2/28/14: Judge says warrant not valid; throws out cruelty charges

VERMONT --  A judge tossed out all animal cruelty charges against a Shelburne horse owner.

Officials say they found horses living in deplorable conditions at George Wilson's farm last year. They also say they found dead horses on the property. He faced multiple charges of animal abuse.

But Wilson argued the town health officer searched the property without a warrant and fought to have the case dismissed.

Wednesday, Judge Michael Kupersmith ruled that the search was not proper and threw out the charges.

Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan says his team is considering a motion to have the judge reconsider or a possible appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court.

Wilson once worked for Channel 3. He left the station seven years ago.

You can read the judge's decision here.

(WCAX - Feb 28, 2014)

Earlier:

• Shelburne man, wife plead not guilty in animal cruelty case
• Shelburne animal cruelty case set to start in June

Woman uses shotgun to save her small dog from two pit bulls - then defends pit bulls as "very good dogs"

FLORIDA -- A Fort Pierce woman is living in fear after she says she had to use a shotgun to save her small dog from being killed by two pit bulls.

Those dogs are still living next door to her. But St. Lucie County Animal Control is investigating to see if  that should change.
 
Thursday evening, Patricia Saenz said her Chihuahua mix named Skippy was under attack. Saenz said pit bulls from the next door neighbor's yard came over and went for the five year old, eight pound dog.

"All of a sudden I hear squealing; loud squealing like I have never heard before," said Saenz. She said two much larger pit bulls were going after her dog. She grabbed her shotgun.

"The dogs were right here attacking my dog so I took the gun - boom!," she said. "I shot at them and they scattered."

Saenz said the ordeal did not end there.

"They backed up. And when they backed up, I grabbed Skippy."

 

 

She put Skippy inside the house and then Saenz said she had to defend herself. "I closed the door and they're trying to come in," she said. "So I took the gun again and - boom - I shot them again."

"I miss them but I hit them in the ear and they took off running back in their yard," said Saenz. "That was the end of that."

Saenz' dog was alive, but with several puncture wounds to his neck, stomach, back and legs. "I thought that he was in shambles," she said. "Before I got to him to look at him, I thought he was all torn up. I didn't even want to look."

St. Lucie County Animal Control officers arrived and cited the dogs' owner for three violations - an $850 fine.

Saenz said she has no ill will towards the pit bull breed.

"They're very good dogs. They're very protective dogs and there's nothing wrong with the pit bull breed," she said. "It's the owners. That's the problem."

The owner of the dogs may have to surrender his animals if animal control deems them as 'dangerous'.

For at least the rest of this weekend, the pit bulls are still right next door.

That could all be changing as this investigation continues into next week.

(WPTV - June 8, 2014)

Marion Co horse trader charged with animal cruelty

ALABAMA -- Marion County Sheriff's Office arrested a horse trader on Monday for animal cruelty.

Donald Heath Allison was charged with 4 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty with a $4,000 bond. He bonded out of jail Monday evening.

A tip led Marion County deputies to a pasture rented by Allison along Highway 19 in Posey, a community that's northwest of Hamilton. Two horses died last week and while there, investigators discovered two more horses had died and were buried.

Five more horses were on the property. Three appeared to be in good health, 2 appeared malnourished.

According to Sheriff Kevin Williams, no feed or hay was on the pasture.

The remaining horses were given to a local animal rescue service.

(ABC3340 - Feb 20, 2014)

Pittsburgh man allegedly decapitates family Chihuahua with machete, faces animal cruelty charges

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Pittsburgh man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly used a machete to decapitate his mother's Chihuahua.

Authorities said they were called to the home Wednesday evening, and Matthew Ondo's parents showed them the remains of the dog, named Izzy, along with a bloody machete and butcher knife.

According to a criminal complaint, Ondo, 30, at first denied killing the dog, then claimed the devil, Allah or "the Mexican" did it.

Ondo's parents told police their son is an unemployed drug addict who has emotional problems.

His mother, Debra Ondo, told police she was playing upstairs with the 14-month-old dog when she heard her son call for Izzy. Her husband later came home and began yelling when he discovered what had happened, according to the complaint.

