sept. 30 she had obtained two new dogs, according to Animal Care and Control’s Sgt. Dave Walesky.

 

City police have frequented Saverese’ home on West Camino Real, east of Interstate 95, in the last eight years, records show. In 2008, they removed 23 dogs who had no water or food. She spent a year on probation after being convicted of animal cruelty in that case, court records show.

Other times it was for animal-ordinance violations, such as failing to comply with the county’s sterilization and vaccination ordinances, according to court records.

(Palm Beach Post - Feb 23, 2017)

Earlier:

• Florida: Police find 7 dead dogs, 9 more alive in Dolores Saverese’s home. They say she has a history of animal abuse going back to 2008.
• Florida: Nine live dogs and seven dead dogs seized from repeat animal hoarder Dolores Saverese, 56

California: Cocker Spaniel named Andrew attacked by pit bull; owner ran off with the pit bull afterwards

CALIFORNIA -- The latest victim of a pit bull - a cocker spaniel.

Lindsey Schoen Howard posted on Facebook Jan 11, 2017

Warning: unpleasant post.

Today, at Glen Alla Park in Marina del Rey Andrew, my cocker spaniel was attacked by a pit bull.

I have never seen anything like it, the dog would not let go of Andrew's neck. 

Andrew has stitches and a drain to remove fluids. We are hopeful that after the awesome care he received at Bay City Veterinary Clinic that he will be ok.

He is in a tremendous amount of pain and hasn't moved since we brought him home. My heart breaks.

THE OWNER PULLED A "PIT AND RUN"

The owner of this dog fled [with her vicious Pit Bull].

The woman was in her forties with plastic surgery, wearing a turquoise jacket. Slim build and 5'7" ish. The dog was a pit bull or pit bull mix black and white wearing a red vest.

This dog is very dangerous. If the pair sounds familiar please message me.

My apologies for the image.

  

  

  

 

Nebraska: Woman starved her Cocker Spaniel and Pit Bull to death then dumped their bodies into the trash

NEBRASKA -- A North Platte woman was cited with six counts of animal cruelty after dead dogs were found in a garbage can on Tuesday.

City Sanitation Department workers reported that there were dog carcasses in a dumpster in the alley behind a residence in the 1300 block of North Franklin Avenue.

An animal control officer investigated and found two dead dogs: a red pit bull cross with a pink collar and a chocolate cocker spaniel with a green collar.

“Both dogs had severely matted hair, sores and were severely malnourished,” said Investigator John Deal, of the North Platte Police Department.

Neighbors told police they believed the dogs belonged to a woman who lives at the residence. Witnesses also said that she had more than four dogs.

According to city ordinance, it’s unlawful for a person to keep more than four dogs or cats, or any combination, for longer than 90 days, unless the residence is a licensed commercial animal establishment or the individual is approved for a permit allowing them to keep more than four animals.

An officer was also called to the residence on Sunday, after a report that a dog had jumped the backyard fence. The dog’s leash got caught on the fence and the dog was hanging from the fence.

When the officer arrived, the dog had broken free and was unharmed. The woman was contacted about the complaint.

City ordinance requires that owners provide adequate care, control, food, health care, shelter and water to their animals.

In an interview last month, Deal said officers are often called to homes where dogs have been left in back yards. During those calls, officers check to see if the dog has food, water and proper shelter.

The officer checking on the dog didn’t seen any signs that indicated abuse, so no further action was taken, Deal said.

After the carcasses were discovered, officers obtained a search warrant for the home and found four kennels, three with dogs inside. One dog had escaped a kennel and was roaming free.

“The kennels were unkempt, did not contain food or water, and several had large amounts of feces in them,” Deal said.

The dogs had matted hair and appeared to be malnourished. Officers reported that the home smelled strongly of animal urine and feces.

All four of the animals were seized and taken to the vet for care, Deal said.

The woman was cited with six counts of animal cruelty, each a Class I Misdemeanor.

Deal said officials are seeking information about the ownership and treatment of the dead dogs. Anyone with information can call the police department or the animal control division at 308-535-6789.

Why isn't her name being released???

(The Grand Island Independent - Jan 6, 2017)

North Carolina: Neighbor's two pit bulls attack woman and her dog

NORTH CAROLINA -- Robert Vance Carter Jr. posted on Facebook December 29, 2016 ·

Please pray for Harrison who is pictured on my Facebook page. He was attacked by my neighbors 2 pit bulls. Louise managed to break her ankle and got a bad dog bite that still needs to fixed as a result of trying to break up the dog fight attack. More tomorrow

Shannon Hammons - Oh my goodness! I am so sorry. Hope your lil one is ok and tell Louise Carter I'm thinking of her. I have always thought pit bulls to be very aggressive dogs!

Laura Lacatena Carriker - Did Louise break her ankle? Oh my gosh. Poor thing. Where is Harrison? I looked for a picture. Better get that dog bite taken care of before it gets infected.

