New Mexico: Twila Williams, 49, accused of starving her animals to death

NEW MEXICO -- A Portales woman was arrested Wednesday in connection with an August incident in which one horse was found dead and seven other animals were found severely malnourished in Curry County.

Twila Williams, 49, was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center just before 3 p.m. Wednesday after she was arrested in Portales. She is charged with one count of extreme cruelty to animals.

Records did not address bond information and it wasn't clear why she was arrested Wednesday, more than six months after the animals were seized.

Court records stated that the warrant for Williams' arrest filed on Nov. 16 stems from an August incident in which Curry County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call of two horses that escaped their enclosures near U.S. 60-84.

Deputies arrived to find the two horses, as well as a "severely decomposed" paint stud horse in the back of the property, records show.

Four horses and three donkeys, as well as the deceased stud horse, were found, and the water tank on the property was empty. One and a half bales of hay were also found.

Upon filling the water tank, the horses began "drinking the very hot water and fighting over who got to drink," according to the arrest affidavit.

Deputies stated that the animals were removed from the county, but Williams was unable to be found at the time.

Records show that when the arrest warrant was filed in November, the New Mexico Livestock Board submitted the findings of an exam conducted on the animals after they were seized in August by state brand inspectors.

The paperwork stated that six out of the seven animals "are moderately to severely underweight as evidence by their body condition score."

The charge is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

(Eastern New Mexico News - March 9, 2018)

Alabama: Already on probation for animal cruelty, Melissa Pate and Daryl Pate charged again after starving, dead horses found

ALABAMA -- Daryl Shane Pate is now in custody according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

Pate was charged on Tuesday with two counts of cruelty to animals in addition to the seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty initially tied to the case.

Also, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Melissa Ann Pate. She and her husband, Daryl Shane Pate, face animal cruelty charges after dead and neglected horses were found in Tuscaloosa County.

  
Apparently they were both charged with Animal Cruelty back in July. If that's the case, why wasn't anyone monitoring them  - and their animals? Why were they even allowed to have animals?

ORIGINAL STORY:
Several dead horses were found on a Tuscaloosa County property over the weekend, and now an animal cruelty investigation is underway by the sheriff's office.

Tuscaloosa County deputies were called to Elrod Road Saturday after a complaint.

Authorities found several dead horses during the search, officials told CBS 42. Deputies said conditions were so poor that 9 horses and a miniature donkey had to be rescued.

The animals are now being cared for by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, according to spokesperson Jason Powell.

 

 

Daryl Shane Pate, 46, was charged with 6 counts of failure to bury livestock.

After additional investigation, deputies obtained 7 felony arrest warrants for aggravated animal cruelty. Pate is wanted by investigators on the new charges.

Neighbors shared photos with CBS 42 that appeared to show horses kept outside in a small round pen during the recent snow. One man posted photos of the animals to Facebook because he believed them to be malnourished. Other animals appeared to be dead.

"You could see there was two horses laying down there dead that I'd noticed," said Kendell Holman.

Hollman posted the images to Facebook in an effort to bring attention to the issue.

"I got a lot of backlash behind it, doing this whole, don't tell on anybody type of thing, but I mean this position what do you do?" Holman asked.

 

 

When officers responded to the complaint Saturday, Holman recorded officers searching the property and broadcasted what he saw on Facebook Live.

"I wanted to put it in the public's face so somebody had to do something about it," said Holman.

Holman said he and other neighbors have offered help to the property owner before, but did not have any luck.

"A lot of people asked and they tell you to mind your business. We've asked could we help them before, they tell you they don't need your help," said Holman.

Tuscaloosa County deputies said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible. It's unclear if anyone else who may have had contact with the animals is under investigation.

 

 

Holman is glad some of the horses were rescued. He hopes people will remember to care for livestock and other animals during the cold.

"It's sickening. I have animals, my animals I make sure they're inside at nighttime, daytime for that matter with it being cold like it is today. It's just sickening. I don't know how anybody could do it," said Holman.

Daryl Shane Pate is wanted by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office. If you see him, call your local law enforcement agency.

