Rhode Island: Man, sister charged with animal cruelty for not taking Pit Bulls to veterinarian after they were stabbed; one dog suffered until finally dying

RHODE ISLAND -- A Roslindale, Massachusetts man and his sister are both facing animal cruelty charges in connection with an incident that left one dog dead and two others severely injured.

Rhode Island State Police said 18-year-old Paul Thibeau and 26-year-old Julia McDougall turned themselves in Wednesday morning, following a joint investigation with the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA).

 

 

Both Thibeau and McDougall were arraigned at Providence District Court.

RISPCA spokesman Joe Warzycha said Thibeau was visiting McDougall at her home at 28 Saint James Street in Providence when their Pit Bulls got into a fight.

  

While trying to break up the fight, Warzycha said Thibeau stabbed two of McDougall’s dogs. 

According to Warzycha, both Thibeau and his sister waited more than seven hours before bringing the most severely injured dog to a veterinarian. 

That dog later died from its injuries.

 

 

Joe Warzycha, of the RISPCA, told NBC 10 News that Thibeau waited more than seven hours before he took the dog that was most severely injured to a vet and when he did, the dog was already dead.

“Immediately following the altercation, he put the dog into the dog crate, ran some errands, took care of some other personal things and seven hours later, made the determination to bring the dog to Ocean State [Veterinary Specialists.]”

In addition, Warzycha said McDougall never sought veterinary care for her other two injured dogs.

Thibeau claimed he stabbed the dogs in self-defense, and Warzycha said the RISPCA does not dispute his argument.

The cruelty charges against the brother and sister were based on the fact that neither promptly sought veterinary care for the injured dogs, according to Warzycha.

Rhode Island State Police Press Release:

At 8:30 AM, Troopers arrested Paul Thibeau, age 18, of 39 Archdale Road, Roslindale, MA for Cruelty to Animals - Felony.

The arrest was the result of the barracks assisting the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with their investigation and Thibeau subsequently turning himself in. Thibeau was processed and later arraigned at Sixth Division District Court.

At 8:30 AM, Troopers arrested Julia McDougall, age 26, of 28 St. James Street, Providence, RI for 1) Cruelty to Animals - Felony and 2) Cruelty to Animals - Misdemeanor (2 counts).

The arrest was the result of the barracks assisting the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with their investigation and McDougall subsequently turning herself in. McDougall was processed and later arraigned at Sixth Division District Court.

(NBC4i - March 7, 2018)

Alabama: Two-year-old girl attacked by family's Rhodesian Ridgeback / German Shepherd mix; grandfather also attacked when he intervened

ALABAMA -- Two people injured in a dog attack Wednesday afternoon have been released from hospitals after treatment.

A Labrador / Bulldog mix Rhodesian Ridgeback / German Shepherd was identified as the dog that attacked Kairi Sky Burleson in her yard, and then attacked her grandfather, Michael Perry Burleson on the left arm near the elbow, damaging an artery, said Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper.

The two-year-old was taken to Cullman Regional by a family member for treatment, while the grandfather was flown to North Huntsville Hospital. Both were released after treatment, Culpepper said.

Cullman Fire and Rescue and Cullman Emergency Medical Services personnel were the first to arrive at the scene and began treatment of the victims.

FAMILY SHOT AND KILLED DOG BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED
A Cullman police officer arrived and reported the dog, which was estimated at 2 years old and weighing 100 pounds, was shot and killed before responders arrived.

The body of the dog, which was a family pet, was sent to a veterinarian to be tested for rabies, Culpepper said.

Mikayla says the dog was a Rhodesian Ridgeback and German Shepherd mix and that their veterinarian thinks the dog may have been poisoned "because he's never heard of a dog that lets a baby" play with it like this little girl did and then turn on her. 

The dog may not have been poisoned but may have had some medical ailment (cancer eating away at its stomach, etc) that meant it was in pain. If it were my dog, I'd get a necropsy in order to eliminate all possibilities as this was a dog that was raised around the child, around family members, etc. - it wasn't just chained to a tree and ignored. 

Now certainly one could argue, "Well you never say any of this when it's Pit Bull that attack family members!" - and they would be right. Because Pit Bulls have shown time and time again that they're unstable, unpredictable and have a trigger that sends them from being calm to trying to kill. A 'nice' Pit bull that goes its whole life without attacking and killing something is an exception to the rule. This dog attack was an anomaly so a necropsy should be conducted.

(Cullman Times Online - Jan 25, 2018)

United Kingdom: Disgusting couple walk out of court with NO jail time after subjecting animals to horrific conditions

UNITED KINGDOM -- A couple have been banned from keeping animals for a decade after a number of pets were found in ‘squalid’ conditions – surrounded by urine and human feces.

