Georgia: Charles Smith, 38, kept his English Bulldogs locked in feces and urine-filled cages and beat one so badly he paralyzed it, say police

GEORGIA -- A Carroll County man is out of jail on bond, accused of abusing his three English Bulldogs, paralyzing one of them.

Charles Smith, 38, is charged with three counts of animal cruelty.

According to Capt. Keith Shaddix of the Villa Rica Police Department, Smith apparently kept the dogs in cages. Animal Control officers removed the dogs from Smith's home on March 10. Smith was arrested March 19.

Officers said the skin off all three dogs showed signs of "urine scald," a condition that happens when an animal is forced to lie in its own urine and feces for an extended period of time. One of the dogs had been apparently beaten so badly, his back legs were paralyzed.

Smith is out of jail on $12,500 bond. He declined to answer the door when a reporter went to his Maple Street home seeking comment.

Carroll County Press Release
On March 10, 2017 Carroll County Animal Control Officers made the Villa Rica Police Department aware of the seizure of (3) dogs from a Maple Street residence. Animal Control Officers provided details and witness statements from neighbors who witnessed the dog’s owner Charles Smith, 38 years old, from Villa Rica, verbally and physically abuse the (3) dogs.

After CCAC seized the (3) dogs, they were taken (by CCAC) to Bowdon Animal Hospital where they were treated for severe neglect.

One of the dogs is currently being treated by Bowdon Animal Hospital veterinarians for paralysis to its back legs as a result of not only abuse, but lack of care for the its injuries. That particular dog also suffered from “urine scald” as a result of being allowed to lay in its own urine and feces for extended periods of time.

The (2) other dogs were also treated for urine scald as well as Tyoderma which is a skin infection related to neglect.

A criminal investigation was then initiated by the Villa Rica Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. As a result of both CCAC and VRPD investigations Charles Smith was arrested on March 19, 2017 for (1) count of aggravated animal cruelty and (2) counts of cruelty to animals.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Charles Prentice Smith
Gender: Male
Block: 100 Maple St
City: Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
Height: 5'08"
Weight: 140 lbs

Date: 03/20/2017
Location: Carroll County, GA
Total Bond: $12,500
Charges
#1 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
STATUTE: 16-12-4 (B) (MISDEMEANOR)

#2 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
STATUTE: 16-12-4 (B) (MISDEMEANOR)

#3 AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
STATUTE: 16-12-4(C) (FELONY)

(CBS46 - March 22, 2017)

Maryland: Joseph Bowers, Jr., 43, found GUILTY of 37 COUNTS of animal cruelty... but gets no fines, NO jail time, and just 3 years of probation

MARYLAND -- On Monday, Oct. 24, Joseph A. Bowers, Jr., 43, was found guilty of 37 counts of animal cruelty in Washington County District Court. Bowers had been charged by the Humane Society of Washington County.

HSWC Field Service Officers seized two horses belonging to Bowers on Jan. 22 of this year. At the time, he was charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty for failure to provide food, water, veterinary care and causing unnecessary pain and suffering.

On April 1, the HSWC received a complaint concerning the welfare of additional horses owned by Bowers. A search and seizure warrant was served at the location of the horses on April 3.

A total of five horses were removed from two separate properties by the HSWC.

Of those seized, some were found emaciated inside of a barn, standing in up to two feet of manure and urine. Two of the emaciated horses were pregnant and due within weeks. Several horses had urine scald on their bodies. They were infested with parasites and in critical condition.

After that seizure, Bowers was then charged with 25 additional counts of animal cruelty for failure to provide food, water, veterinary care, proper space and causing unnecessary pain and suffering.

“I think this case has set a precedent for large animals, especially horses, in Washington County,” Field Services Officer Crystal Mowery said. “There is a standard of care that must be upheld for these animals, and if not, there will be consequences.”

TYPICAL OF ANIMAL CRIMES, PERPETRATOR GETS SLAP ON WRIST
On Monday, Bowers was sentenced to a 90-day suspended sentence on all charges for a total of 21 months. He must serve a three year period of supervised probation with all fines waived.

