Australia / New Zealand: 'I saw a bloodied crate and my dog soaked in blood': Pet transport company slammed after bulldog DIES and golden retriever tears toenails off in horrifying flights

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND -- An animal transportation company is under fire after one dog died and another ripped its own toenails out during flights.

Jetpets prides itself on transporting pets 'safely and comfortably' on its website, but devastated pet owner Anne Rewai said she was shattered to learn her beloved bulldog, Nui, died during a flight from Western Australia to New Zealand on Friday.

'I am deeply distraught & utterly disappointed in the way Melbourne office have handled this whole affair,' she wrote on the Jetpets Facebook page – which has since been removed.

Jetpets spokeswoman Janine Janides told Daily Mail Australia that initial findings indicate Nui passed from natural causes and the final post mortem results will be available in coming days.

'Jetpets feel the pain at the loss and commiserate with the family,' said Ms Janides in a statement.

A second incident involving a golden retriever named Calvin was shared on Facebook after the dog was transported from Melbourne to Brisbane on Friday.

'I got a call from Jetpets yesterday when I was on my way to the airport. They said Calvin became agitated during the flight, lost a few toenails and a lot of blood. I expected the worst when I reached Qantas freight. What I saw was a bloodied crate, my dog stressed out and soaked in blood.

 

 

'It was meant to be a day of great joy. After I spent a fortune to bring him over, finally I would get to meet him. It was the day I had been dreaming about, but it turned out to be a day I cried my eyes out. I can't imagine the amount of pain Calvin went through,' wrote Arjun Sivadasan.

Ms Janides said Calvin appeared comfortable and relaxed prior to boarding the flight, but upon his arrival Jetpet was notified of his injuries and contacted Calvin's owners 'straight away'.

Calvin's owner Mr Sivadasan disputes this and told The West Australian that it took 48 hours for Jetpets to check on Calvin after the flight.

 

He said Jetpets told him the company 'was not fully functional on weekends' so there was no company representative available to check on Calvin following the flight.

'If they are flying pets on weekends they have to take full responsibility…What ticks me off is they're not looking to find out what went wrong and accept accountability,' said Mr Sivadasan.

He said Calvin has traveled extensively with him around the world with other pet transport company's who provide regular updates and would give Calvin exercise before a flight to ensure he was calm.

Jetpets spokeswoman Ms Janides said in a statement that the company takes pride in the service it provides and they do their 'utmost to provide a positive experience for both the travelling pet and its owner'.

'Of course are very upset that this was not the case for Calvin and his owners.'

(Daily Mail - Feb 1, 2016)

Texas: Raymond Hall charged with animal cruelty, dragged puppy say police

TEXAS -- A man in Galveston County, Texas was arrested this week for torturing a puppy.

The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office says Raymond Roy Hall drove down the road with a puppy tied to the back of his truck.

Someone saw the incident happen in November and called police.

Witnesses told Animal Control the dog was freed when his collar broke.

The six-month-old puppy was in a lot of pain. Arlo’s skin and tissue were torn and some of his muscles and bones were exposed.

 

 

 

“It was pretty horrific,” said Anna Barbosa with Houston K-911 Rescue. “You could tell he was pretty much shut down and he was in a lot of pain.”

Arlo spent a few weeks in the ICU.

 

 

Since then he’s been with a foster home in the care of Houston K-911 Rescue.

With a lot of love and care, Arlo’s on the road to recovery.

“He’s doing great,” said Barbosa. “Arlo is a phenomenal dog, he never gave up. It was two months of 24-hour care. Now, his bandages are coming off and he just has a few left. He’s very happy and healthy.”Hall is charged with felony animal cruelty and torture.

His bond was set at $20,000

Arlo is available for adoption.

The fundraising site set up for Arlo has raised more than $17,000 for his care. 

(WGN - Dec 28, 2016)

Earlier:

• Texas: Australian Cattle Dog puppy tied to truck and dragged

North Carolina: Daisy the English Bulldog recovering at home

NORTH CAROLINA -- Daisy, the English bulldog who was stabbed several times during an attack last week, now is eating and recovering in a new home.

According to the sheriff's office, Brett Kozlowski has turned over ownership of Daisy to his ex-wife Sheila Kozlowski, who will be responsible for all of her medical-related bills.

Note: There was a GoFundMe link in this article, but it's no longer there. Maybe they reached their goal for fund-raising?

New Hanover County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 1500 block of Welch Way on Feb. 9 after receiving a call for a domestic disturbance.

Brett Kozlowski was then taken to jail where he later bonded out. Kozlowski was escorted back to the house by deputies to gather his belongings.