(WIAT - January 1, 2018)

Alabama: Daniel Bennett, 18, accused of raping horse multiple times

ALABAMA -- An Alabama man has been accused of repeatedly sexually molesting a horse in a barn stall.

Daniel Bennett, 18, allegedly told Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigators he attempted to molest a horse.

The owner of the 20-year-old horse, named Polly, said she found Bennett in the barn after her dogs’ barking led her to the scene.

Owner Francine Janes and her husband, who was armed with a gun, found Bennett hiding in a barn stall, according to local reports.

Upon being found, Janes said he told her that “He likes horses. He wanted to pet the horse.”

Bennett was reportedly held at gunpoint by Janes' husband until police arrived.

Police reportedly discovered that Bennett had a trench coat with a burglar’s tool in it.

Janes doesn't believe this is the first time Bennett has abused her horse. 

She told investigators she found what she believes to be evidence in Polly’s stall around 10 times throughout the month of December.

"I would say seven maybe 10 times," Janes told WPMI. "Toilet paper had been left [behind]. The hay stacks had been removed. Items had been turned over. And that's as far as I want to go [in describing what I found]."

Bennett’s arrest warrant lists his crime of bestiality as a misdemeanor, claiming he "engaged in or submitted to any sexual contact with an animal, to-wit: a horse."

Bennett is scheduled to appear in court January 18.  It was unclear if he had a lawyer.

(Fox10 - January 10, 2018)

Michigan: Frankenmuth Carriage Company cleared by animal control after complaints of neglect

MICHIGAN -- Saginaw County animal control provided a clean bill of health for local horses after questions arose about their condition following social media posts.

The posts stemmed from a former employee of the Frankenmuth Carriage Company who expressed concern that, in her view, the horses were being mistreated.

TV5 was there on Friday when animal control inspected the horses. Officers concluded they found nothing wrong with the horses.

Animal Control Director Lisa Stoffel said she would document the case because of the recent public uproar.

Patience Atwood worked for the Frankenmuth Carriage Company from September 2016 through December 2016 and again from June 2017 through August 2017.

She took to Facebook on Dec. 28, 2017 with her allegations for how the company treated its horses. Her post garnered quite the reaction from the Mid-Michigan community, but has since been taken down.

 

 

Atwood insisted the horses were being overworked for their age during her first stint with the company. Her allegations were discredited by animal control on Friday.

She said she and her coworkers took their concerns to the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, but were told there was nothing that could be done.

Atwood said the worst problem she saw was cracked hooves on the horses, which she said is extremely painful for the horses to be on concrete all day.

*  *  *  *  *  *

At least four former employees at Frankenmuth Carriage Co. have made accusations, including one in a detailed Facebook post Thursday.

Gabrielle Ohearn is one of the former employees who worked there from August 2016 to October 2017. She claims the owner did nothing when employees voiced their concerns of abuse and neglect.

"Most of them are videos and pictures we had sent to the owner to tell her that they were lame or this was going on," Ohearn said while showing videos and pictures of the horses. "And, some were acknowledged and some were just blown off."

 

She alleges the horses have poor living conditions, cracked horseshoes and chronic pain.

Ohearn took a photo of a horse's hoof that appears to be missing about half of its shoe. Other photos show sores and cracks on the horses' hooves.

"Usually just whenever somebody threw a shoe she'd have to wait around and call a farrier, where most people, they're on a set schedule, usually 6-8 weeks depending on how fast the horse's hoof grows," she said. "But it depends on the individual horse."

*  *  *  *  *  *

The owner of the Frankenmuth Carriage Company, Katrina Canfield, said her horses are healthy and in good condition. She had animal control come out to verify her horses were in good condition, an assertion animal control confirmed on Friday.

I don't think this issue has been resolved. Animal Control officers have a certain specialized knowledge, but they are not experts in everything. 

Animal Control, to put this issue to rest, should have involved a veterinarian to examine each animal, find out their work schedule, rest schedule, speak with the veterinarians who treat and examine these animals, to determine if they are being overworked - or not. 