Bowers must forfeit all of his seized horses and must downsize his herd to one horse per two acres of land. Judge Mark Thomas also ordered Bowers to complete a mental evaluation.

Finally, the HSWC is permitted to inspect all properties owned or leased by Bowers, including inside of barns.

Probation just means don't get arrested in the next three years. Otherwise, he can go on with his life as usual. He wasn't required to pay for any medical care provided to the animals he abused, doesn't have to pay any fines (which could have gone towards more animal control officers, more training for officers, funding for injured stray animals found, etc.), doesn't have to spend a single night in a jail cell... all he has to do is sell off some of his animals and put up with animal control coming by to check on things maybe once or twice a year. 

The Humane Society of Washington County exists to promote the welfare of companion and domestic animals through educational programs and initiatives that reduce pet overpopulation, endorse fostering, enrich adoptions and encourage responsible pet guardianship.

Full Name: Joseph A Bowers
Address: 10831 Coffman Rd
City: Hagerstown
State: MD
Zip Code: 21740
Date of Birth: 08/xx/1973
Race: White
Charging County: Washington County, Maryland
Case Number: 6V00094331
Charge: Animal Cruelty
Statute: CR.10.604.(a)(1)(2)(3)
Type:
Charge Date: 03/25/2016

(Your4State - Oct 27, 2016)

Tennessee man sues Animal Control after he says his dog was neglected while it was in their care

TENNESSEE --A Hendersonville man suing Sumner County Animal Control says deputies left his dog to starve and lying in its feces and urine, causing physical injury to the animal.

Jason Corlew recently filed the lawsuit in Sumner County Circuit Court. In the complaint, he states a Great Dane named Chief was neglected and improperly cared for. The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office oversees animal control.

On Aug. 22, animal control deputies detained Corlew’s companion dog to put it under quarantine. Chief was detained for aggressive behavior toward a young child of a family caring for the dog while Corlew’s family was on a trip. Due to the dog's actions, the child sustained “an unfortunate cut” on the face that required medical attention, according to court documents.

Chief was at the county-run facility for about 11 days.

Two days later, Corlew spoke with animal control Sgt. Sean Ryan and provided food for his dog, the lawsuit states. On Aug. 25, Corlew gave the agency copies of the animal’s vaccination records.

Negligence claimed 
The lawsuit says that on Sept. 2, Corlew went to pick up Chief and found the dog lying in its feces and urine. The dog was swollen in some areas and had numerous sores, burns from urine and dried feces on its body, the lawsuit says.

“The canine had so much feces that his paws were severely irritated and ‘burning off,’” Corlew’s attorney Roland Mumford wrote in the complaint.

Chief was immediately taken to a veterinarian, who determined the animal had lost 40 pounds, was emaciated and had a blood infection. Because Chief had laid down for too long, his joints were filled with fluid, Mumford wrote.

The facility was not properly maintained and exhibited “dangerous or defective” conditions, the lawsuit says. More specifically, the facility did not offer proper floor drainage for feces and urine. The unit where Chief stayed was not cleaned of bodily waste nor was the dog bathed, the document says.

Additionally, agency staff failed to inform Corlew of the dog’s condition or provide veterinary care, the complaint says.

Compensation sought
Corlew, who incurred $600 for veterinary bills, is asking for $1,000 in compensation, court costs and attorney fees, among other granted entitlements. The plaintiff also asks the court to issue a declaration stating that his companion animal was neglected and suffered damages.

 

Further, Corlew wants the court to require animal control to “repair the dangerous or defective conditions” and provide a “proper slope and angle” for drainage so that animals no longer remain pooled in their own urine and feces, the lawsuit says.

County Attorney Leah May Dennen said she recently received the litigation and has not had time to examine it.

“It will be answered in a timely manner,” Dennen said.

The county has 60 days to respond.

(Tennessean - Nov 20, 2015)

Earlier:

• Sheriff disputes abuse allegations as dog owner prepares to sue county

United Kingdom: Former Horncastle mayor Pamela Crisp-Beard and her daughter Maria Crisp-Beard deny their 50+ animals were being hoarded in horrific conditions

UNITED KINGDOM -- A former Mayor of Horncastle and her daughter kept animals in such unhygienic and squalid conditions that a vet judged they would likely suffer if they continued to stay there, a court heard.

