MISSISSIPPI -- Siblings accused of tying a dog to a pipe and leaving it in the summer heat with no food, water or shelter pleaded not guilty in Adams County Justice Court.
The Natchez Democrat reports 29-year-old Robert Lewis and 30-year-old Natasha Lewis Short were booked into the county jail Aug. 10 on a charge of animal cruelty.
After the defendants made their initial plea Tuesday, Judge Patricia Dunmore appointed an attorney to defend them because a conviction has the possibility of up to six months jail time.
No trial date has been set for the matter.
(WAPT - Sept 30, 2015)
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Vermont: More than 70 animals suffered at the hands of Russell Goodell, 50. He's allowed to plead no contest to 2 counts of animal cruelty and gets probation
VERMONT -- One of the suspects in ongoing animal cruelty investigation in Eden entered a plea agreement Wednesday.
Russell Goodwell, 50, was living in a room in the Eden home where more than 70 animals were relinquished to humane workers in February. Goodell was the caretaker for two dogs named "Peanut" and "Reba." He plead no contest to two animal cruelty charges.
The dogs, cats and duck found inside the home were living in boxes and cages, according to humane workers. The animals were found underfed and dehydrated.
Goodell surrendered the two dogs that lived in his room to rescue workers during the massive rescue.
"He understands now the level of care the dogs received was not up to what society would believe it should be," said Mark Keller, Goodell's lawyer.
As part of the plea agreement Goodell will serve five years probation with a suspended sentence of up to one year in jail. During his probation period, he is not allowed to own or live in a home with animals. A town humane officer will make unannounced visits to make sure he complies.
"Having witnessed the kind of misery these animals were living in I think personally I would prefer someone who kept animals like this never own another animal ever," said Deborah Loring, Spring Hill Horse Rescue.
The other suspect in the case is Carol Merchant. She was the primary owner of the majority of the animals. She plead not guilty to felony charges earlier this year.
Lamoille County State's Attorney Paul Finnerty called the entire ordeal horrible. In court, he voiced his hope that Goodell will think twice if he ever owns a pet again.
"The state's hope is that by admitting responsibility and participating in the reparative board, that Mr. Goodell will gain some insight into the seriousness of the charges and the community will be made whole," Finnerty said.
Merchant is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 7.
(WPTZ - Oct 2, 2015)
Earlier:
Russell Goodwell, 50, was living in a room in the Eden home where more than 70 animals were relinquished to humane workers in February. Goodell was the caretaker for two dogs named "Peanut" and "Reba." He plead no contest to two animal cruelty charges.
The dogs, cats and duck found inside the home were living in boxes and cages, according to humane workers. The animals were found underfed and dehydrated.
Goodell surrendered the two dogs that lived in his room to rescue workers during the massive rescue.
"He understands now the level of care the dogs received was not up to what society would believe it should be," said Mark Keller, Goodell's lawyer.
As part of the plea agreement Goodell will serve five years probation with a suspended sentence of up to one year in jail. During his probation period, he is not allowed to own or live in a home with animals. A town humane officer will make unannounced visits to make sure he complies.
The police affidavit lists 10 dogs that were in particularly bad shape. Here are some of the dozens of health conditions described in the affidavit, all of which include filth and feces:
Destiny, a 7-year-old boxer mix, was emaciated, covered with open wounds, and was vomiting feces. Her digestive system was “overwhelmed” by parasites.
Jack, a German shorthair mix of unknown age, had a scar on his side, a badly overgrown nail and his muscles were wasting away.
Jaxon, a 3-year-old pit bull mix, had similar conditions, and lots of tartar on his teeth.
Mia, a 5-year-old boxer mix, had a bloody tail, ulcers on her hip bones, and swollen pads on her feet.Brutus, a 2-year-old pit bull mix, was badly dehydrated, and had mange and pressure sores on his hocks.
Murphy, a 2-year-old pit bull mix, had a weepy eye, mange, dermatitis and a lesion on the tip of his tail.
Angie, a 5-year-old terrier mix, had overgrown nails, was extremely dirty and was covered with feces and soaked with urine.
Buddy, a Pekingese between 5 and 7 years old, was difficult to examine because of the amount of “matting” of excrement and dirt, but had a raft of problems with his eyes, and toenails that were so badly ingrown only two of them could initially be removed.
Roscoe, a dachshund mix of unknown age, had weepy eyes and tapeworms.
"Having witnessed the kind of misery these animals were living in I think personally I would prefer someone who kept animals like this never own another animal ever," said Deborah Loring, Spring Hill Horse Rescue.
The other suspect in the case is Carol Merchant. She was the primary owner of the majority of the animals. She plead not guilty to felony charges earlier this year.
