INDIANA -- Two Wal-Mart employees have been charged with felony animal cruelty after authorities said they followed a manager's orders to shoot and kill a stray cat.
The men, both assistant managers at the store, told police the manager had ordered them to get rid of the animal, which was living in a storage trailer behind their store.
Christopher Anderson, 29, and Jeffrey Hardin, 21, repeatedly shot the cat with a pellet gun from the store until it died, a sheriff's report said.
Wal-Mart conducted an investigation and said it had fired three employees over the incident.
The company did not name the employees.
"We were sickened by this cruelty," Kevin D. Miller, regional vice president for the Arkansas-based retailer, said Thursday.
The company said it planned to donate $10,000 to be shared by the Vanderburgh County and Warrick County humane societies in Indiana.
(Los Angeles Times - Dec 31, 2004)
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Illinois: Dawn Sadoff gets probation for stealing Lipizzaner horse
ILLINOIS -- A Chicago woman was sentenced to 2 years' probation Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to stealing a horse from an Old Town stable last year.
Dawn Sadoff, 44, of the 7500 block of North Rockwell Street was originally charged with burglary and theft for stealing a Lipizzaner horse from the Noble Horse equestrian center, 1410 N. Orleans St., in August 2003.
Sadoff pleaded guilty to one count of theft in exchange for probation. She was also ordered to pay court costs of $490 and to enter drug and alcohol counseling.
Sadoff told police she took the horse because she had not been paid in full for another horse she had sold to the stable. The horse was found a few days later at a suburban stable.
In the Skokie courthouse, Cook County Circuit Judge James Epstein told Sadoff to stay out of trouble.
"If you don't want to see the inside of the penitentiary, you will follow every letter of the probation," he said.
(Chicago Tribune - December 23, 2004)
Earlier:
Dawn Sadoff, 44, of the 7500 block of North Rockwell Street was originally charged with burglary and theft for stealing a Lipizzaner horse from the Noble Horse equestrian center, 1410 N. Orleans St., in August 2003.
Sadoff pleaded guilty to one count of theft in exchange for probation. She was also ordered to pay court costs of $490 and to enter drug and alcohol counseling.
Sadoff told police she took the horse because she had not been paid in full for another horse she had sold to the stable. The horse was found a few days later at a suburban stable.
In the Skokie courthouse, Cook County Circuit Judge James Epstein told Sadoff to stay out of trouble.
"If you don't want to see the inside of the penitentiary, you will follow every letter of the probation," he said.
(Chicago Tribune - December 23, 2004)
Earlier:
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Illinois: New state's attorney John Barsanti doesn't care about animals suffering at the hands of Lynda Smit
ILLINOIS -- In a turn of events brought on largely by the election of a new Kane County state's attorney, Aurora resident Lynda Smith will not face felony animal cruelty charges.
On Nov. 30, former state's attorney Meg Gorecki said Smith faced a possible grand jury indictment after Judge William Brady vacated her July plea to misdemeanor animal cruelty because Smith never signed a waiver of her right to a jury trial on the day of her conviction. Gorecki left office Dec. 1.
The charges stem from Smith's possession of 26 cats and one dog in August and September 2003.
Debra Bree, Kane County assistant state's attorney, said Thursday that she "reviewed the case with John Barsanti, our new state's attorney, and we decided we're not going to take the case to the grand jury for felony charges.
"We've reviewed the evidence, the facts and circumstances of the case and we're just going to go ahead and proceed with a misdemeanor at this time."
Smith said Thursday that she was surprised with the news.
"I'm not guilty," she said, "and I didn't understand how they could do that because I didn't kill animals."
(Chicago Tribune - December 10, 2004)
Earlier:
On Nov. 30, former state's attorney Meg Gorecki said Smith faced a possible grand jury indictment after Judge William Brady vacated her July plea to misdemeanor animal cruelty because Smith never signed a waiver of her right to a jury trial on the day of her conviction. Gorecki left office Dec. 1.
The charges stem from Smith's possession of 26 cats and one dog in August and September 2003.
Debra Bree, Kane County assistant state's attorney, said Thursday that she "reviewed the case with John Barsanti, our new state's attorney, and we decided we're not going to take the case to the grand jury for felony charges.
"We've reviewed the evidence, the facts and circumstances of the case and we're just going to go ahead and proceed with a misdemeanor at this time."
Smith said Thursday that she was surprised with the news.
"I'm not guilty," she said, "and I didn't understand how they could do that because I didn't kill animals."
(Chicago Tribune - December 10, 2004)
Earlier:
Friday, October 29, 2004
Illinois: Kindergartner Anthony Duffy Jr. attacked by pit bull
ILLINOIS -- A Roselle kindergartner who was attacked by a pit bull mix was resting at home Wednesday after undergoing plastic surgery to repair wounds in the back of his head, his father said.
Anthony Duffy Jr. was getting off the school bus in front of his home in the 700 block of Autumn Drive about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday when the dog, which was twice his size, knocked him to the ground, said his father, Anthony.