According to Lt. Jerry Brewer with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Deputy J. Gonnelli was called back to the residence around 10:30 p.m. to a call of cruelty to animals.

Lorraine Villanueva, 35, allegedly attacked Daisy and a female pit bull, stabbing them repeatedly during a domestic-related incident.

During the attack, the first deputy on scene dealt with Villanueva while Deputy Gonnelli comforted Daisy, covered her wounds and held her down.

She is now facing two felony cruelty to animal charges. Which is added to a long list of convictions she has already faced, such as larceny, breaking and entering and possession of firearm by a felon.

"I've never seen this form of animal cruelty since I've been here in 21 years," said Judy Evonko with the New Hanover County Animal Services Unit.

Dr. Kate Nooner, professor of Physcology at UNCW studies trauma, says she finds Daisy's case to be particularly disturbing.

"Stabbing an animal and particularly doing it multiple times, is exceptional in terms of animal abuse," Nooner explained. "And exceptional in a bad way."

"It's being handled criminally," Evonko said. "So when we responded, we made sure the animal was taken to the vet."

Look at all the stitches

Animal Services Unit and Brett Kozlowski rushed Daisy to the animal trauma center where surgery was performed.

The pit bull did not survive the attack. Its body was later discovered wrapped in a blanket in a creek.

Deputy Gonnelli testified before the magistrate to raise the bond for Villanueva from $10,000 to $100,000 for not only attempting to kill Daisy, but for also killing her roommate's pit bull Jane.

Brewer said vet officials had to put 15 stitches in Daisy's neck during surgery.

The Sheriff's Office released a statement:
OK so here is the whole story for the felony cruelty against animals, on Tuesday the sheriffs office responded to 1505 Welch Way for domestic disturbance.

Brett Kozlowski was arrested for assault on a female, he was taken to jail where he later bonded out. Deputies were called to escort him back to the house to get his belongings. Master Deputy Gonnelli was one of the deputies standing by while he got his belongings. This is when Deputy Gonnelli first met Daisy.

Daisy unfortunately is deaf, but does understand sign language. Deputy Gonnelli instantly connected with Daisy and began petting her waiting for Brett to get his belongings. Shortly thereafter Deputy Gonnelli left the residence and continued on with this tour of duty.

Deputy Gonnelli was called back out to the residence at approximately 10:30 pm for a call of cruelty to animals.  Once Deputy Gonnelli arrived on scene he witnessed the first Deputy placing Lorraine Villanueva into custody and Daisy on the floor bleeding badly from a laceration to the neck and puncture wounds. Deputy Gonnelli quickly closed the wound with his hands and calmed her until Animal Services Unit and the owner Brett arrived to rush her to the animal trauma center.

Deputy Gonnelli then went to the detention center to testify before the magistrate to raise the bond for Villanueva from $10,000 to $100,000 secure for not only attempting to kill Daisy but for also killing her roommate's female pit bull Jane. 

Deputy Gonnelli followed up the next day with the Doctor who treated Daisy, she stated Daisy wasn't out of the woods yet. Today Deputy Gonnelli contacted the hospital and got the update he needed about Daisy which is below.

Felony Cruelty to Animals that occurred on Welch Way earlier in the week. “Daisy” the English Bulldog that had her throat cut and had been stabbed has survived surgery and is recovering. She is drinking water, but not yet eating. She is also walking around and eager for physical contact. Master Deputy J. Gonnelli went for a visit to see her today and was able to get a fan picture with Daisy.

Daisy had approximately 15 sutures placed in her neck from the incident, is taking antibiotics and will be in the excellent care of the Animal Trauma Center, at minimum, through the weekend.

(WECT - Feb 19, 2016)

Earlier:

• North Carolina: Police say Lorraine Villanueva stabbed dog over 100 times
• North Carolina: Dog owner speaks out after horrific crimes allegedly committed by Lorraine Villanueva

California: Jorge Ramos, 22, gets probation after beating his puppy with a rock until he killed her then dumping her body into the trash

CALIFORNIA -- A former Pacific Beach man with schizophrenia who abused and beat his small puppy to death was sentenced Feb. 26 to a suspended one year jail term with probation conditions while he lives with his parents in South Gate in Los Angeles County.

Some former neighbors of Jorge Ramos, 22, spoke to San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch about their concerns that he not return to the apartment complex where he lived in Pacific Beach.

“The neighbors were horrified. The puppy cried out in pain for an hour (before he finally killed her),” said a woman named Janice. “Ramos did not show mercy on behalf of his puppy; mercy should not be shown to him.”

Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy said a restraining order blocked Ramos from returning to the apartment complex and his belongings were moved out by someone else as he relocated to his parents’ home.

