GEORGIA -- A Columbus cat owner was charged after authorities found three of her eight malnourished pets dead and covered in maggots and fleas, according to testimony Friday in Recorder’s Court.
Amanda Propst, 25, faces three counts of animal cruelty. She was awarded own recognizance bonds totaling $15,000.
Judge Julius Hunter waived the case to State Court.
Officer Cody Wayne with Columbus Animal Control was called to the 6500 block of Milgen Road around 8:55 p.m. Aug. 21 to investigate what he described as one of the craziest animal cruelty cases he’s seen. The neighbor reported it.
Wayne said officials located eight malnourished domestic short-hair cats covered in maggots and fleas inside of an apartment that was also covered in fleas.
Animal Control said three of those pets starved to death. One appeared to have been dead for more than two weeks while the others appeared to have been dead for about two days, authorities said.
Wayne said one of the dead cats was tangled in the blinds, another was behind the washing machine and the third was on the fire mantle. Cat feces was all over the residence, authorities added.
Wayne said the homeowner lived with her boyfriend and daughter at another location, and she left the cats alone in the Milgen Road apartment. She was accused of neglecting them for at least two months, but CLAIMED to authorities that she would return to the residence once a week to feed them.
“I collected four, two kittens and two calico adult cats,” Wayne said. “One Siamese I couldn’t catch, so that one was still left in the house.”
Wayne said Propst relinquished ownership of four of the five pets that were found alive. She grabbed the fifth cat, and Animal Control allowed her to keep it.
“I gave her the option, because three of her cats were dead,” he said. “She cared about these cats because she was crying and boohooing, wishing her cats weren’t dead. Sucks that it took her that long to notice.”
(Ledger Enquirer - September 1, 2017)
Showing posts with label maggots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maggots. Show all posts
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Illinois: Unnamed 17-year-old teen accused of holding puppy down and repeatedly slashing its neck with knife
ILLINOIS -- A 17-year-old teen has confessed to injuring a puppy that was found along a Kewanee road with four slashes across its neck.
Kewanee Police have charged the teen with aggravated animal cruelty. Police would not disclose the boy's identity.
Police found the injured puppy Tuesday night after they responded to a call at about 8:15 p.m. at the entrance of Lakeland Terrace Apartments, where they found the black puppy with four vertical lacerations on its neck and abrasions on its back.
The male puppy was taken into custody and transferred to the Kewanee Veterinary Clinic at 102 Townsedge Road for treatment.
Veterinarian Chris Ryan said the young dog is about 7 to 8 weeks old and appears to be a labrador and pit bull terrier mix. He said the dog’s wounds had been 24 hours old, so the wounds could not be stitched. The wounds also had fly eggs and maggots, which had to be removed.
“It looked like he was a little weak and dehydrated, and it looked like the wounds were about 24 hours old,” Ryan said. “So we sedated him and cleaned him up. We couldn’t sew him. We had to get rid of the maggots and fleas and everything. It looks like he has four horizontal lacerations on his neck and he’s got sore on his back.”
Ryan said he believes the injury was possibly inflicted by someone with a knife.
“This doesn’t look like it was an accident,” he said. “We see a lot of accidents and injuries from animals hit by cars. But I don’t know anything that would do that other than something very sharp, and it’s kind of hard to have four of those in that area to do that. So I would have to say it was more purposeful than accidental.”
Despite the injury, Ryan said the puppy has been very friendly toward him and his staff and is eating food and drinking water.
“I think he’ll do fine,” he said. “He doesn’t seem to be holding any grudges toward anyone. He’s just happy and glad to be with someone.”
Ryan said if the lacerations discovered on the puppy’s neck were deeper, it would have killed the animal.
Kellie Wallace, Director of the Henry County Humane Society Kewanee Chapter, was called to the veterinarian’s office Wednesday morning to see the puppy, which has since been named "Thor." She said she was horrified by the puppy’s injury.
“I’ve seen animals starve and be skin and bones, but I’ve never seen one with open slashes to its neck,” Wallace said. “That was from a knife, not a dog attack.”
“I don’t know what else would do that," Ryan said. "It wasn’t an animal bite or from getting caught in something. It looks like it was from something that was more purposeful than an accident.”
“That is so pathetic,” Wallace said. “I just don’t understand. If you don’t want a puppy, call the police or take it to the shelter, but not something like that.”
Ryan said he plans to sedate the puppy later this week and try to tend to the wounds as it continues to heal and recover at the veterinarian clinic.
(Star Courier - July 26, 2017)
Kewanee Police have charged the teen with aggravated animal cruelty. Police would not disclose the boy's identity.
Police found the injured puppy Tuesday night after they responded to a call at about 8:15 p.m. at the entrance of Lakeland Terrace Apartments, where they found the black puppy with four vertical lacerations on its neck and abrasions on its back.
The male puppy was taken into custody and transferred to the Kewanee Veterinary Clinic at 102 Townsedge Road for treatment.
“It looked like he was a little weak and dehydrated, and it looked like the wounds were about 24 hours old,” Ryan said. “So we sedated him and cleaned him up. We couldn’t sew him. We had to get rid of the maggots and fleas and everything. It looks like he has four horizontal lacerations on his neck and he’s got sore on his back.”
Ryan said he believes the injury was possibly inflicted by someone with a knife.
“This doesn’t look like it was an accident,” he said. “We see a lot of accidents and injuries from animals hit by cars. But I don’t know anything that would do that other than something very sharp, and it’s kind of hard to have four of those in that area to do that. So I would have to say it was more purposeful than accidental.”
Despite the injury, Ryan said the puppy has been very friendly toward him and his staff and is eating food and drinking water.
“I think he’ll do fine,” he said. “He doesn’t seem to be holding any grudges toward anyone. He’s just happy and glad to be with someone.”
Ryan said if the lacerations discovered on the puppy’s neck were deeper, it would have killed the animal.
Kellie Wallace, Director of the Henry County Humane Society Kewanee Chapter, was called to the veterinarian’s office Wednesday morning to see the puppy, which has since been named "Thor." She said she was horrified by the puppy’s injury.