Ondo is being held at the Allegheny County jail, unable to post $25,000 bond. No attorney was listed on court papers.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.

(NY Daily News - February 13, 2014)

Petal man charged in beating death of small dog

MISSISSIPPI -- A Petal man turned himself into New Augusta Police Wednesday after he learned he was wanted on animal abuse charges.

 

 

 

David Crane is charged with aggravated animal cruelty in the beating death of his girlfriend's dog with his fist because he was angry it bit him. Cranes's arrest came as a result of a post on his Facebook page where he detailed how he beat the dog to death. The beating took place at a New Augusta apartment he shared with his girlfriend, Kacie Smith.

"Roscoe was maybe about 8-pounds, David was 6-foot-three and more than 200-pounds, Said Smith. "I told him to leave him alone. I asked what did you do to him? He said I got mad and I think I killed him. I asked him how and he balled up his fist."

When asked through a Facebook message if he would like to tell his side, Crane sent a response back saying the dog had bit him on several occasions. He also said it bit his grandfather and uncle. He said he was wrong for the way he did it, but the dog deserved to die."

"He never attacked anybody, Roscoe was a sweet dog and I was never aware he attacked his grandfather."

After seeing the post many people called the New Augusta Police Department to report the beating. One of those who called was Katherine Sammons from the Southern Pines Animal Shelter. Sammons says it's abuse like such that has animal advocates pushing for stiffer penalties.

"He caught a dog, held it down and viciously beat it to death. That's not a strong enough penalty  and that's why we rallied in Jackson because our laws carry no teeth," said Sammons.

If found guilty, Crane faces a fine of up to $2,500 and or 6-months in jail. He is currently out on a $1,000 bond. His court date is set for March,10.

(WDAM - Feb 13, 2014)

"These dogs, of course, have this stigma attached to them and they're really just wonderful dogs." - so says owner of pit bull which had just attacked another dog

Dog owners speak out about reported pit bull attack

COLORADO --  Another pit bull attack has one family nervous about the breed and another defending it.

Dee Keates said a pit bull attacked her chow, Maggie, when they were outside last Thursday morning on the 300 block of Ouray Ave.

 

"Out of nowhere, this dog swooped and grabbed Maggie by the neck and pulled her right away," Keates said. "Maggie I don't even think saw it coming. I started screaming at the dog and I kept kicking it trying to get it away from my dog and she was dragged across the street."

Maggie's leg was injured requiring stitches, but Keates said her life was saved by all her hair, which prevented the pit bull from latching onto her neck, she said.

"She couldn't get a good grip," Keates said. "She did however get her leg and tore I think it was about an inch and a half and when we took her to the vet. They shaved it and you could see all the tendons and it was very bad. She has stitches, she has medication. They had to do surgery."

However, the pit bull's owner, Elizabeth Walton, said she didn't see the scenario play out and she's also not sure how the dog got out from the fenced-in yard.

"I looked out my window and all I saw was a couple people over here on the corner," Walton said. "I saw my dog, this black dog here, just bolting back over toward my house with her tail tucked and her ears pinned just terrified."

The dog, named Pig, had never shown signs of aggressive behavior before and the breed shouldn't have such a bad reputation, Walton said.

"Everything that she's ever been around she's been friendly and loving toward," she said. "Babies, little kids, cats, other dogs. These dogs, of course, have this stigma attached to them and they're really just wonderful dogs."

[By the way, this idiot says she got the dog from Animal Services aka the shelter.]

Mesa County Animal Services is investigating the incident.

In a statement, the organization said it has issued a mandatory court summon for failure to control the dog and dog at large to Elizabeth Walton.

(KKCO - Feb 16, 2014)

Dog which attacked postal carrier will live (to attack again)

CANADA -- Samuel Northey breathed an audible sigh of relief on hearing the news his dog Mac will be allowed to live.

Mac was one of two dogs that attacked a postal worker last May, then menaced people who tried to help. Mac’s brother Dover died after it was shot by a police officer on the scene.

On Tuesday, Justice of the Peace Arvid Luhning ruled that Mac could live, provided his owner Northey abides by a confinement order for Mac. Northey pleaded guilty last year to owning a dangerous dog, but the court heard two days of evidence so Luhning could decide whether Mac needed to be destroyed.