The dog bit the boy in the head, leaving 4-inch and 6-inch wounds, before a contractor working on a nearby home rushed over and helped the boy's mother pull the dog away, Duffy said.
"He ran across shouting and basically got the dog off him for enough time that my wife could get him in the house," Duffy said. "It was pretty traumatic."
Anthony Jr. underwent surgery in Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village Tuesday night and was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, his father said.
"He's gonna be OK," Duffy said. "We're just really thankful that it wasn't worse."
The dog also bit the hand of a 56-year-old woman who was walking in the neighborhood, police said. The woman was treated and released from the same hospital.
The dog's owner, Jason Devincent, who lives on the same block, was cited for having a dog at-large and not licensing the dog. Devincent told police he had not realized his dog had escaped from a fenced yard.
The dog was turned over to DuPage County Animal Care & Control and euthanized Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Anthony Jr. is the youngest of five children, and the family does not have any pets, Duffy said.
"We were talking about maybe getting a puppy for his birthday, but I think we're going to put that on the back burner," he said.
(Chicago Tribune - October 28, 2004)
Anthony Duffy Jr. was getting off the school bus in front of his home in the 700 block of Autumn Drive about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday when the dog, which was twice his size, knocked him to the ground, said his father, Anthony.
The dog bit the boy in the head, leaving 4-inch and 6-inch wounds, before a contractor working on a nearby home rushed over and helped the boy's mother pull the dog away, Duffy said.
"He ran across shouting and basically got the dog off him for enough time that my wife could get him in the house," Duffy said. "It was pretty traumatic."
Anthony Jr. underwent surgery in Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village Tuesday night and was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, his father said.
"He's gonna be OK," Duffy said. "We're just really thankful that it wasn't worse."
The dog also bit the hand of a 56-year-old woman who was walking in the neighborhood, police said. The woman was treated and released from the same hospital.
The dog's owner, Jason Devincent, who lives on the same block, was cited for having a dog at-large and not licensing the dog. Devincent told police he had not realized his dog had escaped from a fenced yard.
The dog was turned over to DuPage County Animal Care & Control and euthanized Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Anthony Jr. is the youngest of five children, and the family does not have any pets, Duffy said.
"We were talking about maybe getting a puppy for his birthday, but I think we're going to put that on the back burner," he said.
(Chicago Tribune - October 28, 2004)
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Illinois: Cat hoarder Lynda Smith, 63, appealing her animal cruelty conviction
ILLINOIS -- Aurora resident Lynda Smith, convicted in July of keeping 26 sick and malnourished cats and one dog, is seeking a new trial contending she didn't understand the documents she signed before a Kane County judge found her guilty of animal cruelty.
HOARDED CATS IN TWO HOUSES
Smith, 63, also said she did not get to present evidence in her defense and had ineffective counsel. She is accused of keeping the animals at her home and her brother's, both on Aurora's east side. Aurora Animal Control reported removing most of the animals from Smith's brother's home over a year ago.
Her brother has not been charged. Smith said Friday she wants her day in court.
"I have never been cruel to an animal," she said. "If it's smaller than me or handicapped, or older or can't fight back, I'm not going to take advantage or hurt or maim it. That's not me."
Smith, who has Parkinson's disease and asthma, said she signed the papers because she feared going to prison. She was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty and failure of owner's duties. Judge William Brady sentenced her to 24 months' probation. She agreed to inspections of her home in the 800 block of George Avenue and was barred from keeping animals.
The city has started foreclosure proceedings. Smith owes nearly $10,000 in property code violation fines.
(Chicago Tribune - Oct 23, 2004)
Earlier:
HOARDED CATS IN TWO HOUSES
Smith, 63, also said she did not get to present evidence in her defense and had ineffective counsel. She is accused of keeping the animals at her home and her brother's, both on Aurora's east side. Aurora Animal Control reported removing most of the animals from Smith's brother's home over a year ago.
Her brother has not been charged. Smith said Friday she wants her day in court.
"I have never been cruel to an animal," she said. "If it's smaller than me or handicapped, or older or can't fight back, I'm not going to take advantage or hurt or maim it. That's not me."
Smith, who has Parkinson's disease and asthma, said she signed the papers because she feared going to prison. She was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty and failure of owner's duties. Judge William Brady sentenced her to 24 months' probation. She agreed to inspections of her home in the 800 block of George Avenue and was barred from keeping animals.
The city has started foreclosure proceedings. Smith owes nearly $10,000 in property code violation fines.
(Chicago Tribune - Oct 23, 2004)
Earlier:
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Oklahoma: James Cox attacked by his own dog. Neighbor shot Rottweiler, killing it
OKLAHOMA -- At about 9:20 p.m. on July 26, a Rottweiler belonging to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, resident James Cox suddenly attacked Cox and began viciously biting one of his legs. Several neighbors ran to help the beleaguered pet owner, but could not control the dog, which began menacing the rescuers.
Another neighbor, Michael Bigler, was outside in his wheelchair when he realized what was happening. Quickly wheeling himself into his house, he emerged with a handgun and fatally shot the dog.