“I’ve seen animals starve and be skin and bones, but I’ve never seen one with open slashes to its neck,” Wallace said. “That was from a knife, not a dog attack.”
“I don’t know what else would do that," Ryan said. "It wasn’t an animal bite or from getting caught in something. It looks like it was from something that was more purposeful than an accident.”
“That is so pathetic,” Wallace said. “I just don’t understand. If you don’t want a puppy, call the police or take it to the shelter, but not something like that.”
Ryan said he plans to sedate the puppy later this week and try to tend to the wounds as it continues to heal and recover at the veterinarian clinic.
(Star Courier - July 26, 2017)
Friday, July 21, 2017
Ohio: Tabbitha Ritter, 25, arrested after leaving her dog locked inside the bathroom of a house she moved out of to die. When police found him, his body was covered in maggots while Ritter claimed she was coming to care for him "every other day"
OHIO -- A city woman was arrested after authorities found a dead dog inside her residence Wednesday afternoon around two o'clock.
The Bellefontaine Police Department reports that Tabbitha Ritter, 25, of 220 Lawrence Street, abandoned her dog.
Officers responded to the home after receiving a call regarding a dead dog.
No one was home. However, moments later Ritter arrived at the residence.
When questioned by the officers about her dog, she claimed she didn't know how or why the 10-year-old dog had died.
RITTER ABANDONED DOG
Ritter recently moved to West Brown Avenue. She claimed she would stop by her former home every other day to care for her pet. Ritter claimed she had last been there on Sunday.
When she returned on Tuesday, she says found her dog deceased in the bathroom. Ritter claimed she had then contacted her uncle to see if he could come and bury the dog.
When authorities entered the home, they found the dog's body wedged against the bathroom door.
Dog Warden Tim Klingelhofer determined the dog had been dead for more than a couple of days. There were visible signs of decay and maggots on the animal.
Officers noticed multiple piles of dog feces, urine spots, and piles of vomit inside the residence.
There was dog food in the kitchen, but no water was located. The dog couldn't have reached it anyway as it appeared that she had locked the dog inside the bathroom where there was no access to food or water.
Ritter was charged with cruelty to animals.
The case has been forwarded to Bellefontaine Municipal Court to consider abandoning animals and registration of dogs charges.
Ritter was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Tabbitha Lynelle Ritter
Height: 5’03”
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair Color: BLONDE
Eye Color: GREEN
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthdate: 11/21/1991
Time: 3:18 PM
Arresting Agency: BELLEFONTAINE PD
Total Bond: $4500
Charges
#1 959.13A1-CRUELITY TO ANIMALS
BOND: $4500
NOTES: HOLD FOR BOND CASH OR SURETY BOND
(Peak of Ohio - July 13, 2017)
The Bellefontaine Police Department reports that Tabbitha Ritter, 25, of 220 Lawrence Street, abandoned her dog.
Officers responded to the home after receiving a call regarding a dead dog.
No one was home. However, moments later Ritter arrived at the residence.
When questioned by the officers about her dog, she claimed she didn't know how or why the 10-year-old dog had died.
Ritter recently moved to West Brown Avenue. She claimed she would stop by her former home every other day to care for her pet. Ritter claimed she had last been there on Sunday.
When she returned on Tuesday, she says found her dog deceased in the bathroom. Ritter claimed she had then contacted her uncle to see if he could come and bury the dog.
When authorities entered the home, they found the dog's body wedged against the bathroom door.
Dog Warden Tim Klingelhofer determined the dog had been dead for more than a couple of days. There were visible signs of decay and maggots on the animal.
Officers noticed multiple piles of dog feces, urine spots, and piles of vomit inside the residence.
There was dog food in the kitchen, but no water was located. The dog couldn't have reached it anyway as it appeared that she had locked the dog inside the bathroom where there was no access to food or water.
Ritter was charged with cruelty to animals.
The case has been forwarded to Bellefontaine Municipal Court to consider abandoning animals and registration of dogs charges.
Ritter was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Full Name: Tabbitha Lynelle Ritter
Height: 5’03”
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair Color: BLONDE
Eye Color: GREEN
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthdate: 11/21/1991
Arrest Age: 25
Date: 07/12/2017Time: 3:18 PM
Arresting Agency: BELLEFONTAINE PD
Total Bond: $4500
Charges
#1 959.13A1-CRUELITY TO ANIMALS
BOND: $4500
NOTES: HOLD FOR BOND CASH OR SURETY BOND
(Peak of Ohio - July 13, 2017)
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
North Carolina: Three-pound baby deer thriving with wildlife rehabilitator
NORTH CAROLINA -- Nancy Whisenant has been rehabilitating wild animals back to health for 25 years.
She's the self-proclaimed "bunny whisperer" and has raised 80 bunnies just this year. However, her newest project is a bit more unique, according to WBTV.
Last week, Whisenant received a call from Asheville Wildlife Resource Officers stating that a fawn needed care. She's nursed plenty of fawns back to health before, but this one is rare because of its size.
Weighing in at less than three pounds, this is the smallest newborn deer she's ever seen. Most are in the six-pound range.
In the week the fawn has been with Whisenant, it's gone from thin and full of maggots to eating and thriving.
It's unknown what happened to the baby deer's mom.
While this is the busiest time of year for cases like this, Whisenant was quick to point out that caring for a wild animal is illegal if you're not licensed in wildlife rehabilitation.
"If they catch you, you will be fined," she said.
And they'll often kill the animal in your possession. :(
(KTVL - July 10, 2017)
She's the self-proclaimed "bunny whisperer" and has raised 80 bunnies just this year. However, her newest project is a bit more unique, according to WBTV.
Last week, Whisenant received a call from Asheville Wildlife Resource Officers stating that a fawn needed care. She's nursed plenty of fawns back to health before, but this one is rare because of its size.
Weighing in at less than three pounds, this is the smallest newborn deer she's ever seen. Most are in the six-pound range.
In the week the fawn has been with Whisenant, it's gone from thin and full of maggots to eating and thriving.
It's unknown what happened to the baby deer's mom.
While this is the busiest time of year for cases like this, Whisenant was quick to point out that caring for a wild animal is illegal if you're not licensed in wildlife rehabilitation.