The conditions of the confinement order include that Mac be muzzled and leashed in public and remain in an enclosure within the fenced backyard when home. Mac must be neutered and Northey must get liability insurance for owning a dangerous dog. Northey was also fined $500.

If Northey fails to maintain proper supervision of Mac, Luhning said he wanted it on the record that it “would result in the seizure and possible destruction of Mac.”

The May 31, 2013, attack happened as letter carrier Gary Haaland delivered the mail. The two boxers burst through a wooden gate that was screwed shut and knocked Haaland down, biting his face and hands.

The dogs then terrorized everyone who tried to help, including neighbours, paramedics, an animal control officer, a firefighter and police officers.

Following the attack, Northey reinforced the gate and built an enclosure within the fenced yard. Mac also passed an eight-class obedience course.

In his decision, Luhning said the attack was a result of a “series of errors” by Northey: selecting a breed of dog (boxers) bred to be guard dogs; choosing to have the dogs’ secure area abut an area where all outsiders approach; attaching the mailbox to the fence where the dogs were housed (albeit in an attempt to make the mailman’s job easier); failing to address the situation after Northey’s wife witnessed the dogs’ reaction to the postal worker on one occasion; and using a piece of wood to screw shut the gate that was “insufficient to withstand” repeated assaults by the dogs.

However, under the proper confinement order, the safety of the public and humane treatment of Mac can be served, Luhning decided.

Outside court, Northey said he respected the court’s decision and would follow all the conditions of the confinement order.

“I think it’s pretty clear that both Sam and (his wife) are committed to seeing their dog be healthy and making sure the public is safe as well,” Northey’s lawyer Bob Affleck said.

(Leader Post - Feb 18, 2014)

"Come to Iowa where you can torture animals to death for only $300!"

IOWA -- A Jesup man accused of torturing a dog last winter entered an Alford plea in court Friday.

Ty Hickman agreed to pay a $315 civil penalty.

By entering an Alford plea, Hickman does not admit guilt, but admits that sufficient evidence exists to prosecute him.

Ty Alyn Hickman

 

Hickman, A.J. Sellers and Kelsey Block were charged with animal torture and animal neglect after a dog’s body was found dead in a crate, covered in feces.

The dog was nicknamed Caleb by animal rights activists, but according to court documents, the dog’s name was actually Tank.

Hickman told the court last year he left the dog with Sellers and Block in January until they could find the dog a new home.

Sellers and Block both entered guilty pleas last fall. In all three cases, the animal torture charge was dismissed by court, and the judge deferred the sentence for the animal neglect charge.

(KWWL - Mar 7, 2014)

Earlier:

• Your DA's at work - in one year, Caleb's suffering and death will be as if it had never happened
• Guilty plea for one of three accused in dog abuse case
• Waterloo animal control pursuing animal cruelty case
• Man Charged With Animal Torture
• Two Additional Arrests in horrific abuse case in Iowa

Two more arrested on multiple animal cruelty charges

FLORIDA -- Charlotte County investigators are blaming a Cape Coral couple and a Miami man for the worst animal cruelty case they've ever seen.

About a year ago, animal control had a warrant to search the house off Oil Well Road in Punta Gorda after a neighbor reported a dead dog on the property - they found the animals, along with a marijuana grow house.

Over 80 animals were found in repulsive conditions – including alligators, malnourished horses and dead dogs.

Pablo Cauz of Miami was arrested on drug-related charges – he's also been arrested on 26 animal cruelty charges.

It wasn't until this week investigators tied 29-year-old Yusniel Valdez-Darias and 26-year-old Greisy Suarez to the crime – they're charged with 24 counts of cruelty – from abandoning to mutilating and killing animals.

Investigators say they found nails in the hooves of goats, alligators in the backyard in buckets and horses eating old, rotten restaurant waste.

Last month, a suspicious fire broke out at the home when no one was supposed to be living inside.

Neighbors are shocked at the crime, but not surprised about the people investigators say committed it.

Leon Sabutis, a neighbor of Greisy Suarez and Yusniel Valdez-Darias says that for the past four years, he's noticed something strange at his next door neighbor's home in Cape Coral.