Note: I'm definitely NOT discounting the important job that animal control officers do, but I am saying there are limits to their knowledge and in a case like this, regarding a business that relies on a lot of tourism dollars, I think a licensed veterinarian needs to make the determination regarding the allegations since so many (at least four) former employees have spoken up. 

I also don't have a problem with animals being utilized for businesses like this - as long as the animals are properly being cared for. Most of them are, but there are cases in which owners are possibly having financial problems and so the animals get a bit less food, or the farrier comes less often, or the animals are working double shifts, etc. In those cases, it's neglectful but not necessarily criminal in which animals need to be seized. It may be that the animals are checked, the owner put on notice to properly care for the animals, and then everything is fine after that. If continued complaints come in, authorities have a paper trail to show a pattern of neglectful behavior... if it should come to the point of them charging the owner for criminal neglect.

Hopefully, with the attention brought to Frankenmuth Carriage Company, owner Katrina Canfield will ensure that her animals are well care for so that her business is seen as "one of the good ones". 

Is this the same Katrina Canfield of Frankenmuth,

Michigan, owner of Frankenmuth Carriage Company

(WNEM - Dec 29, 2017)

New York: Travis DeValinger arrested and charged with eight counts of Animal Cruelty, accused of starving his horses

NEW YORK -- Eight horses were removed from a local farm after police executed a search warrant there following several reports of animal cruelty.

Police responded to the Adirondack Equine Center at 776 County Route 18 in Lake Clear and checked the conditions of 40 horses there, State Police said.

"The horses were examined and scored by two local veterinarians using the Henneke scale," police said Thursday.

That scale "is a scientific method of evaluating a horse’s body condition regardless of breed, body type, sex or age," according to the Habitat For Horses website.

"When we first walked into the barn, we had five horses in that barn. One of them was very thin (and) had noticeable bone structure. It was an elderly horse, about 40 years old. Another horse was missing an eye," said New York State Police Trooper Wendy House. "He was blind in the other. There were two mini ponies in one stall. All the horses were standing in at least one week to two weeks' worth of feces. We did not observe any hay or grain in any of their stalls or water. Some (horses had) very little teeth and others with teeth that needed to be floated."

Officials made the gruesome discovery earlier this week after they said a 16-year-old girl tipped them off.

"She was familiar with the ranch and the horses. The condition of the horses was deemed criminal," House said.

A search warrant lead police to seize eight horses and arrest their owner Travis DeValinger. He was charged with eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.

ANIMAL CRUELTY

During the investigation, eight of the horses "were found to be emaciated and living in extremely poor conditions," police said.

State Police charged the horse owner, Travis S. DeValinger, 44, of Lake Clear, with eight counts of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, under State Agriculture and Markets Law.

He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Harrietstown Town Court on Monday, Dec. 18.

The Franklin and Essex county sheriff's offices and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals assisted State Police.

This case remains under investigation.

FIGHTING CHARGES

Reached by phone Thursday, Mr. DeValinger said he is going to fight the charges.

"The truth will come out," he said, [claiming] that he has cared for the horses and given them the best food possible, hay and water.

Joyce Mace, who runs Emerald Springs Ranch LLC in Saranac Lake, said you will not find a kinder, more gentle person than Mr. DeValinger.

"Even though he's our competition, I speak very highly of him," she said. "The things that are being said it's just — a lot of it is not true.

"He is a wonderful person who has defended everything that he comes in contact with, people or animals."

NUMEROUS NAMES FOR BUSINESS

State Police Troop B Public Information Officer Trooper Jennifer Fleishman said the Adirondack Equine Center operates under numerous names including:

ADK WildHorse Camp
XTC Ranch (Lake Placid)
Horse Camp for Girls
Lake Placid Horseback Riding
Saddleback Horse Camp (Lake Placid)
Lake Placid Sleigh Rides
Adirondack Equine Center
Adirondack Equine Center and Horse Rescue

Mr. DeValinger co-owns the business with his wife, Natalia B. DeValinger, 33, who resides in Lake Placid.