"If they catch you, you will be fined," she said.
And they'll often kill the animal in your possession. :(
(KTVL - July 10, 2017)
Thursday, July 6, 2017
(June 2017) Florida: Joseph Shepherd and his girlfriend Diana Harrelson charged after leaving emaciated, blind, deaf, matted dog covered in maggots tethered to trailer
FLORIDA -- Sarasota County Animal Services has dealt with many animal abuse cases but there’s a recent case deputies say rates among one of the worst they’ve seen.
“If you look at the photos, it’s horrific,” says Lt. Daniel Tutko, Sarasota Sheriff’s Office.
Tutko says, “When the person picked him up, found it lethargic, matted, filled with maggots infection in its eye, one eye was missing, foul smell from the dog…it was suffering.”
Tutko says a Good Samaritan found the dog tied with a cord around its collar to this trailer on Walnut Avenue. “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. To let a dog get in that state you can’t imagine why someone would let that happen.”
Tutko says the reason the owner gave for tethering the dog outside is upsetting. “She wanted to let it die a natural death and that natural death was full of pain and suffering should not have occurred,” says Tutko.
Animal services officers in Sarasota were first made aware of the dog's condition on June 5, when a person rescued the animal.
The dog was reportedly in extreme distress, with matted fur and extreme dental decay. The 14-year-old terrier mix, named Spunik, who is both deaf and blind, was covered in maggots and attached to a cable tether without shelter.
Officers transported the dog to a veterinarian who performed humane euthanasia to end Spunik's suffering.
Deputies charged the homeowner, 55-year-old Joseph Shepherd, with abandoning an animal and animal cruelty.
Shepherd says, “All we ever gave our dogs is love, it’s an unfortunate situation.”
Shepherd says they placed Sputnik outside for a few days after Shepherd returned from the hospital and couldn’t care for him.
“He was defecating on the floor, urination more than I can take of it at the time. The dog was fed, given water, the skin condition I had no knowledge of,” explains Shepherd.
“This shouldn’t happen. There are resources available, we’ll come over, we’ll take the dog,” says Lt. Tutko. He adds, “It’s an excruciatingly painful death he shouldn’t have had to endure.”
Through a continued investigation, deputies learned that Shepherd's girlfriend, 62-year-old Diana L. Harrelson was aware of the dog's condition but moved to Mississippi in the months prior.
On June 7, Harrelson contacted Animal Services in order to retrieve another dog the couple owned named Bella, who was impounded due to excessive parasites and fleas.
Tutko says Bella is a 10-year-old terrier mix and is fairly good shape suffering from some fleas and parasites. The Sarasota County Animal Services wants the couple to sign over ownership so it can put the dog up for adoption but Shepherd says they won’t give up their dog.
During interviews with deputies, Harrelson admitted the last time she took Spunik to a veterinarian was in August 2016.
Harrelson claimed she didn't have enough money to pay for euthanasia and claimed she wanted Spunik to "die a natural death" [eaten alive by maggots].
Harrelson was given a notice to appear Monday and faced the same charges as Shepherd. She was released on a $2,120 bond.
Bella remains in the custody of the Sarasota County Animal Services Section and will more than likely be transferred to a rescue facility at a later date.
Name: JOSEPH NILES SHEPHERD
Born: March 02, 1962
Age: 55
Residential Address: 4118 WALNUT AVE, SARASOTA FL 34234
(WXYZ - June 30, 2017)
“If you look at the photos, it’s horrific,” says Lt. Daniel Tutko, Sarasota Sheriff’s Office.
So horrific, half of the photos we can’t show you. Sputnik, a 14-year-old terrier mix, had to be euthanized.
Tutko says, “When the person picked him up, found it lethargic, matted, filled with maggots infection in its eye, one eye was missing, foul smell from the dog…it was suffering.”
Tutko says a Good Samaritan found the dog tied with a cord around its collar to this trailer on Walnut Avenue. “I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. To let a dog get in that state you can’t imagine why someone would let that happen.”
Tutko says the reason the owner gave for tethering the dog outside is upsetting. “She wanted to let it die a natural death and that natural death was full of pain and suffering should not have occurred,” says Tutko.
Animal services officers in Sarasota were first made aware of the dog's condition on June 5, when a person rescued the animal.
The dog was reportedly in extreme distress, with matted fur and extreme dental decay. The 14-year-old terrier mix, named Spunik, who is both deaf and blind, was covered in maggots and attached to a cable tether without shelter.
Officers transported the dog to a veterinarian who performed humane euthanasia to end Spunik's suffering.
Deputies charged the homeowner, 55-year-old Joseph Shepherd, with abandoning an animal and animal cruelty.
Shepherd says, “All we ever gave our dogs is love, it’s an unfortunate situation.”
Shepherd says they placed Sputnik outside for a few days after Shepherd returned from the hospital and couldn’t care for him.
“He was defecating on the floor, urination more than I can take of it at the time. The dog was fed, given water, the skin condition I had no knowledge of,” explains Shepherd.
“This shouldn’t happen. There are resources available, we’ll come over, we’ll take the dog,” says Lt. Tutko. He adds, “It’s an excruciatingly painful death he shouldn’t have had to endure.”
Through a continued investigation, deputies learned that Shepherd's girlfriend, 62-year-old Diana L. Harrelson was aware of the dog's condition but moved to Mississippi in the months prior.
On June 7, Harrelson contacted Animal Services in order to retrieve another dog the couple owned named Bella, who was impounded due to excessive parasites and fleas.
Tutko says Bella is a 10-year-old terrier mix and is fairly good shape suffering from some fleas and parasites. The Sarasota County Animal Services wants the couple to sign over ownership so it can put the dog up for adoption but Shepherd says they won’t give up their dog.
During interviews with deputies, Harrelson admitted the last time she took Spunik to a veterinarian was in August 2016.
Harrelson claimed she didn't have enough money to pay for euthanasia and claimed she wanted Spunik to "die a natural death" [eaten alive by maggots].
Harrelson was given a notice to appear Monday and faced the same charges as Shepherd. She was released on a $2,120 bond.