"Always a lot of activity with a lot of different individuals," Sabutis  said.

Investigators say they observed the same activity at the Punta Gorda home the couple owns.

"Unknown people coming and going from the property and whenever we'd go out there there would be a different person than who you dealt with the last time, different animals coming and going," said Lt. Brian Jones, Charlotte County Animal Control.

The Cape Coral couple has bailed out of jail – they'll be in court next month.

Investigators are still searching for who else may be involved or why the house was set on fire last month.

(NBC2 - Feb 28, 2014)

Crime Stoppers Fugitives Includes Animal Cruelty Suspect

WASHINGTON -- Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest released their latest list of wanted fugitives on Wednesday.

Among the list of fugitives is one name you may recognize: Jan Hickerson. Hickerson is wanted on 2 warrants for animal cruelty. Hickerson owns a piece of property in Airway Heights where SCRAPS seized nearly 90 horses in 2013.

In July, 25 horses were seized, and more recently in November 63 horses were taken from the property, 11 of them in critical condition. Hickerson has not been seen since the horses were seized.

Jeffrey Hickerson is also wanted for 1st Degree Animal Cruelty.

•Jan Hickerson has 2 warrants for Animal Cruelty 1st Degree (Physical Pain/Death), Theft of Livestock 2nd Degree and Misdemeanor Physical Control of a Vehicle Under the Influence. She is a 48-year-old W/F, 5’6”, 210 lbs, has blond hair and blue eyes.

•Jeffrey Hickerson is a 65-year-old W/M wanted for Animal Cruelty 1st Degree (Physical Pain/Death). He is 6’5”, 230 lbs, has brown hair and hazel eyes.

(KHQ - Feb 28, 2014)

Earlier:

• Emaciated horses rescued from West Plains ranch
• SCRAPS takes 60 horses from property in animal cruelty investigation
•  Horse owner charged with animal cruelty

Animal services removes 15 dogs in hoarding case

FLORIDA -- Animal Services removed 15 Dachshunds from a hoarding situation Wednesday afternoon.

 An anonymous tip brought officers to the home where they discovered the pups of all ages living in deplorable conditions.

 

"The carpet was pretty much just compressed excrement that they were maneuvering around in," explained Lt. Tony Backhurst, Lee Co. Domestic Animal Services.

The dogs were surrendered by their owner.

"In a case like this it's pretty much irresponsible pet ownership," Backhurst said.

Licensed mental health counselors say its more than just that. Hoarding is now classified as a mental disorder.

 

 

The good news is, the doxies appear to be in relative good health and will be put up for adoption on Friday.

Officials have only released that the home the dogs were found in is located in North Fort Myers.
The case is still under investigation. Animal cruelty charges are pending.

DAS officials say this is about the 20th hoarding case from this year alone.



UPDATE: All 15 dogs have been placed with potential adopters, LCDAS says a meet and greet will be held for the approved applicants and the dogs on Saturday.

LCDAS says 56 applications to adopt the doxies were submitted.

The dogs all tested positive for heartworm, but LCDAS is treating the dogs before they can go home.

(NBC-2 - Feb 28, 2014)

Shocking pictures of Basildon man who was mauled by a dog... as the owner escapes justice

UNITED KINGDOM -- A MAN traumatised after being savaged by a Japanese Akita while protecting a child hit out at the sentence given to the dog’s owner.

Dave Benson, 31, was hailed a hero after he threw himself in front of the Akita after it pounced on a child in a playground, off Luncines Road, Pitsea, last October.

But he said he was lucky to be alive after the canine turned on him, mauling his arms as tried to restrain the animal. Mr Benson had to undergo reconstructive surgery.

 

The dog’s owner, Nick Hart, 24, of The Greenstead, Basildon, received an 18-month conditional discharge, was ordered to pay £2,500 compensation and allowed to keep the animal.

Mr Benson, of Pitsea, said: “I know it is not necessarily the dog’s fault. It is the owner. But how can the courts rule this savage machine be kept alive? It’s worrying for the public, as I’m sure the dog would have killed the child easily and could have killed me.”

