Indiana woman, Honey Toschlog, arrested on animal cruelty charge after dog stabbed during fight

INDIANA -- An Indiana woman was arrested on several charges, including animal cruelty, after stabbing a dog three times during a drunken brawl Monday night.

Honey Toschlog was arrested on preliminary charges of animal cruelty, public intoxication and domestic battery.

Officers with the Richmond Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call around 8 p.m. When they arrived to a house in the 400 block of South Sixth Street, they found several people who had been fighting.

Officers also located a dog that had several cuts and was bleeding. Police said the pet had been stabbed three times with a box cutter-style knife.

Three men were also arrested in connection with the incident. The dog’s owner, Brian Catron, was arrested on charges of public intoxication and domestic battery.

Charles Henemyre faces charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

A third man, Darren Boyce, was booked on charges of battery, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

Officials said the dog is recovering and resting comfortably at the Animal Care Alliance.

(WTTV - June 30, 2015)

Champaign woman, Kinny Redmon, facing jury trial after allegedly cooking puppy to death in oven

ILLINOIS -- A central Illinois woman who is facing animal cruelty charges will participate in the first trial in Champaign County history to have six people serving on the jury instead of 12.

According to our news partners at the Champaign News-Gazette, Kinny Redmon, 24, waived her right to a 12-person jury this week.  The use of six-person juries instead of 12-person juries was decided upon as a cost-saving measure.  However, defendants will still have the choice to have a 12-person jury, if they wish.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz says the following about six-person juries:

"Six person juries are allowed under the law at the request of the defendant.   The prosecutor has no say in the issue, just like we have no say in the question of whether a defendant chooses a trial by jury or a trial by judge.  

"We do not see the 6 person jury as a problem because we have the same number of opportunities to strike potential jurors as we do with 12 person juries.  We will try our case the same whether the finder of fact is one person or 6 or 12."

Redmon faces charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and animal torture in connection with an incident on June 4. 

Urbana police say Redmon allegedly placed her ex-boyfriend's puppy into an oven and turning it on, resulting in the death of the puppy. 

If convicted of the charges, Redmon could serve up to eight years in prison.

(WAND - June 4, 2015)

Walter Wilson gets second animal cruelty charge after pit bull dies from heat

VIRGINIA -- A Henrico man who once pled guilty to animal cruelty is back in the headlines again. Walter Wilson now faces a similar charge after his pit bull was found dead.

Police said Wilson was arrested on Saturday after his pit bull mix was found dead at his home in Tiffany Meadows.

Someone noticed Wilson’s dog was in distress and called for help, according to police. Officers said that when an animal control officer arrived, the dog was found dead  inside of a locked crate.

“The arriving officer located the homeowner who reported that he did have a dog that was crated, but the dog had recently died,” Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Chris Eley said. “The officer collected the remains for necropsy. The necropsy revealed the dog died due to heat exposure.”

Wilson is now facing a Class One Misdemeanor. He is ordered to pay a fine.

Neighbors were shocked and saddened by the news.

“I feel real sorry for the dog,” Vivian West said. “Hope it won’t happen again. It’s a sad thing. We keep hearing the stories of kids left in the heat, dogs left in the heat. When are we going to learn from this?!”

Pet experts said it’s a grim reminder to all owners that things can take a dangerous turn, especially when the temperatures get this high.

Dr. A. Neal Rose, who owns the West Broad Vet Hospital, said that pet owners need to keep a very watchful eye in this heat.

“The sad thing is a lot of dogs don’t know when to stop,” Rose explained. “You can play fetch with them and they will go and go and go until they drop. We can’t let the dog be the judge, we have to make the judgment call for our pets.”

Rose said if you think your pet is suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion, act quickly. The best thing to do is to ice it down and try to lower the body temperature. Also, try to give it some fluids.  After that’s done, get it to the vet right away.

(WTVR - June 16, 2015)

Charges dropped against St. Louis woman, Adrienne Martin, accused of setting dog on fire

MISSOURI -- Charges were dropped Monday against a St. Louis woman accused of burning a terrier mix.  St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce said her office had issues securing testimony.

In a statement, Joyce said the statute of limitations has not run out in the abuse case against Adrienne Martin, and the case remains open.

The dog died of his injuries.

 

Martin, then 35, was charged in July 2013 with two felony counts of animal abuse. She was arrested after an investigation by the city's Animal Cruelty Task Force. She told police that the dog, named Brownie, had bitten her son the day before the dog was burned. Martin is the sister-in-law of the dog's owner.