Bella remains in the custody of the Sarasota County Animal Services Section and will more than likely be transferred to a rescue facility at a later date.
Name: JOSEPH NILES SHEPHERD
Born: March 02, 1962
Age: 55
Residential Address: 4118 WALNUT AVE, SARASOTA FL 34234
VIDEO NEWS CLIP:
(WXYZ - June 30, 2017)
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
UPDATED - Louisiana: Retired racehorse named Dr. Drip earned his owners more than a quarter million dollars during his career. Three years after he was retired from racing, he dies after being starved. He was found covered in maggots, a walking skeleton. He was just 13 years old.
LOUISIANA -- There are demands for someone to be held accountable for a horse that went from champion to starved and neglected. This is an animal cruelty case like no other for the St. Landry Parish Animal Control and Rescue.
"It was just sad. He had knots of blow flies this big, worms all over him and when you walk up to him you could smell him. I mean he was rotten. I've been fooling with horses all my life and I'm 70 years old and I've never seen anything like that before. I ain't never seen nothing like before. Never!," says Glenn Lejeune.
They rescued the horse from a field in Opelousas. It's work they're familiar with. Investigators are now trying to figure out who was responsible for the horse whose condition was beyond saving. He was just 13 years old.
"So he just laid his head down and we had our vet, and the horse vet, both here and they both agreed that to euthanize him was the kinder thing so I signed the papers to put him down," says Stacey McKnight.
Dr. Drip's case is being shared thousands of times online, and across the country. Stacey Mcknight and Glenn Lejeune are now leading the effort to hold someone accountable.
"What should happen to them is what happened to those horses is what should happen to them take something and burn that lip and see how that feel. Let them starve to death, you know ain't no sense in that, so the same thing they do to them horse should be done to them and a lot of this would stop," says Lejeune.
According to the online database Equibase, Dr. Drip raced between 2007 and 2014. He won more than $250,000 in purses during those years.
In just one race in February 2010, Dr. Drip earned his owners $24,000 by winning the Magnolia Stakes at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Dr. Drip's last race was in 2014 so in just three short years, he was turned into a walking skeleton.
(KATC - June 22, 2017)
HUMANE SOCIETY FACEBOOK POST
Jeff Dorson, Director, Humane Society of Louisiana posted on Facebook June 23, 2017 ·
Breaking news from the Humane Society of Louisiana:
Update on the Dr. Drip equine abuse case. Memorial service scheduled for Wednesday, June 28th from 11: 30 - noon at the St. Landry Animal Control Shelter, located at 255 Hanger Rd., Opelousas, Louisiana. The mistreatment of Dr. Drip has generated international concern and interest.
Few animals have endured more suffering or abuse than this wonderful former racetrack champion. However, we intend to use his tragic suffering and death to bring attention to the horrors of animal abuse in our state and create something lasting and powerful.
Thousands of people have reached out to us, asking to help and expressing their sadness and heartache, and we fully intend to harness this collective energy to bring lasting change to our state. We are communicating with several law enforcement agencies to ensure that the person(s) responsible for this crime is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and is brought to justice.
If we experience any problems during this criminal investigation or with our enforcement or judicial systems, we will ask for your collective help in addressing any deficiencies. Over the weekend, we will also create a separate FB page that will act as a clearing house for pertinent information on this case and as a virtual memorial site, so that our thoughts for Dr. Drip can be recorded and saved.
Please join our efforts to make lasting change in Louisiana. We owe Dr. Drip no less. You can continue to support us at www.humanela.org. On behalf of Dr. Drip and all the other victims of abuse, we thank you for caring.
Cindi Hodnett - Why have we not heard of an arrest made in connection with this? He was on someone's land. Who is that someone???
PETITION
District Attorney Earl Taylor
"It was just sad. He had knots of blow flies this big, worms all over him and when you walk up to him you could smell him. I mean he was rotten. I've been fooling with horses all my life and I'm 70 years old and I've never seen anything like that before. I ain't never seen nothing like before. Never!," says Glenn Lejeune.
Dr. Drip was retired from racing just three years ago, his
last race was in 2014. This is what they've done to him
in just three years since he quit earning them money.
They rescued the horse from a field in Opelousas. It's work they're familiar with. Investigators are now trying to figure out who was responsible for the horse whose condition was beyond saving. He was just 13 years old.
"So he just laid his head down and we had our vet, and the horse vet, both here and they both agreed that to euthanize him was the kinder thing so I signed the papers to put him down," says Stacey McKnight.
Dr. Drip's case is being shared thousands of times online, and across the country. Stacey Mcknight and Glenn Lejeune are now leading the effort to hold someone accountable.
According to the online database Equibase, Dr. Drip raced between 2007 and 2014. He won more than $250,000 in purses during those years.
In just one race in February 2010, Dr. Drip earned his owners $24,000 by winning the Magnolia Stakes at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Dr. Drip's last race was in 2014 so in just three short years, he was turned into a walking skeleton.
(KATC - June 22, 2017)
--- I LOVE THIS MAN!!! ---
Glenn is a no-nonsense, old-school, "tell it like it is" man
He reminds me of Clint Eastwood. He should run for office.
Glenn is a no-nonsense, old-school, "tell it like it is" man
He reminds me of Clint Eastwood. He should run for office.
* * * * * *
HUMANE SOCIETY FACEBOOK POST
Jeff Dorson, Director, Humane Society of Louisiana posted on Facebook June 23, 2017 ·
Breaking news from the Humane Society of Louisiana:
Update on the Dr. Drip equine abuse case. Memorial service scheduled for Wednesday, June 28th from 11: 30 - noon at the St. Landry Animal Control Shelter, located at 255 Hanger Rd., Opelousas, Louisiana. The mistreatment of Dr. Drip has generated international concern and interest.
Few animals have endured more suffering or abuse than this wonderful former racetrack champion. However, we intend to use his tragic suffering and death to bring attention to the horrors of animal abuse in our state and create something lasting and powerful.
If we experience any problems during this criminal investigation or with our enforcement or judicial systems, we will ask for your collective help in addressing any deficiencies. Over the weekend, we will also create a separate FB page that will act as a clearing house for pertinent information on this case and as a virtual memorial site, so that our thoughts for Dr. Drip can be recorded and saved.