Robert Roy Rickman, 45, and Ceri Ann Rickman, 32, both of Parc Newydd, Briton Ferry, had both previously admitted causing unnecessary suffering to 15 domestic cats, and failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs of two dogs were met.

 

Those are bottles of urine

An RSPCA officer attended the property in June 2017, and found cats in a ‘horrendous’ condition roaming the filthy property. Two dogs – one brindle lurcher and a collie mix – were also living at the home.

The cats were “all riddled with fleas”, and many malnourished and with degrees of hair loss.

Mr Tarrant said when the RSPCA inspector left the house to take a breather from the “foul odour” inside, he found his trousers were “crawling with fleas”.

 

Human and animal feces was found across the property, urine was thrown into rooms in plastic bottles, mess was sprawled across the building and an overpowering smell was evident throughout.

ROBERT RICKMAN PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
The court heard Robert, who had previously gone by the name Robert Ford, has a previous conviction from 1998 for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal under the old Protection of Animals Act 1911.

NO JAIL TIME FOR EITHER ANIMAL ABUSER
During sentencing at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, both were given a ten-year ban on keeping all animals and a community order. They were each told to pay costs of £300, in addition to a victim surcharge of £85.

Thankfully, after all animals were signed into the RSPCA’s care, they were rehabilitated and sent to animal centers across England and Wales for adoption.

 

 

 

RSPCA inspector Neill Manley said: "This was a thoroughly grim and hugely challenging case, in some of the worst conditions I have witnessed in my entire life.

"I arrived at the property on one of the hottest days of the year, and was shell-shocked at the squalid conditions in which animals were living.

"Cats roamed the house in a truly horrendous condition, while two dogs were clearly being kept in a wholly inappropriate environment. The property was totally infested with fleas, and a number of the cats had developed an allergic reaction which was not treated. It’s a timely reminder as to the importance of seeking veterinary attention in such situations as soon as possible.

 

 

"Across the house, there were plastic bottles or urine, plus cardboard boxes filled with feces and spread across the floors.

"The condition of the animals was absolutely heartbreaking, and it beggars all belief that anyone deemed it acceptable to keep animals in such filthy, squalid surroundings.

"Fortunately, the RSPCA’s intervention ensured all animals were signed into our care – and could go on for rehoming, and a second chance of happiness.

"That happy outcome is a reminder as to the exact reason why the RSPCA exists."

 

 

 

(Metro UK - February 1, 2018)

North Carolina: Fugitive Robert Fore caught in Florida; being extradited to face felony animal cruelty charges

NORTH CAROLINA -- A Fletcher man suspected in a local animal cruelty case was arrested in Florida, but his wife remains at large.

Robert Brian Fore (Bob Fore, Tommy Fore), 61, of Fletcher, was served with animal cruelty warrants after he was taken into custody in Florida on Dec. 30 and extradited back to Henderson County.

Fore was served with warrants for two felony counts of killing an animal by starvation, four felony counts of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals that stemmed from offenses occurring in early March of 2017.

 

 

He is in the Henderson County Jail with a $15,000 secured bond with his next court date scheduled for Jan. 23.

Sandy Fore surrendered 40 dogs and cats March 4 after Henderson County authorities investigated the discovery of dogs and cats that were living in what they described as “absolutely horrific” conditions.

A caller alerted authorities about the animals' welfare, and told authorities a family had moved and abandoned the animals to die.

According to warrants, the Fores mistreated 32 animals.

The animals were discovered in two campers, an outbuilding and a home on the property on Maxwell Drive in Fletcher, spokesman Major Frank Stout said. Some were “running loose” and others were in cages.

A number of the animals were living in "incredibly appalling conditions," according to officials. “It was absolutely horrific the conditions that those animals were living in,” Stout said.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Robert Fore, and his wife Sandy Jean Fore, fled the area, after surrendering 40 dogs and cats on March 4, 2017. Sandy Jean Fore still has outstanding warrants for multiple charges of killing an animal by starvation and cruelty to animals.

She may be using the alias of Jeannie Fore or Jeannie Hughes.

No word on whether she still has their nine-year-old grandson with her.

Should anyone have information concerning Sandy Fore’s whereabouts, please contact the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at 828-697-4911.

 

(Citizen-Times - January 4, 2018)

Earlier:

• North Carolina: 40 animals found living in 'appalling' conditions. Police searching for owners Sandy Fore and Robert Fore
• North Carolina: Authorities believe Sandy Fore and Robert Fore - wanted for FELONY animal cruelty charges - are on the run with their 9-year-old grandson