ASSAULT PLEA

Earlier this year, Mr. DeValinger faced charges of second-degree aggravated sexual assault, a felony, along with misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault and criminal obstruction of breathing out of Harrietstown Town Court, Clerk Sabrina Harrison said.

He later pleaded guilty to the assault charge and was sentenced to three years of probation, which he is accused of violating.

He is due back in court for that charge Jan. 8.

FORGERY, LARCENY

In January 2012, State Police charged Mr. DeValinger, then of Keeseville, with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, a felony, after an investigation allegedly revealed he had forged signatures on paperwork filed with a Champlain tractor-sales business, the Press-Republican reported then.

About four years earlier, when he was living in Saranac Lake, Village Police there charged him with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, for reportedly providing a check to a local bank when he didn't have the funds to cover it.

Police Log: Jan. 21, 2012 — Felony arrest
Press-Republican Jan 21, 2012
A Keeseville man faces a forgery charge.

Plattsburgh-based State Police received a forgery report at 3:12 p.m. on March 20.

As a result of a police investigation, Travis S. deValinger, 37, of Keeseville, was arrested at 9:48 a.m. Tuesday on Mace Chasm Road.

Police said the investigation involved forged signatures on paperwork filed with a local tractor sales business in Champlain, but the investigation is still ongoing.

DeValinger was charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

He was arraigned in Chesterfield Town Court and remanded to Essex County Jail on $10,000 cash bail.

He is due back in court on Jan. 23.

WIFE CHARGED

Mr. DeValinger's wife, Natalia DeValinger, now faces similar charges.

On Nov. 19, Mrs. DeValinger was charged with third-degree grand larceny after allegedly defrauding a Catskill man out of $10,047. He had booked a two-week-long camp experience at ADK WildHorse Camp but had canceled the trip and requested a refund, Fleishman said earlier.

Mrs. DeValinger reportedly failed to grant the refund and the camp continued to charge his credit card.

She was arraigned in Harrietstown Town Court and sent to Franklin County Jail on $8,000 cash bail/$16,000 bond, and was released two days later.

She is due back in court Monday, Dec. 11.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

(Press Republican - Dec 7, 2017)

Earlier:

• New York: Despite never even laying eyes on the skeletal horse, Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne and New York State Police Captain Brent Gillam refuse to charge owner with Animal Cruelty

Texas: Family seeks justice after their 5-year-old daughter's beloved miniature pony named Chicken Nugget found shot to death

TEXAS -- Five-year-old Rylee Brett loved Chicken Nugget, her 25-inch-tall dwarf pony. When she was little, she would ride him around like a rodeo horse. When she got too big, he would sit down with the family and watch TV, reported KPRC.

Then, on the morning of Nov. 8, the family went outside to check on him in a fenced-in pen and found him shot to death at close range, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Kylee Brett, Rylee’s mother, posted the news to Facebook in an emotional message.

“RIP Chicken Nugget. You now have your wings and are flying high,” she wrote. “My heart is absolutely shattered as I try to find the words. The way you were taken from us was an act of a coward. Our smiles will never be quite as big as we drive through the pasture to watch you play.”

She added that “whoever stepped foot on our property and point blank shot him in the face will pay.”

The Bretts called the police and game warden to their ranch home in Hull, Texas. On Facebook, Brett wrote she had no idea who could have done the killing, but had some ideas for how it could have happened.

“There is no mistaking that they did it out of hatred,” she told WVTM.

“One theory of ours is a poacher did this to him that was spotlighting...the problem is, you don't mistake him as a deer within such a short distance while being with 4 other horses,” she wrote. 

Spotlighting is a controversial hunting technique where hunters use bright lights to detect the reflection in an animal’s eyes at night and stun them, reported Lubbock Online.

Rylee’s mother wrote on Facebook that her daughter was “confused, sad, happy (when we talk about our sweet memories), mad, and devastated,” but that she had been encouraged by an overwhelming show of support from people across the country. “She still isn't understanding. Everyone's sweet messages and comments are truly making her see there is still so much good in the world!,” her mother wrote on Facebook.

The case truly has brought out prayers and well-wishes from people across the country. Brett’s original post has been shared more than 3,000 times, and in the comments, several people posted photos of their own ponies and horses and offered to send them to Rylee.