Please join our efforts to make lasting change in Louisiana. We owe Dr. Drip no less. You can continue to support us at www.humanela.org. On behalf of Dr. Drip and all the other victims of abuse, we thank you for caring.
Debbie Mcallister - This just sickens me. If u can't feed them give them up don't make them suffer like this and starve, poor horses. So sad.
Db Roberts - He still had will power, fight, but even his physical body couldn't endure more. Was reported he nickered before laying his head in final rest, knowing he was then in loving hands and can finally rest.
May God bring justice for Dr. Drip and may it come swiftly to ALL responsible!
My heart aches for him and my tears continue to flow. RIP Dr. I'm so very sorry you had to endure all you've been thru, after giving your all to those you trusted.
Debra Stewart From the pics I can't believe that horse was alive. Worst case I've ever saw and the horse was still breathing. So sad
Lisa Gill Treuting - Anyone who passed this horse even once and did NOTHING should hang their heads in shame! I've called the rescue for horses who looked much better than this! How could anyone turn their back on this creature?
Cindi Hodnett - Why have we not heard of an arrest made in connection with this? He was on someone's land. Who is that someone???
Sandy Jaco - What kind of a person would let this happen???😡
Jamie Lawson Trahan - His name is Danny Lavergne from lake charles
Joanne Murphy - Both the stable and this Danny are guilty. This idea of "we trusted him" or Danny saying he boarded him somewhere, implying that he couldn't have known.. Even if some other third party committed the abuse, the responsibility for that horse is still theirs.
Mindy Bell - i hope in his last moments he was told he was beautiful and strong and were sorry he was treated like this and hugged and patted and told he was loved untill his final sleep
* * * * * *
PETITION
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
We demand the St Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney and Parish President pursue felony aggravated animal cruelty charges against the person or persons responsible for the abuse and torture of champion racehorse, Dr Drip.
This case must be be investigated by detectives from St Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department as well as the St Landry Parish Animal Control. We also strongly urge the courts to deliver maximum sentencing for felony charges.
Cruelty of this magnitude must be fully investigated, prosecuted and punished.
On Tuesday June 20, 2017 the St Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department and Animal Control responded to an animal cruelty complaint. The sheriff’s department took swift action and seized the equine.
The equine, now known to be Dr Drip, a champion racehorse, was in horrific condition. Not only had he been starved to death, he was also suffering from burns down his entire back.
As if that was not enough, Dr Drip’s flesh, open wounds and exposed bones were infested with maggots, to the point that witnesses could hear the maggots crunching and feasting on his flesh and bone.
Dr Drip's vertebrae was fully exposed in several sections in what appear to be “saddle sores” indicating he had been ridden in this condition.
This case must be be investigated by detectives from St Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department as well as the St Landry Parish Animal Control. We also strongly urge the courts to deliver maximum sentencing for felony charges.
Cruelty of this magnitude must be fully investigated, prosecuted and punished.
On Tuesday June 20, 2017 the St Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department and Animal Control responded to an animal cruelty complaint. The sheriff’s department took swift action and seized the equine.
The equine, now known to be Dr Drip, a champion racehorse, was in horrific condition. Not only had he been starved to death, he was also suffering from burns down his entire back.
As if that was not enough, Dr Drip’s flesh, open wounds and exposed bones were infested with maggots, to the point that witnesses could hear the maggots crunching and feasting on his flesh and bone.
Dr Drip's vertebrae was fully exposed in several sections in what appear to be “saddle sores” indicating he had been ridden in this condition.
On the Morning of June 21, 2017 Dr Drip went down and when urged to get up, his rotting flesh slid off his body. The pain he suffered in the hands of his abusers is unimaginable. Though he had the will to live, his body could not match his will to live. Dr Drip's shell of a body surrendered that will and he had to be euthanized.
The persons responsible for this heinous and deliberate act of aggravated animal cruelty must face justice.
Thank You for your attention to this case, we look forward to a full investigation by post-certified law enforcement officials and an arrest under the Louisiana aggravated cruelty to animal statutes and full prosecution followed by maximum sentencing.
This petition will be delivered to St. Landry Parish Officials:
District Attorney Earl Taylor
Parish President Bill H Fontenot
St Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz
Attorney General Jeff Landry
VIDEO NEWS CLIP:
JUNE 28, 2017 UPDATE:
I was going to create a new post but decided to just add to this original one because people may be coming to this one first. Some new developments - some good, some bad.
The good news first: an arrest has been made in what I call the 'torture death' of Dr. Drip.
KATC - June 27, 2017
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's office arrested an 18-year-old for the alleged abuse of a retired race horse.
Dr. Drip was rescued last week from a field in Opelousas after an anonymous tip alerted the St. Landry Parish Animal Control to the neglected horse. The 13-year-old champion race horse had to be euthanized due to his condition.
Animal Control began their investigation obtaining statements from the parties involved,and the case was found to be a felony criminal act. The case was then turned over to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Detectives Section, and two investigators were assigned.
Dr. Drip was a former Louisiana state champion and winner of more than 60 races and purses of more than $253,000. He was discovered by parish authorities near death from abuse and neglect. The St. Landry Animal Control Department received a call of a horse in very poor condition on June 20.
The horse was lying down, at the time he was discovered, and could not get up. He was covered with flies, maggots, open sores and was completely emaciated, said Jeff Dorson, Humane Society of Louisiana Director.
The next day, however, Dr. Drip could not stand up, said the director. The attending veterinarian from Acadiana Veterinary Clinic and a second veterinarian who was on site, discovered that hundreds, possibly thousands of maggots had burrowed under Dr. Drip's skin and flesh and were literally eating him alive, added Dorson.
Someone had also poured battery acid on his withers and across his spine, stated Dorson. Abscesses covered his his mouth. By this time, his breathing was labored and he was coughing up blood. The decision was made, based on his extensive, debilitated condition, to euthanize Dr. Drip, said Dorson.
Detectives learned the horse had changed hands many times and began their interviews, according to Major Eddie Thibodeaux, spokesman for the sheriff's office.