“This is a case the Pacific Beach community did care about as it happened in public,” said Reedy, showing the judge a stack of 25 to 30 letters written to her office.

Ramos was seen hunched over hitting something with a rock. Tragically, by the time the witness realized it was a small black puppy, it was too late; Ramos picked the lifeless animal up by its tail and tossed it into the dumpster.

When the neighbor approached him and asked him why he killed the puppy, Ramos stated the puppy had cancer. He then reached in and pulled the dead puppy out of the trash.

When police arrived, Ramos said the "spirits" commanded him to kill the pup.

Investigators found that the pit bull puppy named Luna, had been beaten and  killed with a rock and her small body was abandoned in a dumpster on Oct. 20 in an alley near Oliver Avenue and Jewel Street. Ramos pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty. 

Ramos’ attorney, Danaly Barajas, told the judge he suffers from schizophrenia and hears voices. “Being off his medication led to this incident, this case,” she said.

Ramos is now enrolled in college while with his parents in Los Angeles County and is also working, said Barajas. “This is never going to happen again,” she said. She said he is seeing a psychiatrist regularly.

Groch ordered Ramos not to drink alcohol or possess it during his five year probation time. He was barred from possessing or owning any animals. “Not even a goldfish,” said Groch, who asked Ramos if his parents had pets.

“We don’t have any pets,” said Ramos.

Groch ordered Ramos to pay restitution to the county animal services department and he received credit for spending 68 days in jail.

(San Diego Community News Group - Feb 29, 2016)

Arkansas: Pit Bull Mauls Horses and Cat at Cabot Training Center Before Being Shot and Killed

ARKANSAS --  A pit bull attack almost turned deadly for two horses at Roman's Training Center in Cabot.

Trainer June Roman said a pit bull came out of the woods Sunday and attacked two of her American Paints, Porche and Flashy.

"No provocation whatsoever," Roman said. "Just murder on his mind. He was ripping Flashy's nose and leg off."

 

 

 

"She [Porche] was covered in blood on her legs, her face, chunks hanging off," said Dana Bailey, Porche's owner. "I was just crying because I have the horse gene and she's my baby."

After the horses stomped the pit bull, Roman said a Pulaski County deputy contained him.

"The dog then jumped up, grabbed a cat and the deputy shot him," Roman said. "The dog ran off and eventually they followed the blood trail across the highway and someone else had shot and killed him."

 

 

Porche and Flashy spent the next three days in a vet clinic. Roman said each owner is facing at least a $2,500 medical bill.

"Someone needs to be responsible for this," she said.

"It was an irresponsible dog owner that led to my poor horse getting attacked," Bailey said.

While they try to track down the pit bull's owner based on the information on his dog tags, Porche and Flashy were able to return home Thursday.

"The second she saw me she nickered and it made me tear up a little bit like, 'Mom, pick me up, bring me home,'" Bailey said. "Their injuries look amazing compared to what they looked like Sunday."

 

 

Roman expects the horses to recover in several weeks and plans on purchasing a donkey to help protect them and the other animals. She said they are known to get rid of predators.

"This probably won't happen ever again," Roman said. "And it hasn't happened in the 30 years I've been a trainer here. The vet told us even coyotes or wolves would not have done this."

(KARK - ‎Feb 26, 2016‎)

United Kingdom: Spaniel found lying on roadside ‘crying’ over bag of dead puppies

UNITED KINGDOM -- A spaniel has been found dumped on a roadside with her head resting on a plastic fish and chip bag full of her dead puppies.

The dog, who appeared to have ‘tears in her eyes’, was seen licking the dead creatures to try and gently nuzzle them awake on the roadside in Midville, Lincolnshire

The mother and her pups were found by cyclist Paul Skinner, who described the scene as ‘heartbreaking’ and said the dog appeared to be weeping over her loss.

‘I was out cycling with my friend at the time,’ said the 58-year-old Tory councillor for Boston Borough Council. ‘We spotted on the verge something that looked like a dead bird, but as we passed it it moved.

‘It was a small spaniel without a collar. We looked around in case anyone was in trouble. It was set back quite a long way from the road.

‘The dog was on its own, sitting licking the contents of a fish and chips carrier bag. The bag contained four dead pups. It was heartbreaking. She had tears in her eyes. I could not believe anybody could be so devoid of humanity to do something like this.’

Paul alerted police, the RSPCA and a local greyhound sanctuary, which came to rescue the distraught animal.

The kennel manager Mick Fern, who is also a PCSO, of the Fen bank Greyhound Sanctuary tried to resuscitate the spaniel-cross puppies but to no avail.

