North Carolina: Convicted felon David Penley, 38, charged with animal cruelty after allegedly killing woman's pet chickens

NORTH CAROLINA -- Asheville police have charged a man with felony cruelty to animals, according to a warrant on file at the Buncombe County Magistrate’s Office.

David Lee Penley, 38, of Narbeth Road, was charged with cruelty stemming from an incident involving a pet chicken, according to the warrant.

Christina Hallingse, public information officer for the Asheville Police Department, said police responded to a report of a “civil disturbance."

Just after midnight Monday, Jill Prescott said she called 911. Prescott said she was awakened by the sounds of “chickens screaming."

She ran outside and “I was screaming at the top of my lungs, please put them down.”

Prescott said the animals were held by the neck, shaken and thrown down onto the ground. One of the animals survived. The other was killed.

The incident occurred less than two weeks after Prescott reported the theft of a chicken from her gated yard.

Prescott said the animals are pets.

Penley previously was jailed for involuntary manslaughter, according to court records.

In 2010, he was charged with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing of a man at a party. Twice a jury deadlocked and failed to reach a verdict.

In February of 2013, following the second mistrial, Penley pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to 25 to 30 months in prison, according to the Buncombe County Clerk of Court office.

Records from the N.C. Department of Public Safety indicate he was released from prison in December 2013.

(Asheville Citizen-Times - Feb 22, 2016)

Zachary Pinedo, 22, being sought by police after they say he shook a puppy to death

ILLINOIS -- An Illinois man is accused of shaking a 6-week-old puppy, Lily, so severely that it led to the pet being euthanized, police said.

Zachary A. Pinedo, 22, of Thornton, Ill., was charged this week with two counts of animal cruelty, as a Level 6 felony and as a Class A misdemeanor. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department began investigating Pinedo after they were called to the Calumet Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Schererville.

Pinedo took Lily, a bit bull mix, to the clinic Aug. 30 after shaking her, because she had defecated on him, according to a news release. Pinedo allegedly told officials the incident happened while they were inside his car in Schneider.

As a result of her injuries, Lily had to be euthanized. A necropsy by the Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory determined the puppy had severe brain trauma, police said. Lily weighed 5.9 pounds.

Anyone with information about Pinedo's whereabouts is asked to call Lake County sheriff's police at (219) 755-3333.

(NWI Times - Nov 12, 2015)

Florida: Homeless man, Ray Comer, accused of beating, shaking and strangling his Doxie named Baby Susie to death in South Daytona

FLORIDA -- A 56-year-old homeless man was arrested Sunday in South Daytona on allegations of strangling his pet Dachshund to death with a shoelace as others watched in horror.

Ray Comer was arrested on felony animal cruelty charges in the death of his dog, Baby Susie.

Police said at least three witnesses called authorities while watching Comer "shake, beat and strangle" the dog.

The beige and tan dog, which Comer said was about a year old, was found dead in the 2700 block of South Ridgewood, according to police.

Authorities said Comer left his Florida identification card lying next to the dog’s body.  Police found Comer sitting on a sidewalk on South Ridgewood, near Sandusky Road, and he told them that he wanted to be arrested.

Comer was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail.

(ClickOrlando - April 20, 2015)

Texas: Gerald Davison may have been targeting wife when he tortured and beat Schnauzer

TEXAS -- A case of extreme animal cruelty has landed a local man in jail.

Gerald Davison is charged with animal cruelty. Investigators said on January 13 Davison beat a small dog so badly the schnauzer is at an animal hospital with brain damage.

The five-year-old dog named Chester is also paralyzed said a spokesperson with Animal Care Services (ACS).

When an area emergency hospital for animals took in the dog, workers say they knew the injuries were intentional.

Authorities said the dog was injured during a domestic dispute with Davison's wife.

Sandra Leticia Morales Davison owns Chester. She told police the she and her husband were in an argument over Chester when he grabbed the little dog and was violently shaking him and slamming his head against the wall, and then a bathroom tub.

 

Police say a friend tried to stop Gerald, and eventually managed to get the dog away from him.

"The animal at this time is still alive, but it's paralyzed and it has some serious body injuries that it's overcoming while it's in the hospital," says ACS' Vincent Medley.

Now, 30-year old Davison is in a good deal of trouble.

"Domestic violence and animal cruelty are closely linked. A lot of times the pets are treated worse or as poorly as people in the home are being treated," says Medley. "One partner may say to the other, 'Hey, if you do this or that, then the dog's going to get it.'"

 If convicted, Gerald Davison could face up to ten years in prison.

UPDATE: Chester the little schnauzer who was paralyzed after an assault, is expected to go to a veterinary rehabilitation soon.

(KENS - Jan 28, 2011)