The family is still seeking answers in the case, and Rylee’s mother wrote on Facebook that police and the game warden told her they felt confident that Chicken Nugget’s shooting could be solved.

“Our hearts are broken,” she told KPRC. “Very broken, and we’ll always miss him, we’ll always have that piece of our heart that’s broken. But good memories always help the heart heal a little faster.”

*  *  *  *  *  *

Kylee Allen Brett added 5 new photos.
November 8 at 2:05pm ·
RIP Chicken Nugget. You now have your wings and are flying high. You will never be forgotten. You will forever be missed. My heart is absolutely shattered as I try to find the words. The way you were taken from us was an act of a coward. Our family will always be one member short now and coffee in the mornings just won't be the same. Our smiles will never be quite as big as we drive through the pasture to watch you play. The creek feeders will have more feed and the calves will be lonely. Your horse friends no longer have a pit boss to guide them to their stalls. My daughters no longer have their best friend. I no longer have you to talk to.

Please help me find the words to explain to Rylee. Please help me cope to the fact Steelie won't ever get to have the memories we have. Please god help me understand. Why him? Please please please tell me why? Please pray for our family right now. Please fill me with the wonderful memories you have with Chicken Nugget, as I know so many people loved him. I know my granddaddy is feeding him cubes and apples right now. They are both loving it! I'm sure my Papa will enjoy his new fishing partner. Lord knows Chicken loved to pester you and knock the fishing pole out of your hands. I need so many prayers right now. Please pray.

******On another note******** whoever stepped foot on our property and point blank shot him in the face will pay. We have the police and the game warden here and I will personally be waiting to meet you. There is a special place in hell for you and I'm not scared to give you a first class ticket you pos!

Kylee Allen Brett
November 9 at 7:50am ·
UPDATE ON CHICKEN NUGGET:
We have never been so overwhelmed with love and support from family, friends, and strangers. Rylee woke up this morning and ran straight outside to see if Chicken Nugget had come back home. We had to explain that Jesus needed him way more then us and he was staying with him. Rylee said, " why can't he just come back alive, doesn't he miss me momma?" It shattered my heart all over again. I would just like to personally thank everyone for the phone calls, text, and fb messages. Also, I would like to thank Channel 2 News for contacting me and airing our story to get justice. I am trying to respond to everyone as quick a possible. We still haven't heard anything back from the police or game warden.

We have no FACTS at this point, so it's just a waiting game. I personally was told they recovered the bullet, but was just informed there was an exit wound... so no bullet (they like to keep the gory details from me, and I prefer it that way). We have no idea who could have been on our property to commit this awful act. We do however have some theories of what could have possibly happened. None of them justify the fact a trespasser coming on to OUR land and murdering OUR beloved Chicken Nugget in a fenced off horse trap with 4 other horses. One theory of ours is a poacher did this to him that was spotlighting.... the problem is, you don't mistake him as a deer within such a short distance while being with 4 other horses!!!!!

I've gone from crying to mad to absolute basket case all within 24 hrs. Rylee is confused, sad, happy (when we talk about our sweet memories), mad, and devastated. She has been through more then most 5 year olds ever have. Please continue to pray for our family and especially Rylee Klare.

 

Vanessa Child shared Kylee Allen Brett's photo.
November 9 at 10:04pm ·
If this picture doesn't speak volumes
I don't know what will.
I honestly hope the person who intentionally killed this little girls miniature horse see's this because they are lower than scum.
I pray this low life pos is found and pays for taking chicken nugget away from the Brett family especially Rylee
Kylee Allen Brett you all have been heavy on my mind
I hope you guys get justice for him.
anyone in and around the hull texas area in Liberty county
keep your eyes and ears open.

Kylee Allen Brett
November 10 at 12:32pm ·
UPDATE 11/10/17: the sheriffs department just left the ranch. They truly were concerned about our issue and made me feel a little better after talking with them. They feel very confident in solving the death of Chicken Nugget.