A witness picked Martin out of a photo lineup. Under questioning, Martin admitted setting the dog on fire. Martin lived in the 3900 block of Palm Place, which is a few blocks from where the incident took place in the 4300 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue.

 

 

Several posts on a Facebook page under Martin’s name referred to dogs:

• A post the day before incident reads “I’m on killa mode...#killdogs.com...today.”
• On the day the injured dog was discovered was tagged with “#alldogsdontgotoheaven.com.”

Joyce's office could not provide additional details because the record is closed.

“Despite prosecutors’ belief in a defendant’s guilt with any crime committed in our city, we must have the evidence and cooperation of witnesses to testify in court for prosecutors to seek justice,” the statement said. “Animal abuse is extremely concerning to our office. No living creature should be subjected to abuse of any kind. We continue our commitment to hold animal abusers accountable for their actions and we will continue to pursue cases like these in the future.”

Animal-rights activist Randy Grim, who is founder of Stray Rescue and a member of the mayor's Animal Cruelty Task Force, said he was devastated to hear that a key witness backed out before the trial began.

"I’m feeling numb that justice wasn’t served for Brownie, but I still hold out hope," Grim said in a news release.

He said he hopes the witness has a change of heart.

(STLToday - June 1, 2015)

Anacoco couple, Amanda Scerbo and Jason Scerbo, booked in animal cruelty case

LOUISIANA -- An Anacoco couple has been booked in animal cruelty case, according to Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft.

Craft said 33-year-old Amanda Herring Scerbo and 42-year-old Jason Chad Scerbo were arrested May 20 following an investigation into a complaint about abandoned animals being at a Willow Road home.

Craft said deputies found several animals in poor health and some were deceased.

The Vernon Parish Animal Warden was called and responded. Authorities surveyed the property. Craft said none of the animals had adequate food or water.

  

Live animals were removed as well as carcasses.

The property was photographed and a report was filed.

The Scerbos are accused of representing themselves as operating an animal rescue center in the parish.

Both were booked on animal cruelty and littering. Bond was set at $27,500 each. Both posted bond and were released.

Craft said case documentation will be forwarded to the Vernon Parish District Attorney's Office.

(West Centrals Best - June 10, 2015)

Florida woman, Ashley Miller, took selfies during sex with dog inside grandma's house, say cops

FLORIDA -- A Florida woman admitted to taking selfies as she had sex with her pit bull inside her grandmother’s house, police said.

Ashley Miller, 18, was charged with two counts of sexual activities involving animals after Bradenton investigators found the graphic photos stashed on her cell phone.

The 18-year-old coaxed her dog, 2-face, into licking her vagina between 30 and 40 times over the past five years, she told police according to documents obtained by the Smoking Gun.

She also admitted to making her previous dog, a pit bull Rottweiler mix named Scarface, perform oral sex on her, too.

Miller told cops that 2-face lives at her grandmother’s house in Bradenton. Each time she wanted to have sex with the dog, she’d lock herself in a bedroom, take off her pants and call 2-face over.

The pup would “put her snout into her vagina on her own” without Miller forcing her into the act, the teen claimed. Miller said that’s where the sex ended: she never touched 2-face sexually, she said.

One of her family members was always inside the house, Miller said, but they were unaware of what was happening in the bedroom.

Click to see full size

During at least two of the oral sex sessions, Miller snapped photos of the pup licking her vagina. Cops discovered the puppy porn in two hidden folders on Miller’s phone, one titled “2-face fun” and another titled “Me.”

While the sex had been going on for at least five years, less than 10 of the acts happened after Miller turned 18 in February, she said.

The showed no signs of injury when a vet checked her out. Miller is scheduled for arraignment next month.
(NY Daily News - June 17, 2015)

Oklahoma: Kevin Lantz moved out and abandoned his six pets inside a home full of feces, trash and no air conditioning, say police

OKLAHOMA -- A man is out on bond after police say he left five dogs and a cat locked inside a home with no food, water, or air conditioning.

All the animals are said to be neglected, but fortunately for the animals, they appear to have no immediate medical problems.

"While there, I could see a gray Weimaraner dog roaming the residence. A cat was locked in a SE bedroom.  There was a lot of feces and miscellaneous junk scattered throughout the main living area," Animal Control Officer Peggy Larson said in an incident report. 