Cox was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his leg wounds. The Oklahoman newspaper reported the next day that police "don't expect any criminal charges against Bigler" since, in the words of a department spokesman, he was "trying to protect people."
(The New American - September 20, 2004)
Another neighbor, Michael Bigler, was outside in his wheelchair when he realized what was happening. Quickly wheeling himself into his house, he emerged with a handgun and fatally shot the dog.
Cox was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his leg wounds. The Oklahoman newspaper reported the next day that police "don't expect any criminal charges against Bigler" since, in the words of a department spokesman, he was "trying to protect people."
(The New American - September 20, 2004)
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Florida: Animal Control officer mauled by two pit bulls before another officer manages to shoot and kill one
FLORIDA -- Frank Baldwin could see the blood dripping in front of his left eye as the two pit bulls sank their teeth into his body.
The Martin County Animal Control officer knew he had to get to his feet if he was going to live. He pushed himself up off his stomach, feeling the bite that tore his ear, but using sheer will to continue the fight.
"I just knew that I had to get that dog before it went after somebody else," Baldwin said Friday. "This was a level of viciousness that I had not experienced before."
One dog involved in the Wednesday night attack was shot and killed by a state environmental officer. The second was captured. Authorities are seeking criminal and civil charges against their owners.
Though he sat in pain, with a partly mangled face, the 130-pound, 23-year-old vowed to continue serving.
"I want to go back. I don't have any fears about going back," he said. "I like doing what I do. As soon as I can get back out on the road, I want to be there."
The attack came after Baldwin was called to a home off Dixie Highway and Alicia Street on a report that a jogger and a bicyclist had been bitten by a pit pull.
He arrived to find the animal charging the state officer's vehicle before it turned and charged at his own vehicle. Though the other man was armed, Baldwin knew he had the training and tools to handle the dog, so he got out of his vehicle and went to work.
The noose on the end of Baldwin's catch pole kept getting twisted but he finally had the dog cornered between the house and the back yard fence.
"I just about had the noose around his head when I saw the other pit bull squeeze out of the top half of the gate on the fence," he said. "It got stuck just a little bit and gave me just a second to draw my baton because I knew they were going to come after me."
The attack was on.
"And I hit the ground," he said. "That's when I really felt one of them bite my ear, one of them bite my face," he said. "The only thing I was thinking when I was on the ground was that I had to get back up.
"I pushed up with my hands. ... I could see drops of blood just falling in front of my left eye."
During the attacks, George LeBanc pulled up and opened his door for Baldwin.
Sheriff's deputies and firefighters arrived to help, whisking the officer to the hospital.
"We kind of lost count on the stitches," he said. "I still have my eye, which I'm very thankful for. It could have been a lot worse."
Baldwin credited those who stopped to help with saving his life.
"If it had just been me and those dogs," he said, "I do not believe I would have survived."
(Sun Sentinel - August 28, 2004)
The Martin County Animal Control officer knew he had to get to his feet if he was going to live. He pushed himself up off his stomach, feeling the bite that tore his ear, but using sheer will to continue the fight.
"I just knew that I had to get that dog before it went after somebody else," Baldwin said Friday. "This was a level of viciousness that I had not experienced before."
One dog involved in the Wednesday night attack was shot and killed by a state environmental officer. The second was captured. Authorities are seeking criminal and civil charges against their owners.
Though he sat in pain, with a partly mangled face, the 130-pound, 23-year-old vowed to continue serving.
"I want to go back. I don't have any fears about going back," he said. "I like doing what I do. As soon as I can get back out on the road, I want to be there."
The attack came after Baldwin was called to a home off Dixie Highway and Alicia Street on a report that a jogger and a bicyclist had been bitten by a pit pull.
He arrived to find the animal charging the state officer's vehicle before it turned and charged at his own vehicle. Though the other man was armed, Baldwin knew he had the training and tools to handle the dog, so he got out of his vehicle and went to work.
The noose on the end of Baldwin's catch pole kept getting twisted but he finally had the dog cornered between the house and the back yard fence.
"I just about had the noose around his head when I saw the other pit bull squeeze out of the top half of the gate on the fence," he said. "It got stuck just a little bit and gave me just a second to draw my baton because I knew they were going to come after me."
The attack was on.
"And I hit the ground," he said. "That's when I really felt one of them bite my ear, one of them bite my face," he said. "The only thing I was thinking when I was on the ground was that I had to get back up.
"I pushed up with my hands. ... I could see drops of blood just falling in front of my left eye."
During the attacks, George LeBanc pulled up and opened his door for Baldwin.
Sheriff's deputies and firefighters arrived to help, whisking the officer to the hospital.
"We kind of lost count on the stitches," he said. "I still have my eye, which I'm very thankful for. It could have been a lot worse."
Baldwin credited those who stopped to help with saving his life.
"If it had just been me and those dogs," he said, "I do not believe I would have survived."
(Sun Sentinel - August 28, 2004)
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