Lamoille County State's Attorney Paul Finnerty called the entire ordeal horrible. In court, he voiced his hope that Goodell will think twice if he ever owns a pet again.
"The state's hope is that by admitting responsibility and participating in the reparative board, that Mr. Goodell will gain some insight into the seriousness of the charges and the community will be made whole," Finnerty said.
Merchant is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 7.
(WPTZ - Oct 2, 2015)
Earlier:
High court upholds horse owner Bruce Bona’s animal cruelty conviction
VERMONT -- The state’s highest court has upheld a jury conviction for a Lyndon man charged with animal cruelty after police found dead and emaciated horses on his property.
Bruce Bona was charged with 21 counts of animal cruelty last year after horses were found neglected and lacking proper food and water on his ranch.
Authorities say some of the horses were reportedly near death and were standing in over a foot of manure. At least three horses were found dead on the property, covered up with debris.
Bona was convicted on 17 of the counts in Caledonia Superior Court and was later sentenced to spend 15 days in prison as part of a suspended sentence of 20 months to five years.
The 65-year-old must also pay more than $22,000 in restitution. He has not begun serving his sentence due to the pending appeal.
A panel of Justices affirmed Bona’s conviction on Wednesday.
(Rutland Herald - Oct 3, 2015)
Earlier:
Bruce Bona was charged with 21 counts of animal cruelty last year after horses were found neglected and lacking proper food and water on his ranch.
Authorities say some of the horses were reportedly near death and were standing in over a foot of manure. At least three horses were found dead on the property, covered up with debris.
 |
| The horses were so hungry they were eating the wooden fencing. |
Bona was convicted on 17 of the counts in Caledonia Superior Court and was later sentenced to spend 15 days in prison as part of a suspended sentence of 20 months to five years.
The 65-year-old must also pay more than $22,000 in restitution. He has not begun serving his sentence due to the pending appeal.
A panel of Justices affirmed Bona’s conviction on Wednesday.
(Rutland Herald - Oct 3, 2015)
Earlier:
Animal control officer, Vincent Ascolese, 48, accused of animal cruelty, cutting fawn’s throat
NEW JERSEY -- The man normally responsible for the humane care and control of animals in parts of Northern New Jersey is being accused of animal cruelty — after allegedly cutting an injured fawn’s throat.
Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator (ACI), Vincent Ascolese, 48, of Edgewater was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the group announced Friday.
Ascolese is the director and supervising animal control officer for North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield, and the director at the Bergen County Protection and Rescue Shelter in Cliffside Park. Both shelters provide animal control services in multiple jurisdictions in Bergen and Essex Counties, the NJSPCA said.
Acting Bloomfield township administrator Sam DeMaio said Friday that the town does not run its own shelter, but contracts animal control services with Ascolese's agency.
Town officials will be watching the outcome of the accusations, DeMaio said.
"We will not tolerate animal cruelty," he said. If Ascolese is convicted of the accusations, "we will move immediately to terminate (Bloomfield's) contract" with the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter, he said.
Ascolese also serves as the director of the Bergen County Protection and Rescue Shelter in Cliffside Park, officials said. Both agencies he heads service multiple areas in Bergen and Essex Counties, they said.
Ascolese allegedly euthanized an injured fawn by method of exsanguination with a knife, by cutting the fawn’s throat. Exsanguination is not an approved method of euthanasia in the State of New Jerseym the NJSPCA said.
He was charged with “needlessly killing a living animal and “failure to provide necessary care” in addition to several counts of cruelty to animals at the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield for allegedly failing to provide proper shelter, food and necessary care.
He is due in Bloomfield Municipal Court Oct. 14 on the charges
(NJ 101.5 - Oct 2, 2015)
Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator (ACI), Vincent Ascolese, 48, of Edgewater was charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the group announced Friday.
Ascolese is the director and supervising animal control officer for North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield, and the director at the Bergen County Protection and Rescue Shelter in Cliffside Park. Both shelters provide animal control services in multiple jurisdictions in Bergen and Essex Counties, the NJSPCA said.
Acting Bloomfield township administrator Sam DeMaio said Friday that the town does not run its own shelter, but contracts animal control services with Ascolese's agency.
Town officials will be watching the outcome of the accusations, DeMaio said.
"We will not tolerate animal cruelty," he said. If Ascolese is convicted of the accusations, "we will move immediately to terminate (Bloomfield's) contract" with the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter, he said.
Ascolese also serves as the director of the Bergen County Protection and Rescue Shelter in Cliffside Park, officials said. Both agencies he heads service multiple areas in Bergen and Essex Counties, they said.