Sergeant Lanier found a window unlocked and opened it. Larson took custody of the cat and the dog, who was reported as skinny, dehydrated and covered in ticks. 

Two more dogs were recovered inside the residence. The first was a black and white Chihuahua, who was reported as extremely thin and covered in ticks. The second was was a small brown dog, also very thin.

Pictures show what an animal control officer found earlier this week.

 

“Once inside, they found two dogs locked in the bathroom, two dogs locked in the garage, one dog roaming free and one cat,” Scott said.

A police report says there was feces, trash, and junk in every room of the house.

“There were water containers and food containers, but no actual water or food for the animals,” Scott said.

  

    

  

  

  

One officer said some rooms had up to 4 inches of trash and feces piled up.

“If you don’t know what to do with the animal, call some rescues and shelter, find something proper to do with them,” Scott says.

A neighbor said a man, Kevin Lantz, had been feeding the dogs, but he had not seen Lantz in several weeks. The neighbor said he believed Lantz worked at Taco Mayo. 

When Sergeant Lanier made contact with Lantz by phone, Lantz said he used to live at the residence but had moved to an apartment where he was unable to take his dogs. 

Lantz said the utilities had been shut off about six months ago. Lantz said he had been throwing food on the floor and water inside pots for the dogs. He admitted to locking dogs in the bathroom and in the garage. 


According to the incident report, he also stated, "I know the dogs should've been taken out, but I was caught up with work." 

The animals are now at the Tuttle Animal Shelter, but appear to be free of medical problems.

“They’re helpless, they’re locked in a house, they can’t get out, they can’t turn on a faucet, they can’t order a pizza… like an infant, they can’t provide for themselves,” Scott says.

 

 

 

Now they’re left to wait, hoping to find their forever home.

Lantz is out on bond tonight. He’s charged with animal cruelty.

(KFOR - June 9, 2015)

Dead dogs discovered inside moving truck in San Marcos; Karen and Bruce Knutson charged

TEXAS -- Two people were arrested on animal cruelty charges in San Marcos after officers discovered a moving truck with several dead dogs inside.

According to San Marcos police, officers were called to the parking lot of a grocery store at 641 E. Hopkins St. around 9 p.m. on Saturday for a complaint about multiple dogs in distress in the back of a U-Haul truck.

  

When officers arrived, they found eight dogs, two of which were already dead. Two of the dogs were in serious distress and died a short time later.

The other four dogs were also sick but they’re currently in stable condition at an area animal shelter.

Police say the dogs belonged to Karen, 51, and Bruce Knutson, 51 and the couple was driving from the Houston-area to San Marcos. Authorities say the lack of ventilation and exposure to heat caused four of the dogs to die.

Both Karen and Bruce Knutson are charged with eights counts of cruelty to animals. Court records indicate the Knutsons are from Fischer, Texas.

(KXAN - June 8, 2015)

Georgia man, Jahmal Anthony Swaby, who put cat in dog’s cage to watch it die sentenced to prison

GEORGIA -- A Georgia man who put a cat inside a ferocious dog's cage just to watch it die will spend eight years behind bars for the cruel act.

Jahmal Anthony Swaby, 21, was sentenced to prison and 12 years’ probation after pleading guilty to aggravated animal cruelty and admitting he threatened a witness who alerted police to the sick scene at his home, the Athens Banner-Herald reported Thursday.

The Athens man laughed and egged on the dog to "get it" as he watched the frantic feline "running around inside the dog cage screaming for its life," a witness told police.

The cat was killed, and the "angry" dog was chomping on its carcass when police arrived, according to the newspaper.

Swaby also pleaded guilty to weapons offenses and receiving stolen property. He was sentenced on May 28.

He probably was sentenced to prison for the witness intimidation rather than the animal cruelty.

(NY Daily News - June 5, 2015)

Earlier:

• Teens charged with animal cruelty after reportedly letting family dog maul a kitten

Arkansas: Alex Webb drowned friend's dog, claimed it was 'possessed' say police. He was convicted of killing a kitten in 2011.

ARKANSAS -- Police say a man drowned a friend's dog because it was "possessed."

Police arrested 23-year-old Alex Webb Sunday morning on charges of aggravated animal cruelty.

According to a police report, Fayetteville police were called to a residence on 15th Street after hearing that a man had drowned a dog.