‘The vet thinks they were born alive and may have been born that morning, or in the early hours, and they may have been alive when they were left there. Sometimes a puppy can give the appearance of being dead, but can be revived if you can warm them up. Their mother was staying with them, come what may. It was a very sad scene.’

The mother dog was found to be around three years old and was named ‘Carly’ by the RSPCA.
A microchip was found but could only be traced back to the original breeder.

Inspector Becky Harper said: ‘It is a terribly upsetting incident. It looks like this little dog has been cruelly dumped along with her newborn pups.

‘We don’t know whether the puppies were stillborn or whether they died because of the cold. We would like to thank the cyclist who found the dog and raised the alarm and to Fen Bank Greyhound Sanctuary who got her to the vets.

‘Fortunately Carly appears to be in good health and she is now being well looked after. We are appealing to anyone who might know more about how Carly came to be abandoned in this way or where she has come from.

‘We want to hear from anyone who recognises Carly or the fish and chip shop bag the puppies were in, it is quite distinctive. All of the information we receive we treat in the strictest of confidence and we would encourage anyone who might know anything to please come forward.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.

(Metro UK - Feb 24, 2016)

New York: Joselina Brucelis, 33, convicted of animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- A jury found on Monday that a Middletown woman left a pit bull terrier tied up in her basement with little food, no water and a too-tight collar, officials said.

Joselina Brucelis, 33, was convicted in Middletown City Court of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor; and failure to license a dog, a city code violation.

She faces up to a year in Orange County Jail when she's sentenced on April 13, and she'll be added to the Orange County Animal Abuser Registry.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said Brucelis brought the 2-year-old male pit bull, Shadow, into her house in September 2014. Brucelis left the dog tied to a pole in the basement, wearing a collar that was so tight that it embedded in the dog's neck. The collar cut into the dog's skin, and caused severe swelling to the dog's head, neck and face.

Prosecutors said Brucelis left the dog with no water, and provided it with only corn flakes to eat.

In October 2014, a roommate called Middletown Animal Control to report the abuse. Middletown police investigated, leading to the arrest.

District Attorney David Hoovler said his office takes animal abuse cases seriously.

"When we share our lives with animals, we owe those animals a special duty of care," said Hoovler. "We take on the responsibility to feed them, water them, and ensure that they get adequate veterinary care."

(Times Herald-Record - ‎Feb 29, 2016)

North Carolina: Jamie Parris, 25, and Ronald Lyons, 24, accused of starving puppies go before a judge

NORTH CAROLINA -- Two Havelock men went before a judge Monday morning after police found five dead and dying puppies in a locked shed at their home.

Jamie Parris, 25, and Ronald Lyons, 24, have both been charged with five counts of felony animal cruelty resulting in death. Authorities say the puppies starved to death.

Cherry Point says Parris is a corporal, assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 252.

Havelock Police Chief David Magnusson said that police received an anonymous tip about the possible neglect of the dogs. Havelock Animal Control offices and police investigators went to the residence and found five 2-1/2 month-old Husky mix puppies locked in a shed behind the residence.

“They were all dead,” Magnusson said. (Another article says that three puppies were dead and two others were nearly dead and had to be euthanized)

Magnusson said the puppies had been in the shed for a couple of days and obviously had not been checked on.

“It is what it is, just a horrible case of animal cruelty and just a total lack of concern for something living,” Magnusson said. “To lock them up in there without food or water and with a heat lamp on, I trust that was because of the cold nights to keep them warm, but then you’re not checking on them and you’re not feeding them or giving them water - it’s horrible.”

The judge told the two that if convicted the maximum they face is 39 months in prison.

Monday afternoon, Havelock police say the men voluntarily turned in to animal control the remaining dogs that lived at the house

Both men were released on $25,000 bonds.

(WITN - Feb 29, 2016)

Earlier:

• North Carolina: Two Havelock men Jamie Parris, 25, and Ronald Lyons, 24, charged with animal cruelty after dying puppies found locked in shed

Indiana: Abandoned, dead dogs lead to cruelty charges against William Brandenburg, 26, and Jessica Brandenburg, 19

INDIANA -- The discovery of two abandoned dogs – one malnourished and the other dead – found chained outside a mobile home has resulted in criminal charges against a Winchester couple.

William Brandenburg, 26, and Jessica Brandenburg, 19, are each charged with cruelty to an animal, a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to a year in jail.

According to court documents filed by Randolph County Prosecutor David Daly’s office, a sheriff’s deputy was sent to a mobile home in the 1600 block of West Ind. 32 on Jan. 25 after receiving a report of abandoned dogs there.