Ascolese allegedly euthanized an injured fawn by method of exsanguination with a knife, by cutting the fawn’s throat. Exsanguination is not an approved method of euthanasia in the State of New Jerseym the NJSPCA said.
He was charged with “needlessly killing a living animal and “failure to provide necessary care” in addition to several counts of cruelty to animals at the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter in Bloomfield for allegedly failing to provide proper shelter, food and necessary care.
He is due in Bloomfield Municipal Court Oct. 14 on the charges
(NJ 101.5 - Oct 2, 2015)
Quarryville hoarder, Ethan Alan Carter, 53, faces 22 charges of animal cruelty
PENNSYLVANIA -- Nearly two dozen charges of animal cruelty have been filed against a 53-year-old Quarryville man.
Ethan Alan Carter, of Lime Street, faces 22 separate counts of cruelty after the menagerie — 12 dogs, four chinchillas, three cats, two cockatiels and a snake — were seized from his home on Sept. 24.
Charges were filed Sept. 30 before District Judge Stuart Mylin, according to a series of criminal dockets.
Acting on a warrant, local animal cruelty officers seized the animals after a zoning complaint was filed against Carter.
The arresting officer, Jennifer Nields, said at the time it was “definitely a hoarding situation.”
The animals, which were taken to the Lancaster County SPCA, all showed signs of neglect, including mange, according to SPCA director Susan Martin.
“They were living in horrible conditions, many were living in their own feces,” Martin said at the time. Two of the dogs, for instance, were kept in tiny, filthy cages in a dark basement, she said.
The three cats were euthanized after testing positive for feline leukemia, Martin said. Otherwise, the animals are all available for adoption or have already found new homes.
One terrier mix and 10 pugs have been adopted, she said, leaving one terrier still up for adoption. The chinchillas and birds are also available at the SPCA’s shelter at 848 S. Prince St.
The snake was given to That Fish Place/That Pet Place for rehoming.
(LancasterOnline - Oct 2, 2015)
Ethan Alan Carter, of Lime Street, faces 22 separate counts of cruelty after the menagerie — 12 dogs, four chinchillas, three cats, two cockatiels and a snake — were seized from his home on Sept. 24.
Charges were filed Sept. 30 before District Judge Stuart Mylin, according to a series of criminal dockets.
The arresting officer, Jennifer Nields, said at the time it was “definitely a hoarding situation.”
The animals, which were taken to the Lancaster County SPCA, all showed signs of neglect, including mange, according to SPCA director Susan Martin.
“They were living in horrible conditions, many were living in their own feces,” Martin said at the time. Two of the dogs, for instance, were kept in tiny, filthy cages in a dark basement, she said.
The three cats were euthanized after testing positive for feline leukemia, Martin said. Otherwise, the animals are all available for adoption or have already found new homes.
One terrier mix and 10 pugs have been adopted, she said, leaving one terrier still up for adoption. The chinchillas and birds are also available at the SPCA’s shelter at 848 S. Prince St.
The snake was given to That Fish Place/That Pet Place for rehoming.
(LancasterOnline - Oct 2, 2015)
Owners horrified as cat almost drowned in shocking paint attack
AUSTRALIA - The RSPCA will investigate after a cat was allegedly pinned down and sprayed with red paint in Knoxfield.
Casey Thomson said she woke yesterday morning to find her beloved cat Jett, 4, “absolutely saturated head to tail” in paint in a shocking case of animal cruelty.
“Some horrible, low life scum took my handsome, beautiful cat from my home, pinned him down and tried to drown him with red paint,” Ms Thomson wrote on Facebook.
Jett was taken to a vet and had his fur completely shaved.
“He’s now being a trooper and fighting for his life at the vet,” Ms Thomson wrote.
Casey’s mum, Linda, said the family “had no beef” with any of their neighbours and believed little Jett was the victim of a random attack.
“I have no idea who would do such a horrible thing. I can’t fathom who would be so cruel and do something so malicious,” she said.
She said Jett and the family’s other cat, Billie, were kept inside most of the night before being let out in early in the morning.
Ms Thomson said the even coverage of paint was an indication Jett had been sprayed at fairly close range and did not have the opportunity to escape the attack.
“The vet said (the paint job) was so even that he’d obviously been well and truly sprayed and they’d concentrated on his face and his bottom,” she said.
Ms Thomson said Jett had been sedated at the vet to stop him from licking the paint and “tearing out” tufts of fur. He has been completely shaved, but there are still traces of paint on his skin.
“It’s just a waiting game to see how much (of the paint) has got into his blood stream or whether he’s got any ulcers that are going to come up as a result of the paint,” Ms Thomson said.