The horse was purchased by the lease owner of the land from another person who was given the horse by the original owner. Detectives were informed that the horse was purchased by the caretaker of the land for Jermaine Doucet Jr. and he did agree to allow Jermaine's horse to be housed on the land.
Doucet was interviewed at the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office on Monday and did not submit an official statement, but he allegedly said that he did in fact own the horse, stated Thibodeaux. He was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to an animal. Bond was set at $5,000.
This is confusing. So Dr. Drip, after he was retired from racing in 2014, was sold by #1 - the original owner. Then he was "given" to owner #2. Then Dr. Drip was sold to owner #3 - the "lease owner of the land". But then they say that the "caretaker" purchased Dr. Drip and let Jermaine Doucet Jr keep it there. Well, why would he let Jermaine keep Dr. Drip there if he (the caretaker) was the owner of Dr. Drip? And then they say Doucet Jr. claims Dr. Drip is his... Really? Or is he taking the fall for it because he's only 18?
"We will conduct criminal investigations on any and all reports of animal abuse we receive from Parish animal control that violates state statutes if there is no scene contamination and evidence destruction," said Sheriff Bobby Guidroz. "The evidence I speak of is the evidence we need to gather among other things, is the evidence the district attorney needs to prosecute the person (s) responsible for the abuse, mistreatment and criminal acts of the animal."
A memorial service for Dr. Drip will be held at the St. Landry Animal Control Shelter, 255 Hanger Road, Opelousas Wednesday, June 28, 11: 30 a.m. - noon.
OK so there's an arrest. That's good news. Now for the bad news.
The Facebook group page called Justice for Horses has a lot of links and comments. One of the most disturbing is that it's being said that no necropsy was performed on Dr. Drip and that his poor, battered body was simply taken to a landfill and dumped (or possibly dumped in a hole on the property he died on).
A necropsy is required for criminal cases involving dead animals. You have to determine what he died from and how long it took for him to get in this condition and how long he suffered. If you don't do this, the defense can make all sorts of claims: that Dr. Drip had cancer and they loved him so much they couldn't bear to put him down. They can claim someone disliked them so they snuck over and poisoned Dr. Drip and it's not their fault. Remember, it's the burden of the state to PROVE that he was neglected and scalded to death. The defense only has to put some doubt into one juror's mind that, "Well yeah the horse suffered but they meant well. They didn't purposely do this to him." All it takes is one juror out of 12 to make a hung jury (mistrial).
I certainly hope this isn't true (that they didn't get a necropsy). I saw a video on Justice for Horses where officials were somewhat complaining about having limited funds.
Animals are abused all over the United States, every single day. I can't even keep up with them all on this blog b/c there are so many and often I have to pick and choose which get posted b/c I just don't have time to list them all. Most of these cases get a bit of attention (there are 100,000s more that never get any media attention). DR. DRIP'S CASE GRABBED HEADLINES AND IMMEDIATELY GOT ANIMAL LOVERS ENRAGED AND WANTING JUSTICE. If they'd simply asked for money, they'd have had whatever they needed within a couple hours, I'm sure of it. There are also many large organizations with deep pockets (ALDF, HSUS, ASPCA) that often hand over large sums of money. I mean, they were announcing a memorial for Dr. Drip -- that should have told them how much interest there was in this poor, battered little racehorse. That alone should have told someone with an ounce of compassion that to toss his poor body onto the garbage at the landfill is not acceptable.
😬
Some of the Facebook comments:
You can't ask too many questions because once you do they block you I'm now blocked off their page again for the second time bunch of hypocrites
Oh I forgot the sheriff said and I quote I just arrest them I'm not the one who sentences them these guys don't give two s**** about animals
And what about the 5 teenagers that's stole 3 horses from the auction beat the s*** out of them drug and behind their vehicles and left him in the ditch to die the sheriff didn't do jack s*** in fact they got probation nothing was done to them the guy is full of s***
All I can say is that change happens slowly - even more so in the South. Just as it used to be that law enforcement didn't think a husband could rape his wife or that domestic violence should be prosecuted ("Why don't you just leave him then? What do you want us to do about it?"), animal laws are slowly changing due to the outcry from people who say this is not right, do something!
I remember in the 1980s when the issue of animal testing in labs first really was exposed. Spraying bug spray in a rabbit's eyes causing torturous pain and blindness just so they can put on the can of Raid "Do not spay in eyes, may cause blindness"??? Dr. Drip's death is not the end... it's just the beginning of change.
* * * * * *
IS THIS HIS DADDY?
Apr 12, 1995
Rape charges were filed on a 17-year-old Opelousas man Monday in connection with the sexual assault of an 11-year-old juvenile.
Arrested was Jermaine Doucet, 17, of 1167 McCarthy Lane, A-2, Opelousas, charged with aggravated rape. "We received a report on Monday the 10th from the victim's mother, who advised that her 11-year-old daughter had come to her and told her that she had been sexually assaulted by the suspect," said Lt. Ronnie Trahan of the Opelousas Police Department. "Apparently, the young man lives in same apartment complex as the victim and her mother." Trahan said the incident allegedly occurred in January, but the young girl chose to wait until now to come forward. According to the report, on the night of Jan. 22, the suspect knocked on child's window sometime around midnight. "When the child opened the window," Trahan said, "the guy asked where her mother was, and she (the victim) said her mother was in another room. "She said she then left the room and went to restroom," Trahan continued. "When she came back, ;he was in her room and instructed her to remove her clothing." At that point, Trahan said, the suspect allegedly attempted to have sexual intercourse with the victim. "The child started crying and advised the man he was hurting her." The lieutenant said the suspect then reportedly heard a noise and fled through the window. Under Louisiana Law, the act of rape is considered to be of an aggravated nature if the victim is under 12 years of age, the lieutenant added.
Jermaine Doucet, 24, of 1333 Hwy. 749, Opelousas, LA, pled guilty to simple possession of marijuana. He was ordered to pay $250 or spend thirty days in the parish jail. Also, he was sentenced to ninety days in the parish jail which was suspended and was placed on two years unsupervised probation.