Police arrived on scene to find the dog's owner, Steven Grudzien, told police Webb had told him on Friday that his dog, named Happy, was "possessed" and had to die.

The report indicated the three men, including Webb and the dog's owner, had gone to a business in downtown Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon. After noticing Webb was missing, the man asked the store owner where he was, and the owner told him Webb had gone out the back door and left his phone in the store.

When the dog's owner came back to their residence, he found Happy drowned in the bathtub, according to the report.

“He murdered my dog,” Grudzien said. “He drowned my dog in a bathtub, and he deserves to go to jail for it.”

A witness told police Webb admitted to drowning the dog.

Police were unable to locate the dog's body.

“He tried to hide the truth from me,” Grudzien said. “He tried to make it out as the dog ran away. But my dog does not run away.”

The report said a pair of jeans and a T-shirt belonging to Webb were found wet, but Webb denied drowning the dog.

Scratch marks were found on the floor of the bathtub, according to the report.

“He handed me a knife with the point pointed at him, and said, ‘Do what you will,’” Grudzien said.

“And I turned around and I put the knife down on the table, and I just said, ‘No, dude, just tell me what you did.’”

Grudzien said he and a friend may search for the dog’s remains later this week, but said Webb is not welcome back at the house.

ALEX WEBB KILLED A KITTEN IN 2011
Webb has a previous charge of animal cruelty in 2011. The report says he admitted he had killed a kitten.

He admitted that he had killed a kitten and eerily made a motion as if he were wringing the poor creature’s neck, according to Channel KY3.

He is being held on a $3,500 bond and his next court date is set for Tuesday.

ARREST INFO:
Name: Alex Webb
Gender: Male
Race: white
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 175 lbs
Age at Arrest: 23
Booked By: Washington County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas
Booked Date: 06/07/2015
Charges:
AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
2015-07-10 07:45
RULE 8.1 HEARING
WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
2015-06-08 07:45

(4029TV - June 7, 2015)

Laporsha Laveria Allen arrested after leaving dog inside hot Jeep outside Deerbrook Mall

TEXAS -- A woman who said she did not know it was illegal to leave her dog locked in a hot car was arrested Wednesday, according to Humble police.

Laporsha Laveria Allen, 20, was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals.

A passerby spotted a dog locked in a black Jeep in the parking lot of Deerbrook Mall around 2:20 p.m.  It was hot outside, the vehicle was not running and its windows were slightly cracked.  The concerned citizen called Humble police for help.

When officers arrived, the dog appeared to be in distress, and was panting and barking, police say.

As officers were attempting to gain access to the vehicle, Allen walked out of the mall.  Police said she had been inside for at least 45 minutes and told them she was unaware that leaving the dog in the hot vehicle was against the law.

Allen was transported to the police station and charged.

The dog was handed over to Humble Animal Control.

(Click2Houston - June 24, 2015)

Oklahoma: David Todd accused of torturing his own cat and swinging it "like a bowling ball"

OKLAHOMA -- The Oklahoma District Attorney’s Office charged an Edmond man with crime of animal cruelty following an investigation by Edmond Animal Services.

According to court documents obtained by KOCO 5, David Hunter Todd, 21,  was seen by at least two witnesses “bowling with his cat” at his Edmond apartment near E. 2nd Street near S. Coltrane Road.

Edmond police have issued a warrant for his arrest.

A witness behind a sushi restaurant said his friend took video of the incident and showed it to investigators.

“He was torturing the cat very bad,” said Kevin Chen. “It was like he was playing bowling ball. He would literally take the cat up and swing it like a bowling ball.”

Court documents reveal Todd recently adopted the 2-year-old female black, domestic shorthair cat who he called Luna.

At first he denied any abuse.

After more questioning Todd told the officer, according to the probable cause affidavit, that he “snapped” and he’d “been so patient with her for so long and I just get frustrated and I take it personally and I know it’s not personal.”

Todd relinquished ownership of Luna, signing her over to animal services.

“She was very lethargic,” said Animal Services officer Cara Drake. “When I took her she was soaking wet. She had all these other injuries and possible head trauma. She certainly didn't act like she is now. She just laid there. She seemed like she was almost dead.”

Luna has remained under the watch of staff members at the Edmond Animal Shelter. She’s not yet ready for adoption but officials say that will change once the cat is healthier.