Mr Benson said he stepped in as he owns a five-year-old Akita, so thought he knew how to deal with the situation.

He said the dog immediately set upon him, biting his arms. He managed to restrain it for about five minutes until passers-by helped hold down the animal before police were called.

He added: “It set on me like it was going to rip my throat out. I grabbed it by the neck and restrained it, but if I hadn’t known how to deal with these dogs then I would have been killed.

“The sentence handed down is outrageous. It’s like if you shot me, and the courts told you you were able to keep the gun afterwards.”

He spent two nights in hospital needing reconstructive surgery to piece together his arms. He suffered severe muscle damage.

Mr Benson said he has been left mentally scarred by the episode, and regularly has nightmares.

Hart was sentenced by Basildon magistrates last week after admitting owning a dog which was out of control and dangerous in public, and causing injury.

He was allowed to keep the dog, as long as the house it is kept in is locked, and as long as he ensured the animal was muzzled and leashed at all times in public.

The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment on the sentence.

(Echo - Feb 14, 2014)

West Fork Man Shoots Neighbor’s Dog In Head, Gets Probation

ARKANSAS -- A West Fork man was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to shooting his neighbor’s dog in the head with an air rifle, according to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Michael Allen Parks, 52, was sentenced in Washington County Circuit Court to one year of probation and 30 days of community service. He was also fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs in the case, said deputy prosecutor Denis Dean.

Parks reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which his initial charges, felony aggravated cruelty to a dog and misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, were reduced to a charge of misdemeanor cruelty to an animal, Dean said.

The suspect was arrested last summer after his neighbor told police Parks shot her Redbone hound named Lucy in the head with an air rifle after the dog ran onto his property

The neighbor said she was riding her horse near Parks’ property when her dog ran past an invisible barrier separating her property from Parks’. Lucy the dog ran up to Parks’ fence, after which Parks went into his home and came out with an air rifle, reaching it over the fence and shooting the dog in the head, Dean said.

The dog was injured, but animal doctors were able to treat the bloody puncture wound and heal the dog, according to the prosecutor.

(5NewsOnline - Feb 28, 2014)

Woman, 23, killed kitten by cooking it in a microwave for five minutes 'because it attacked her pet goldfish'

UNITED KINGDOM -- A woman killed her kitten by cooking it in a microwave for five minutes, a court has heard.

Unemployed Laura Cunliffe, 23, from Hoyland near Barnsley, is said to have put four-month-old Mowgli in the microwave after it attacked her pet goldfish.

 

Cunliffe then set the controls to cook for five minutes - Barnsley Magistrates were told.

Remarkably, the black and white female was alive when Cunliffe finally removed it from the machine - but she died shortly afterwards.

Cunliffe pleaded guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was granted unconditional bail. She will be sentenced on March 13.

Brian Orsborn, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court that Cunliffe had had the kitten since it was a few weeks old.

He said: 'The kitten was in a distressed state when Miss Cunliffe took it out of the oven. She took the animals to a relative’s home.

'The kitten could not get its breath and died about ninety minutes later. Miss Cunliffe made arrangements for the body of the kitten to be taken away to be buried.

The dead animal and its burnt paws.

'The RSPCA became involved and was able to trace the man who carried out the burial.'

Mr Orsborn said that Cunliffe disclosed what she had done three days later when she was at Barnsley Hospital.

She said the kitten had attacked her goldfish.

After the hearing Lynsey Harris, RSPCA deputy chief inspector said: 'In the 13 years I have been in the job I have never dealt with a case like this before.

'It is particularly horrendous because of the period of suffering for the kitten which would have been awful.'

She said that the exposure to the radiation in the microwave would have cooked the animal’s internal organs.

She said: 'It is an horrific case in the fact that the death of the cat would have been prolonged and it is unimaginable what it would have gone through taking some time to die.



The kitten died around 90 minutes after
 it was put in the microwave by Cunliffe

'The main reason the RSPCA  took this case in order to achieve disqualifications in order to protect animals and prevent further suffer in the future.'

Alan Greaves, defending said Cunliffe’s problems included psychosis and depression.

He said Cunliffe had been sectioned under mental health legislation several times.

(Daily Mail - Feb 21, 2014)