Thank you Channel 2 News for pushing the story to get Justice. Thank you Fox 26 for airing the story and helping spread the word! Thank you Houston chronicle for sharing our story as well. Thank you to my Family and friends, words cannot come to my mind at the moment to express my love and thankfulness. Y'all really have got us through this. Thank you to the complete strangers that I now consider friends, that have reached out and blessed us with so many prayers and well wishes.

I am doing my very best to respond to all messages. I apologize if I haven't wrote you back yet, as you can see our family has been overwhelmed with so much love and support. Again, thank you all for everything! I will continue to update you on the situation as much as possible. Please continue to pray as we get justice for our sweet Chicken Nugget.
-Kylee Brett

Kylee Allen Brett posted on Facebook November 11, 2017 ·
PLEASE SHARE!
UPDATE ON CHICKEN NUGGET 11/11/17: no new news on the investigation, but some absolutely WONDERFUL news from supporters... Rylee was gifted Chicken Nuggets sister, from what was an absolute stranger to forever family friend now.

We were so reluctant to add another pony to our family at this time. So many people have asked me, "why wouldn't you just get her another pony and she can heal faster". I can quickly say Chicken Nugget WAS NOT A PONY. He was our child, Rylees brother, and a huge part of our family. He was the only ears that would listen to my Father in laws rambling and still continue to come back everyday to hear more. The cows breakfast/lunch/dinner partner. The horses pit boss. The one to put the biggest smile on your face in any kind of situation.

He was really so much more then just a pony. Since we were offered Chicken Nuggets sister, Rylee made the choice that she wanted her. I know so many kind and generous people have offered their own family pony, or to buy Rylee a pony, or donate money to get Rylee a new pony.

We are so grateful for the offers and know people truly care and love us. We do not want to profit off of any of this and hope people understand, we are not denying your help or trying to be disrespectful in declining your offer. The very sweet and generous gentleman that gifted Rylee with Chicken Nuggets sister set up a go fund me for the hauling and vet cost to get her to Rylee.

Any money that is made over the amount it cost to haul is being donated to SpiritHorse Liberty in Rylee and Chicken Nuggets name. This is a absolutely wonderful organization that has always has every bit of my respect and holds a special place in my heart. If you would like to contribute this is a legit go fund me page and i have shared it in my page for you to see.

We have been asked so many times now if JUSTICE FOR CHICKEN NUGGET shirts are being made. This really was no idea of mine, but brought up after a little joke was made... we are finding anything we can to smile right now. I guess people really want to get these made. I am going to talk to a family friend that makes shirts. How do y'all feel about the shirts if all proceeds also go to Spirit Horse in Liberty? I would love y'alls opinions and feedback on this.
Last but not least: I have had every emotion in the book. After the sheriffs department left yesterday they really made me feel more comfortable in finding the shooter. My feelings in this as of right now are:

You killed our beloved Chicken Nugget on OUR LAND!!!! So many people have asked us if it could possibly be a hunting accident. Well, when you trespassed and came on private property you can no longer call it an accident in my book. You invaded our horses home, our home, and my other family members home. There are many theories on how far the bullet traveled to reach Chicken Nugget. We have been told several things. Some say very close range some say 50/60 yards. Either way the distance of the bullet doesn't matter to me. The shooter disrespected my family and took a huge part of everyone's lives. Whoever did this shot right next to a place of residence and could obviously tell there was a home, barn, and pipe fence... it was not a wooded area. After they saw what they did they ran like the COWARD they are. This is my view on it and I want this person to pay!!!

Please continue to pray! If you know anything please contact the sheriffs department and help find justice for Chicken Nugget!

Help ship Rylee Brett new horse
Created November 10, 2017
Jeff Lisowski
  Animals
  BELEN, NM
$1,610 of $1,200 goal
Raised by 25 people in 1 day
Rylee Brett(age 5) lost her best friend to someone shooting him on the family's ranch in Texas. I have agreed to give Rylee a new miniature horse in order to give this poor child a new best friend.
We are looking for donations to help cover the cost of shipping and vet work needed to accomplish this.
Any amount you can help with would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

(The Sacramento Bee - Nov 10, 2017)