For more information on adoption process and what you can do to help cats like Luna visit: www.edmondok.com/animalservices

(KOCO - June 30, 2015)

Woman facing charges in revenge shooting of neighbor's pit bull, which had attacked and killed her cat in her own front yard

OKLAHOMA -- An Ardmore, Oklahoma family is mourning the loss of their beloved pet, after a neighbor shot and killed their dog in their own fenced in backyard.

Seventy-eight year old Mary Dube can only point, unable to express her pain verbally because she is deaf. She lost her beloved 5 year old pit bull, Sadie on Friday, when a neighbor came into her yard and shot it.

 

Two witnesses saw this pit bull attack, maul and kill a neighbor's cat

"I really just couldn't believe someone could just walk onto your property, and kill your pet like that," said Dube's daughter-in-law, Anita Hunter.  

The Carter County Sheriffs Office said 58 year old Karen Ann Arnold shot the dog, because she believed it killed three of her cats.

Arnold was arrested Friday, but was later released after posting a bond of $500.

"She took it in her own hands, she played judge and jury," said Hunter.

Hunter lives right across from Dube, and witnessed the entire scene as it unfolded. She said she was frozen and unable to move.

"My mother in law is pleading with the lady, please don't kill my dog, she's my ears, you know just screaming and pleading," said Hunter.

Sadie has always been Dube's guide dog, and family members said she was a gentle sweet animal.

Aren't guide dogs supposed to lead?

"She told the lady to wait, wait," said Hunter.

However, Arnold didn't wait, she shot the dog three times with her revolver.

"And then she goes to my  mother in law with one hand, pointing her finger at my mother in law, and the gun still in the other hand, and follows my mother in law to the front where I can't see her," said Hunter.

Arnold then took off her in vehicle. Dube's family members said Arnold had stopped by the home the day before, accusing their dog of killing her cat, and said if they did not put the dog down, she would do it herself. We tried to talk to Arnold today, but she refused.

  

Mrs. Dube stands where Arnold was standing when she shot the pit bull.

"No comment, you can talk to my attorney," said Arnold.

We reached out to Arnold's lawyer who said they have two witnesses who saw the pit bull attack and  kill Arnold's cat right in her own yard.

Although Dube won't be able to get Sadie back, her family said all they really want now is some justice. 

"She should have called the sheriff, instead of taking the law into her own hands," they said.  

Aren't they really even now? Her cat was killed. Their dog was killed. Justice has been served, according to the "eye for an eye" phrase.

The Carter County District Attorney's Office said this case is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, and no charges have been filed yet. 

(KTEN - June 30, 2015)

Virginia: Little boy, 4, seriously mauled by dog he'd known all his life

VIRGINIA -- A 4-year-old boy in Louisa County is lucky to be alive after a dog mauled him at a Memorial Day party. Sean Fitz has a long road to recovery, and his family is asking the community to help them cover his medical expenses.

The little boy always loved animals, until he was attacked by one.

“His face had been taken off. His ear was gone. It had severed a lot of nerves in his face. He had to have a metal plate in his jaw where it was fractured and some staples as well,” said Samantha Fitz, Sean's mother.

Sean had known the family's dog since he was a baby, but that didn't stop the dog from attacking him.

“I was going out the door and he bit me in the door,” he said.

The toddler can't feel the physical pain because of nerve damage in his face, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

“Seeing him cry and one side of his face has tears coming down and you can see the emotion on one side of the face but the other side is completely blank,” the mother said.

The recovery process has been difficult for the active boy.

“It's summertime, he can't go swimming, he can't go fishing. You know, when we take him outside we have to keep him out of direct sunlight to make sure the scarring won't get worse,” Fitz said.

Sean's family makes the 40 minute drive to see specialists at the University of Virginia Medical Center three times a week, and bandages his ear morning, noon and night.

The family is raising money using a go-fund-me account to help with the costly medical expenses.

“It kills me to look at pictures and know that he's never going to look the way that he did before. I'm not going to have the same child that I had before,” Fitz said.

The little boy won't ever fully recover from the physical and emotional damage from the attack, but the dog couldn't hurt his spirit. When Sean woke up from a nine-hour surgery, he said he was ready to go home and play.

The family's goal is to raise $10,000 for the toddler's care.

Note: Interesting that the dog's breed is never mentioned, not even on their GoFundMe page. If it's a German Shepherd, Pit Bull, Beagle, Chow or a mixture of breeds, I want to know.

(NBC29 - June 30, 2015)