Opelousas Daily Arrest Report
Jermaine Doucet, 35, 923 W. Grolee Street, Opelousas
1)Domestic Abuse Battery
2)Aggravated Assault
3)Simple Battery
4)Two counts of Theft
KATC - Dec 22, 2014
The St. Landry Parish Narcotics Enforcement Team (N.E.T.) says 37-year-old Jermaine Doucet and 32-year-old Bryant Fields were selling high grade “Hydro” marijuana out of "T&E Soul Food and Sno-Balls" on S. Bullard Street. The business was also located within two separate drug-free school zones.
Jermaine D. Doucet was charged with: Possession of Schedule 1 C.D.S. marijuana; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Transaction Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses; Violation of a Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance within a Drug Free Zone. He has been released on an undisclosed bond and is awaiting trial. Additional charges could come.
Apparently he's still the owner of T&E Soul Food and Sno-Balls
Name: Jermaine Doucet
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Birthdate: 09-05-1977
Arrest age: 37
Location: Rapides, Louisiana
Charge: Unknown
Name: Jermaine Dwayne Doucet
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Birthdate: 09/05/1977
Arrest age: 38
Booked Date
Feb. 19, 2016
Booked By
Ouachita Parish County Sheriff's Office
Charge:
Probation violation
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Georgia: Lisa Alexander, 46, arrested after her disabled husband and pets found living in "absolutely rancid" conditions
GEORGIA -- Phillip Alexander was found in a state of living decay in a house with a smell described as "absolutely rancid" by a responding officer.
According to an incident report released Tuesday afternoon, Alexander was found by firefighters responding to a diabetic emergency involving a paralyzed 45-year-old man Sunday around 12:30 p.m. with open insect- and maggot-infested sores and with rotting flesh exposing his pelvic bones and the bottom of his spine.
The discovery at the home at 205 Mason Road in Crandall led to the arrest of his wife, 46-year-old Lisa Marie Alexander, on charges of neglect of a disabled adult, reckless conduct and six counts of cruelty to animals.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special-Agent-in-Charge Greg Ramey said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be brought.
"Certainly there is the potential that more charges could be filed," Ramey said.
The Murray County Fire Department and a Murray County deputy responded to the call and discovered Phillip Alexander, who is now in the intensive care unit at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton in "serious condition," Ramey said.
Alexander's daughter, 21-year-old Bethany Alexander, said when reached by phone Tuesday that her father was improving.
"He looks like he is getting better," she said. "Some of his lab work is getting slightly better. He is having surgery tomorrow I do believe."
Lisa Alexander was still being held at the Murray County jail on Tuesday on a $50,000 bond. Her daughter said her mother's arrest was unwarranted.
"It is complete crap," Bethany Alexander said. "There is no freaking way that we neglected him. None of us did."
When asked if she knew of the severity of her father's condition, she said she didn't.
"I work night shift and sleep during the day," Bethany Alexander claimed. "I hardly got to see him."
WHY HAVEN'T THE ADULT CHILDREN, WHO ALSO LIVED IN THE HOME, BEEN CHARGED AS WELL?
She and her 24-year-old brother Blake Alexander live in the house with her parents, she said. The incident report described the smell in the house as "animal waste mixed with rotting flesh" and the home filled with cobwebs and roaches.
"As I entered the residence, the smell emitting from inside was absolutely rancid," K9 Officer Joshua Malone wrote in the report. "It smelled as though there was animal waste mixed with rotting flesh inside of the house.
"While walking through what appeared to be the living room, I noticed an extremely large amount of cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. These webs contained numerous amounts of bugs and were throughout the entire house."
In the bedroom, Malone wrote that Phillip Alexander was on the bed wearing shorts, socks and running shoes, and the bed "appeared to be extremely dirty." He had gauze bandages taped to his legs.
The room was filled with cockroaches, and there were handheld plastic urinal receptacles that "had brown matter in them that appeared to be decomposing human waste."
Lisa Alexander told Malone the bandages on her husband's legs were "from recent bug bites he received while they were camping."
Bethany Alexander said the family had recently camped on Fort Mountain but did not say when the trip occurred.
While Malone was talking with Lisa Alexander, the report noted "her pupils appeared to be very dilated even when she would look into direct light. This is normally caused by either a medical condition or more commonly through the use of illegal stimulant-type drugs."
When EMS arrived, a stretcher couldn't be taken into the bedroom because of "the large amount of clutter in the residence," Malone wrote.
As Phillip Alexander was being moved on a sheet, Malone noted "a very alarming site on Mr. Alexander's bed, a large moist black spot that was infested with more insects. This spot was directly underneath where he was lying on the bed."
"I then noticed that more cockroaches were in fact crawling over the patient's body while they were placing him onto the stretcher as well," Malone wrote.
After Phillip Alexander was taken to Hamilton Medical Center, medical personnel there contacted the sheriff's office about the severity of his condition. A nurse said "the subject appeared to be extremely neglected and wished to file a report on the matter."
Malone went to the hospital. Phillip Alexander was in a room with a special notice for "precautions" on the door, and another doorway had been blocked off "due to the amount of bugs that came off the patient."
One of the nurses, who told Malone "these were some of the worst sores that she had ever seen on a patient," said Alexander had "both live and dead insects in the infected areas along with maggots."
Malone wrote that the wound on his lower back "was so grotesque that it appeared as though his entire buttocks had rotted from the body."
"The wound appeared to have several more infected and green tissue still connected to it," Malone wrote. "While continuing to look at the wound, it was so deep into the body that you could see what appeared to be the lowest portion of his spinal vertebrae along with his pelvic bones."
On Alexander's legs, Malone documented fresh and old wounds and areas of infection, and the flesh "was black with green 'puss-like' areas from where it was so decayed."
Malone reported Alexander's left foot was "pruning" and "starting to rot" and cockroaches were in the sores.
VICTIM'S MEDICATION EITHER BEING SOLD OR TAKEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHILE VICTIM SUFFERED...
The report said bottles of prescription drugs of oxycodone and hydrocodone which had been filled on Friday were missing pills.
A 60-pill bottle had only approximately 20 pills in it, and a 90-pill bottle had only approximately 30 pills in it.
In Phillip Alexander's drug screen prepared by the hospital, the only drug found in his system was Valium.