Deputy Jerry Hammons reported one dog was found secured to a tree with a “cable lead line,” and had no access to food or water.

Another dog was found dead “under a makeshift shelter” that was full of trash and debris, the deputy wrote. That animal’s “skeletal structure was visible throughout the whole body,” he added, and there was was no food or water nearby.

The dead animal was also on a wire lead.

In another report, animal control officer Joe Sheets wrote that the surviving dog’s choker chain had “dug into the animal’s neck,” causing scarring and hair loss.

Taken to the Winchester Animal Shelter,  the canine was given buckets of water and food, and “attempted to devour both buckets,” Sheets added.

The property’s landlord identified the Brandenburgs as the most recent occupants of the mobile home. She reported no one had been seen there for about two weeks.

Initial hearings in the animal cruelty cases are set for March 16 in Randolph Superior Court.

William Brandenburg is set to stand trial in the same court March 18 on a domestic battery charge filed last June.

(The Star Press - Feb 24, 2016)

Massachusetts: Repeat offender Truro rabbit farmer Kenneth Abert admits to animal cruelty; gets just one year of probation

MASSACHUSETTS -- A Provincetown man who raised rabbits for sale as meat or fur was placed on probation for one year after admitting sufficient facts Wednesday in Orleans District Court to a charge of animal cruelty.

As part of that plea deal, Kenneth Abert, 56, also was ordered not to possess rabbits and to have no involvement in the sale of rabbits or their meat.

After receiving a report from an officer with the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who had been unsuccessful in getting Abert and property owner Luther Bumps to improve living conditions for a horse and eight rabbits, Truro Animal Control Officer Suzanne Trasavage and police Officer Thomas Roda visited Bumps' home on Bayview Drive in North Truro in August.

In her report, Trasavage described being overcome by the smell of urine and said the rabbits were sitting in their own feces in stacked cages in a basement with no ventilation. Their food was moldy and some of the rabbits did not have water. The horse had no covered shelter and its water trough was covered in algae.

Abert previously had been ordered to shut down a similar operation in Provincetown, where he was found to have kept more than 50 meat rabbits to be slaughtered and sold to local restaurants. He also had as many as 10 Angora rabbits bred for their fur. Provincetown officials found the living conditions at the Race Point Road property similar to those in North Truro.

Abert did not have a permit to raise rabbits and neither did the slaughterhouse he used, according to court documents.

As part of the plea deal, a charge of obstruction of an animal inspection was dropped.

Bumps is due back in court March 25 for a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence on a charge of animal cruelty.

The eight rabbits turned over from the Truro operation were placed at the MSPCA Cape Cod shelter in Centerville or the Animal Rescue League of Boston's shelter in Brewster. All have since been adopted, shelter spokesmen said Wednesday.

(Cape Cod Times - Feb 24, 2016)

Earlier:

• Truro rabbit farmer, Kenneth Abert, 56, charged with animal cruelty has been investigated before
• Rabbits seized in Truro animal cruelty case up for adoption

Louisiana: Dog deemed a hero after finding missing toddler

LOUISIANA -- A mother and a community is resting easy just days after a missing boy was found safe. The remarkable rescue is all thanks to an unlikely hero.

You can't miss three-year-old Eli Alcock. Even in a crowd… his little voice sticks out.

It's a sound his mother Lindsy thought she'd never hear again after he went missing Tuesday night.

"Imagining never seeing him again...never hearing him again. Just the reality of what was happening...I mean it was hard," she said.

Drowning in fear and desperate for help Alcock turned to the community.

"That's when we kind of started freaking out and called the sheriff's department and got on Facebook and asked people to come and help and look," she added.

Doug Downs said he wasn't far from home when he got a call asking him to step in.

"And asked me if Honey who is, you know, she's been tracking deer with her for three years asked me if she would do anything," Downs said.

With her keen sense of smell his hunting dog Honey has quite the reputation. Though Downs admits the idea was a long shot, he dropped everything. He and Honey were determined to help any way they could.

"The pressure was on because you're asked to come do something that you've never done before," Downs said.

After hours of searching finally came the moment the mother and the community had been praying for. Little Eli was found safe in the woods.

"Of course I was ecstatic,” Alcock said. “I was thanking God and it was so amazing...everybody was hugging.”

Downs, a local pastor, believes it was more than just luck on their side.

 

“The good Lord was watching over us that night,” Downs said. “He showed up and He showed out and He showed up through a four-legged dog and He showed us his power that night and that's really where all the credit it due."

Eli's mother says the toddler doesn't remember much about what happened that night but she does plan to tell him… when he's older… how Honey saved his life.

(KPLC - Feb 29, 2016)