Pamela Crisp-Beard and her daughter Maria Crisp-Beard appeared at Skegness Magistrates Court as a trial continued into six offences all relating to animal welfare. They deny all the allegations.

  

Pamela Crisp-Beard was Mayor of Horncastle between May 1997 and May 1998 and was a town councillor until 2011.

The charges relate to over 50 animals including 15 rabbits, a golden pheasant, two guinea pigs, five mice, two rats, a cat, two dogs, four ducks, a goose and 22 chickens.

The court heard that conditions at the Linden Road two-story house were so bad there was a strong smell of feces and urine.

It was said the house was dark, cold and cluttered with cages and hutches stacked on top of each other. Animal feces was even found on cutlery, the magistrates were told.

It was said many of the animals did not have reasonable access to food, they were living on dirty straw and that where water was provided it was dirty.

RSPCA inspectors first visited the property on January 16 this year where the animals were seen and five animal warning notices were issued.

RSPCA inspector Rebecca Lowe told the court: “It was completely cluttered. There was not much general walking space, there were things about everywhere. The premises was not clean. There was a smell from the front door of ammonia and feces.”

Ms Lowe said cockerels had been placed in cat baskets stacked on top of each other.

She said: “We asked to remove them immediately and take them outside. I saw three cockerels come out of one of the baskets. Cat baskets are not suitable for one cockerel let alone three.”

The RSPCA returned to the property on January 29 but were told to return the next day.

They returned on January 30 accompanied by two police officers.

Ms Lowe said the conditions did not look any different apart from some cat baskets had been removed from the kitchen, some animals had clean straw but piled on dirty straw and the pheasant had been moved from the utility room to a shed.

Annaliese Leslie, who at the time was working for Marshlands Vets in Boston, was called to assess the animals.

Based on her report that the animals would suffer if they continued to stay there, the animals were seized by police.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Beris Brickles, asked Miss Leslie on the suitability of conditions for the animals.

Annaliese Leslie, who at the time was working for Marshlands Vets in Boston, was called to assess the animals.

Based on her report that the animals would suffer if they continued to stay there, the animals were seized by police.

Prosecuting for the RSPCA, Beris Brickles, asked Miss Leslie on the suitability of conditions for the animals.

She told the court one shed containing five roaming rabbits was knee-deep in compacted faeces.

She said: “It was very, very deep compacted feces - It was knee deep. The rabbits had created a network of tunnels through this. You had to take a step up to get into the shed. It was about 18 inches deep I would say.”

Speaking about the pheasant she said the bird was extremely dirty which was not natural. She said: “It would need a bath over some time to help get himself clean.”

The court heard the RSPCA inspectors had struggled to identify the bird.

The vet added: “The house was very dark, dirty and there was extreme level of clutter. Surfaces were dirty and there was cutlery with animal faeces.”

The court heard a number of the rabbits were underweight and two had signs of urine scald (urine burn) where their fur was coming out.

Miss Leslie told the court this could have been prevented from being in a clean environment.

The rabbits had since put on weight after being rescued.

She said a cat was found to be greasy and dirty and was stained from urine.

She said: “For him to be exposed to so much dirt and feces to be dyed by it, than that is a long time issue.”

The court also heard a rat was living in a cage smaller than its body length.

Ms Leslie said there was plenty of advice available from vets, the RSPCA and the Defra code of conduct for people to get advice on the best conditions for their pets.

 

In cross examination, Ruth Harrop questioned the access to clean water issue stating that some animals choose to drink outside.

The court heard none of the animals were found to be dehydrated and apart from two rabbits there was no clinical concern found in the other animals.

A parrot was the only animal not seized. Two ferrets had been rehomed by the Crisp-Beards by the time of the RSPCA’s final visit.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday when the defence case will be heard.

Pamela Crisp-Beard also faces two charges of being in charge of a dog which was dangerously out of control in a public place.

(Lincolnshire Echo - Dec 13, 2014)