When asked about Phillip Alexander's condition, Lisa Alexander told Malone "the sores were from Phillip refusing to take care of himself."
"She stated that they had tried numerous times to help him but he just wanted to sit in a wheelchair in his own waste for two weeks before they were able to clean him up," Malone wrote. "This was very suspicious to me because earlier in the day she stated that they were camping two weeks prior and the sores on the legs were from bug bites."
Malone went back to Crandall and secured the home, and the GBI was called in to assist in the investigation. GBI and Murray County investigators searched the house in protective gear, each with the help of a breathing apparatus.
Animal Control was called to take custody of three dogs tied up outside the house and three cats found inside.
(The Daily Citizen Dalton - June 14, 2017)
According to an incident report released Tuesday afternoon, Alexander was found by firefighters responding to a diabetic emergency involving a paralyzed 45-year-old man Sunday around 12:30 p.m. with open insect- and maggot-infested sores and with rotting flesh exposing his pelvic bones and the bottom of his spine.
The discovery at the home at 205 Mason Road in Crandall led to the arrest of his wife, 46-year-old Lisa Marie Alexander, on charges of neglect of a disabled adult, reckless conduct and six counts of cruelty to animals.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special-Agent-in-Charge Greg Ramey said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be brought.
"Certainly there is the potential that more charges could be filed," Ramey said.
The Murray County Fire Department and a Murray County deputy responded to the call and discovered Phillip Alexander, who is now in the intensive care unit at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton in "serious condition," Ramey said.
Alexander's daughter, 21-year-old Bethany Alexander, said when reached by phone Tuesday that her father was improving.
"He looks like he is getting better," she said. "Some of his lab work is getting slightly better. He is having surgery tomorrow I do believe."
Lisa Alexander was still being held at the Murray County jail on Tuesday on a $50,000 bond. Her daughter said her mother's arrest was unwarranted.
"It is complete crap," Bethany Alexander said. "There is no freaking way that we neglected him. None of us did."
"I work night shift and sleep during the day," Bethany Alexander claimed. "I hardly got to see him."
WHY HAVEN'T THE ADULT CHILDREN, WHO ALSO LIVED IN THE HOME, BEEN CHARGED AS WELL?
She and her 24-year-old brother Blake Alexander live in the house with her parents, she said. The incident report described the smell in the house as "animal waste mixed with rotting flesh" and the home filled with cobwebs and roaches.
"As I entered the residence, the smell emitting from inside was absolutely rancid," K9 Officer Joshua Malone wrote in the report. "It smelled as though there was animal waste mixed with rotting flesh inside of the house.
"While walking through what appeared to be the living room, I noticed an extremely large amount of cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. These webs contained numerous amounts of bugs and were throughout the entire house."
In the bedroom, Malone wrote that Phillip Alexander was on the bed wearing shorts, socks and running shoes, and the bed "appeared to be extremely dirty." He had gauze bandages taped to his legs.
The room was filled with cockroaches, and there were handheld plastic urinal receptacles that "had brown matter in them that appeared to be decomposing human waste."
Lisa Alexander told Malone the bandages on her husband's legs were "from recent bug bites he received while they were camping."
Bethany Alexander said the family had recently camped on Fort Mountain but did not say when the trip occurred.
While Malone was talking with Lisa Alexander, the report noted "her pupils appeared to be very dilated even when she would look into direct light. This is normally caused by either a medical condition or more commonly through the use of illegal stimulant-type drugs."
When EMS arrived, a stretcher couldn't be taken into the bedroom because of "the large amount of clutter in the residence," Malone wrote.
As Phillip Alexander was being moved on a sheet, Malone noted "a very alarming site on Mr. Alexander's bed, a large moist black spot that was infested with more insects. This spot was directly underneath where he was lying on the bed."
"I then noticed that more cockroaches were in fact crawling over the patient's body while they were placing him onto the stretcher as well," Malone wrote.
After Phillip Alexander was taken to Hamilton Medical Center, medical personnel there contacted the sheriff's office about the severity of his condition. A nurse said "the subject appeared to be extremely neglected and wished to file a report on the matter."
Malone went to the hospital. Phillip Alexander was in a room with a special notice for "precautions" on the door, and another doorway had been blocked off "due to the amount of bugs that came off the patient."
One of the nurses, who told Malone "these were some of the worst sores that she had ever seen on a patient," said Alexander had "both live and dead insects in the infected areas along with maggots."
Malone wrote that the wound on his lower back "was so grotesque that it appeared as though his entire buttocks had rotted from the body."
"The wound appeared to have several more infected and green tissue still connected to it," Malone wrote. "While continuing to look at the wound, it was so deep into the body that you could see what appeared to be the lowest portion of his spinal vertebrae along with his pelvic bones."
On Alexander's legs, Malone documented fresh and old wounds and areas of infection, and the flesh "was black with green 'puss-like' areas from where it was so decayed."
Malone reported Alexander's left foot was "pruning" and "starting to rot" and cockroaches were in the sores.
VICTIM'S MEDICATION EITHER BEING SOLD OR TAKEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS WHILE VICTIM SUFFERED...
The report said bottles of prescription drugs of oxycodone and hydrocodone which had been filled on Friday were missing pills.
A 60-pill bottle had only approximately 20 pills in it, and a 90-pill bottle had only approximately 30 pills in it.
In Phillip Alexander's drug screen prepared by the hospital, the only drug found in his system was Valium.
When asked about Phillip Alexander's condition, Lisa Alexander told Malone "the sores were from Phillip refusing to take care of himself."
"She stated that they had tried numerous times to help him but he just wanted to sit in a wheelchair in his own waste for two weeks before they were able to clean him up," Malone wrote. "This was very suspicious to me because earlier in the day she stated that they were camping two weeks prior and the sores on the legs were from bug bites."
Malone went back to Crandall and secured the home, and the GBI was called in to assist in the investigation. GBI and Murray County investigators searched the house in protective gear, each with the help of a breathing apparatus.
Animal Control was called to take custody of three dogs tied up outside the house and three cats found inside.
(The Daily Citizen Dalton - June 14, 2017)
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