“He’s not got off Casey’s bed (since he got home) — he just sits there shaking.”
Ms Thomson said the vet provided a sample of Jett’s paint-covered fur in a bid to help the RSCPA catch the culprit.
RSPCA inspectorate manager Allie Jalbert said they were investigating and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If it was a prank, it was a sick one,” she said. “No animal should be put through such a distressing ordeal.”
A person found guilty of cruelty against animals can face up to one year’s jail time, a fine of over $37,000 and a maximum banning order which prevents them from owning or being in charge of animals for 10 years.
(Herald Sun - Sept 13, 2015)
Casey Thomson said she woke yesterday morning to find her beloved cat Jett, 4, “absolutely saturated head to tail” in paint in a shocking case of animal cruelty.
“Some horrible, low life scum took my handsome, beautiful cat from my home, pinned him down and tried to drown him with red paint,” Ms Thomson wrote on Facebook.
Jett was taken to a vet and had his fur completely shaved.
“He’s now being a trooper and fighting for his life at the vet,” Ms Thomson wrote.
Casey’s mum, Linda, said the family “had no beef” with any of their neighbours and believed little Jett was the victim of a random attack.
“I have no idea who would do such a horrible thing. I can’t fathom who would be so cruel and do something so malicious,” she said.
She said Jett and the family’s other cat, Billie, were kept inside most of the night before being let out in early in the morning.
Ms Thomson said the even coverage of paint was an indication Jett had been sprayed at fairly close range and did not have the opportunity to escape the attack.
“The vet said (the paint job) was so even that he’d obviously been well and truly sprayed and they’d concentrated on his face and his bottom,” she said.
Ms Thomson said Jett had been sedated at the vet to stop him from licking the paint and “tearing out” tufts of fur. He has been completely shaved, but there are still traces of paint on his skin.
“It’s just a waiting game to see how much (of the paint) has got into his blood stream or whether he’s got any ulcers that are going to come up as a result of the paint,” Ms Thomson said.
“He’s not got off Casey’s bed (since he got home) — he just sits there shaking.”
Ms Thomson said the vet provided a sample of Jett’s paint-covered fur in a bid to help the RSCPA catch the culprit.
RSPCA inspectorate manager Allie Jalbert said they were investigating and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If it was a prank, it was a sick one,” she said. “No animal should be put through such a distressing ordeal.”
A person found guilty of cruelty against animals can face up to one year’s jail time, a fine of over $37,000 and a maximum banning order which prevents them from owning or being in charge of animals for 10 years.
(Herald Sun - Sept 13, 2015)
Friday, October 2, 2015
New York: This is what happens when judges won't punish animal abusers. In the middle of the night, Swaneka Danzler threw two dying puppies six feet down into a window well and drove off. The judge gave her three years probation. Not even a year into her probation, she is arrested for assaulting a police officer.
NEW YORK -- Robert Dozier Jr., 31, from Riverhead and Swaneka Danzler (aka Swaneka Pertiece Danzler, Swaneka PJ Danzler), 24, from Middle Island were arrested in Bellport for assaulting an officer attempting to arrest Dozier on Montauk Highway on Sept. 17.
Dozier was also charged with fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle on Mastic Blvd. in Mastic on Aug. 19.
Police say he fled while an officer attempted to pull him over for speeding. On Sept. 17 on Montauk Highway in Brookhaven, he was charged with criminal mischief for picking up bricks and smashing them on the ground.
On Aug. 5 he was charged with disorderly conduct for displaying violent behavior by attempting to fight with someone in a public place.
Then on Sept. 17 at the Fifth Precinct he was also charged with false personation for giving someone else’s identification and birthdate.
(Long Island Advance - October 1, 2015)
Earlier:
Dozier was also charged with fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle on Mastic Blvd. in Mastic on Aug. 19.
Police say he fled while an officer attempted to pull him over for speeding. On Sept. 17 on Montauk Highway in Brookhaven, he was charged with criminal mischief for picking up bricks and smashing them on the ground.
On Aug. 5 he was charged with disorderly conduct for displaying violent behavior by attempting to fight with someone in a public place.
Then on Sept. 17 at the Fifth Precinct he was also charged with false personation for giving someone else’s identification and birthdate.
(Long Island Advance - October 1, 2015)
Earlier:
- New York: Swaneka PJ Danzler, 21, charged with animal cruelty in puppy-dumping case
- New York: Swaneka Danzler waited until it was dark and then she took her dying, emaciated, mange-covered Pit Bull puppies to a closed business and dumped them six feet down into a window well to die. One puppy died after being rescued. For this horrific act of cruelty, she was given probation.
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