Rhode Island: Rescued Smithfield dogs waiting for court decision; Michael Williams and Michael Ramos each charged with 25 counts of Animal Cruelty

RHODE ISLAND -- The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is reporting that the English Bulldogs and French bulldogs rescued on March 20 from a Smithfield home at 189 Pleasant View Ave. are not available for adoption or foster care due to pending court proceedings.

 

 

The rescued animals included more than 25 dogs and puppies, more than 100 snakes, and rats. They are all in the custody of Smithfield Animal Control and shelters in North Providence and Burrillville.

Thomas Taylor, Smithfield Animal Control Warden, said the local shelter took in a total of eight dogs, four of which are puppies. The RISPCA took in four pregnant females, according to Taylor, because they have more resources to care for the dogs.

 

 

 

Until a decision is made in the case, the dogs will remain in the custody of animal control and the RISPCA, but Taylor said he hopes ownership of the animals is relinquished and the pups can go to proper, caring homes.

“We’re going to wait it out, it all depends on the judges and what they decided. We’ll see if a judge can get them to hand them over,” Taylor said.

 

 

Two arrests were made in the case, charging Michael Williams (aka Mike Williams, Omar Williams) and Michael Ramos (aka Noel Ramos, Mike Ramos) each with 25 counts of unnecessary cruelty to animals and conspiracy, according to Taylor. Reports that the dogs were standing in their own waste were made following the rescue, and the house was condemned.

Taylor refers to the specialized breed as “Little Bulldozers,” and said each dog has a great temperament in spite of their history. He estimated the puppies would have sold for between $2,500 and $3,500.

 

 

Adoption applications are not being accepted at this time, but Taylor said calls inquiring for the pups have not stopped since the arrests. He said until a decision is made, he can’t hold the dogs for adoption either.

Thankfully, he said, the community supported the shelter, and food and monetary donations have not stopped. He asked that any checks be made out to the RISPCA, as they are handling the costs of any veterinary services the animals receive.

“We’re all working together, all the local shelters are working together on this one,” he said.

He said a situation such as this brings out the best in the community, and the shelter is in good shape when it comes to collars and leashes.

Smithfield held an emergency animal shelter supply drive last Saturday, March 24, collecting cleaning supplies, pet food, dog shampoo, leashes, and collars. Taylor said the community “really helped us out,” and it was a great effort.

 

 

(Valley Breeze - March 28, 2018)

Earlier:

• Rhode Island: Animal control removes dogs, rats and snakes from Smithfield home
• Rhode Island: Animal cruelty suspect Michael Williams was already on probation for animal cruelty

Rhode Island: Animal cruelty suspect Michael Williams was already on probation for animal cruelty

SMITHFIELD, RHODE ISLAND -- One of two men charged with keeping more than two dozen dogs in squalid conditions at a Smithfield home faced a judge Thursday.

Michael Williams (aka Mike Williams, Omar Williams), 34, was arraigned on 25 counts of animal cruelty but the judge said the lead charge against him was growing marijuana with an expired permit.

He was ordered held without bail for violating the terms of his probation, which stemmed from a similar arrest last year.

Investigators on Tuesday removed 25 dogs, mainly English Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, from Williams' home at 189 Pleasant View Avenue.

The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) said it was alerted to the situation by a delivery person. Smithfield police said there was a strong smell of feces and urine upon entering the home.

In addition, dozens of rare snakes and more than 300 rats were discovered in the basement of a shed on the property.

 

 

 

Williams was arrested last year on 11 counts of animal cruelty - about 30 dogs were seized at the time - but for some reason the prosecutor's office didn't bother to include "not to own animals" as part of his plea agreement so he wasn't barred from having animals.

And apparently they actually returned some of the seized dogs that he's accused of abusing.

Officials said some of the dogs removed on Tuesday were among the ones seized last year when Williams was charged with Animal Cruelty for the first time.

Investigators believe Williams was breeding the animals to sell. The dogs are now recovering at the RISPCA and various municipal shelters.

 

 

 

 

 

"We got an update in court that one of the dogs that's in the care of another agency is being brought in for surgery this morning, so they did have some pretty significant health issues," RISPCA Special Agent Earl Newman said.

Williams has so far relinquished the rights to four pets, according to Newman.

The second man arrested, Michael Ramos (aka Noel Ramos, Mike Ramos, Michael Noel Ramos), 35, was charged with 25 counts of animal cruelty as well as one count of conspiracy.

As a first offender, he posted bail and was released the night of his arrest. He's due back in court April 3 for arraignment.

 

 

 

(WPRI - March 22, 2018)

Earlier:

• Rhode Island: Animal control removes dogs, rats and snakes from Smithfield home

Washington DC: French Bulldog named Ralphie attacked by a Pit Bull

WASHINGTON DC -- GVW French Bulldogs posted on Facebook December 17, 2017 ·

one of my pups was attacked by a pit bull tonight.

Poor Ralphie, look at that cute face

the pit was just adopted to a guy that was going to give the dog to his mother. the rescue group stated the dog was good with cat and dogs. the new owner had him for one day.

Ralphie is at the vets now. the pit had his whole head in his mouth. we're waiting for an update from owner.

so...these are the new rules for GVW....if you plan on taking one of my pups/dogs to a dog park, you will NOT be allowed to adopt one of my dogs......period.