Louise Carter - I fractured my ankle in the fray. Spent Thursday night in Presbyterian Hospital's Emergency Clinic. They then referred me to an orthopedic doctor whom I saw on Fridat for both my hand and foot. Never a dull moment.

Louise Carter - Harrison is doing fine now. I can't believe that he survived. He lost so much blood. God bless him!

Laura Lacatena Carriker - I'm so sorry about your dog and also about you. That's terrible. I see people all the time defending pit bulls talking about how sweet they are and about how they're only mean if they're not trained properly and yet when I hear about pit bull attacks there usually lethal.

Massachusetts: Jessica Torres, 32, left her dog named Piglet to suffer and then complained that she didn't speak English well enough to seek help for her

MASSACHUSETTS -- A Springfield woman who failed to get treatment for her dog's badly infected eye has been charged with animal abuse.

Jessica Torres, 32, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Springfield District Court to one count of cruelty to an animal following a complaint filed by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In August, Torres took her dog Piglet to the Boston Road Animal Hospital for evaluation of an eye infection that had begun three weeks earlier and was getting worse, according to the complaint.

Torres was given prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medicine and told the dog's eye was so severely infected that it would probably have to be removed, the complaint said.

"She left with instructions to seek care as soon as possible because Piglet was in pain," MSPCA investigator Christine Allenberg wrote in the complaint.

Three months later, the 4-year-old poodle and cocker spaniel mix had received no treatment, had a temperature of 104 degrees and her right eyeball had popped out of its socket, the complaint said. At that time, Torres was seeking to have the dog euthanized due to odor from the infected eyeball, according to the complaint.

The woman agreed to surrender the dog to the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center on Nov. 16. The dog's eye was removed during emergency surgery the next day and she is recovering from her ordeal, the complaint said.

In addition to photos of the dog's infected eye, the case file contains copies of unfilled prescriptions for antibiotics, pain medication and eye drops that Torres received from the animal hospital along with a list of agencies that provide help to low-income pet owners.

Torres [argued that] she could not afford to seek treatment for the dog, and did not speak English well enough to contact any of the recommended agencies for financial help, the report said.

BS. There are plenty of low-income options and there are TONS of government run services available to Hispanics who do not speak English "well enough", especially in larger cities like Springfield. 

Also, it's called GOOGLE TRANSLATE. 

She said she adopted the dog in June through Facebook, and had already adopted a second one before surrendering Piglet, the complaint said.

"Ms. Torres showed me a tan and white dog that she had just gotten the day before from another post she saw on Facebook," Allenberg noted in the complaint.

Following her arraignment Tuesday, Torres was released on personal recognizance and told to return for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 28.

(MassLive - Dec 29, 2016)

Florida: Nine live dogs and seven dead dogs seized from repeat animal hoarder Dolores Saverese, 56

FLORIDA -- A woman from Boca Raton, the focus of multiple animal cruelty investigations and described by police as a hoarder, is facing new criminal charges.

Palm Beach County Animal Control arrested 56-year-old Dolores Saverese.

The investigation began in August after investigators received an anonymous tip about matted dogs living in deplorable conditions at her home.

Investigators searched the home and found clumps of feces, trash, urine stains, and dog bones.

Animal Control removed 9 live dogs and 7 dead dogs, which included a Labrador puppy wrapped in plastic.

Saverese told investigators she put kitty litter over the dead animals to "keep them from smelling."

She is charged with 4 counts of cruelty to animals and 5 counts of confinement of animals without sufficient food, water or exercise.

 

REPEAT OFFENDER

Her history of animal cruelty arrests is extensive.

Authorities say Saverese served a year of probation after an animal cruelty complaint in 2008. Animal Control investigators returned to her home in 2011 and again in the spring of 2016.

Trash completely filling her car

ARREST INFO
Name: SAVERESE, DOLORES EVA
Race: White
Gender: Female
DOB: 03/22/1960
Address: 758 W CAMINO REAL, BOCA RATON, FL 33486
Facility: Main Detention Center
OBTS Number: 5002305739
Booking Date/Time: 10/29/2016 00:21
Cell Location: M-W-06-B-20-B
Arresting Agency: 32-BOCA RATON
Release Date: N/A
Holds For Other Agencies: No
Jacket Number: 0482256
Booking Number: 2016037523
Booking Date/Time: 10/29/2016 00:21
Charges:
#1 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#2 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#3 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#4 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#5 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#6 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#7 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#8 828.12-3009
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – CAUSE CRUEL DEATH PAIN AND SUFFERING
Original Bond: $3,000.00
Current Bond: $3,000.00

#9 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#10 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#11 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#12 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#13 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#14 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#15 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

#16 828.13-8115
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS – IMPOUND CONFINE ANIMAL WO SUFFICIENT FOOD WATER
Original Bond: $0.00
Current Bond: $0.00

 

(CBS12 - Oct 31, 2016)

Earlier:

• Florida: Police find 7 dead dogs, 9 more alive in Dolores Saverese’s home. They say she has a history of animal abuse going back to 2008.