GVW French Bulldogs posted December 18 at 10:52am ·
Kalli's report on Ralphie this morning......He is doing well, licking more and drinking water and eating some cottage cheese with raw turkey mixed in. Still slow and medicated but resting lots and still has an appetite

    

  

Indiana: Accused hoarder / puppy mill operator Steve Rajcinoski relinquishes rights to disputed dogs in animal cruelty case

INDIANA -- Steve Rajcinoski, the 36-year-old Crown Point man accused in May of running a dangerous dog-breeding operation, agreed at a court hearing Thursday to relinquish his rights to all the animals seized during a police raid earlier this year at his property in Center Township.

Judge Diane Boswell also ruled at the hearing that a trial for the defendant would be held in Lake County, despite the defense's claims the court would be unable to impanel an unbiased jury.

Bob Persin, a deputy prosecuting attorney, told the judge the state has offered a plea agreement to Rajcinoski, but it had not been accepted.

Rajcinoski was charged in June with 11 felony counts of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, as well as dozens more animal-related misdemeanor offenses, after a raid by the Lake County Sheriff's Department at the defendant's property in the 5900 block of West 125th Avenue.

The sheriff's department seized 72 animals from his property, as well as a number of peacocks and chickens, on allegations Rajcinoski allowed the animals to live in filthy conditions. The department further claimed Rajcinoski performed unlicensed surgery on the animals.

 

Rajcinoski previously reached an agreement with the state to relinquish his rights to 68 of the seized animals — 64 dogs, three goats and a miniature horse — and he would post bond for the remaining nine dogs.

David Rooda, another deputy prosecuting attorney, said Thursday at the court hearing the defendant had not paid the $2,700 per month bond required to secure the nine animals.

Rajcinoski spoke with his attorneys, J. Michael Woods and Paul Stracci, and afterward told the judge he would relinquish his rights to the dogs.

The attorneys also argued on a motion by the defense to move the jury trial for Rajcinoski outside the county.

Woods argued law enforcement made improper statements about the defendant before charges were filed, and those statements were embellished and shared on social media, causing the community to become unfairly biased against the defendant.

He said that bias was evident in the flood of angry phone calls and social media messages received by the court's judges, three of whom recused themselves because of the uninvited communications.

 

Boswell agreed there were residents who were “boisterous and determined” in their opinions about the case, “but that doesn't mean we cannot find 14 impartial jurors.”

The judge said she had not received any communications about the case, and she guaranteed there would be no protesters in her courtroom.

A new hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

 

(NWI Times - September 1, 2017)

Earlier:

• Indiana: Sheriff's police seize 68 dogs from Steve Rajcinoski's home in Center Township
• Indiana: Alleged puppy mill operator / dog hoarder Steve Rajcinoski faces mutilation charges
• Indiana: Public furor causes judge to recuse from animal abuse case against Steve Rajcinoski
• Indiana: Steve Rajcinoski, accused of breeding and performing surgery on the dogs, seeks trial outside Lake County

Canada: Despite being found guilty, Marina Palakartcheva refuses to accept she killed her dog after leaving him in her hot car. She claims someone poisoned him - even though a vet testified she cooked him to death.

CANADA -- A Montreal-area woman found guilty of animal cruelty last month after leaving her dog in a car on a summer day six years ago says she doesn’t believe it was the heat that killed him.

Marina Palakartcheva says she left her dog Ares in her vehicle with a window cracked for what she claims she expected would be 20-minute trip into a pharmacy with her boyfriend and son, on July 3, 2011.

 

 

Palakartcheva said she had tried to give Ares some water before she left, but that he had refused.

Palakartcheva says the trip into the pharmacy and another store ended up being longer than expected, in part because her young son needed a bathroom break.
When she returned to her vehicle, police had broken the glass.

You can't go in and pick up a prescription, walk to the checkout, stand in line, pay for it, walk to the 2nd store, go in, get whatever it is you need, stand in line, pay for it and be back to the car within 20 minutes. 

Areas was taken to a veterinarian and died less than 24 hours later.

Palakartcheva says the police told her the dog was “not okay because of the heat,” but she didn’t believe that was the case.

She says she had left Ares in the car before without any problems and it was evening, as opposed to mid-day.

“I didn’t leave him long enough under the sun for him to be able to develop this condition,” she said.

Marina's dog is inside her car, dying

A police officer testified at the trial that the dog had been as hot as a stove top.

The veterinarian who treated Ares told the court that he was essentially cooked to death.

Montreal veterinarian Enid Stiles said that, even with windows open, a car’s interior can quickly become dangerously hot for pets.

“It’s really like an oven in a car,” she said.

Stiles added that dogs that have “squishy” faces – such as bulldogs, boxers and some terriers – have short noses and wide palates that may make them extra sensitive to warm conditions.

SHE CLAIMS SOMEONE DELIBERATELY POISONED HER DOG.

Palakartcheva says Ares had been vomiting earlier on the day in question and she theorizes he may have been poisoned.

“There are people that hate dogs,” she said. “For me, he got poisoned. When I put all the puzzle together, the vomiting, no food, no water, then fever, we go straight to the point.”

Palakartcheva faces a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and 18 months in jail. She said she plans to appeal her conviction.

“There are a lot of cruel people,” she said. “But I am not among them … this dog was raised like my son.”

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(CTV News CA - July 9, 2017)