Neglect can be horrific to an animal and is down right deplorable. Depriving an animal of proper housing and food is just as horrific. These poor animals didn't deserve these cruelty acts by the people they trusted. We need tougher laws to punish those who neglect their animals.  It's a shame that All these people had to do was ask for help.

11 puppies abandoned, tied with wire & zip-ties Hattiesburg, MS (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 10, 2011

Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Patsy Payton

An employee of the Southern Pines Animal Shelter arrived at work Monday morning and found 11 Shepard mix puppies tied to the gate. Surveillance video at the shelter showed a woman taking two puppies at a time by the neck from her vehicle and using zip ties and baling wire to tie them to the fence. The zip ties had been tightened around their neck. The puppies apparently struggled to free themselves throughout the night.  Shelter employee Elizabeth Swann said one of the puppies hanged itself during the night, and the other 10 had to be euthanized because of the injuries sustained from being tied to the fence. "(They) had their collars embedded so far into their necks that they weren't savable," she said. Shelter manager Lara Hudson has filed an official complaint with the Hattiesburg Police.

Case Updates

Defendant Robert Tracey, of Fort Myers, was sentenced to 4 years of probation for an animal cruelty case that stems from a 2008 arrest. Tracey’s home was found in deplorable condition with feces covering much of the floor throughout the home. Dogs, some in very poor condition, were removed from the home by Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

Tracey plead guilty to 4 counts of Animal Cruelty. His probation will be handled through mental health court. He also had to provide a DNA sample since he is now a convicted felon.

As part of his probation, he is also not allowed to own animals, live with anyone who has animals or be involved in the adoption of animals. Tracey was also required to pay more than $1500 in court costs and a fine. Assistant State Attorneys Stephanie Russell and Bryan Kaufman handled the case.

Dog severely neglected, mouth rotted away in Dyersburg, TN (US)

Dog starved to death locked in crate Cocoa, FL (US)

County: Brevard
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Christine Dawn Abrams

A Cocoa woman, who neighbors said loved her dog, abandoned him in a crate for two months and then told investigators she knew it would starve to death. Cocoa police on March 13 arrested Christine Dawn Abrams, 29, on a charge of cruelty to animals in the death of her two-year-old German Shepherd, Ella. She is at the Brevard County Jail and faces a $1,000 bond. Neighbors told police they were concerned that they had not seen Abrams or Ella for several months. "It was unusual for Abrams to be away from her home for any length of time," neighbors said. One neighbor peeked through a window of Abrams' home on Peachtree Street and spotted the dead canine inside a locked metal crate. Police searched for Abrams for five hours and found her at a new address on Parapet Drive, less than six miles from her former residence.

Case Updates

Christine Abrams, sentenced to eight months in jail for starving her dog to death, was released overnight from the Brevard County Detention Center -- hours earlier than her anticipated release at 8 a.m. today.

Jail officials told FLORIDA TODAY this morning Abrams was released just before midnight Thursday.

Abrams, 31, is still fighting her conviction, court documents indicate.

She is due in court July 15 for a hearing on an appeal of Brevard County Judge Kelly McKibben's ruling that police did not violate Abrams' rights when they searched her home without a warrant in March 2008. It was during the search that police found the decomposing body of Abrams' young three-legged German shepherd, Ella, locked in a cage.


Read more: Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog starved to death locked in crate - Cocoa, FL (US) http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/13362/FL/US/#ixzz19Ky6JfKF

Third Fort Bliss Animal Abuse Discovered! This Sucks she did not get any time for this.

 Heather OKelley

One more twit for you-all.  She’s got the best hissy fit recorded by a TV field crew that is still online.  Oh, and she was the one that showed up at her arraignment without a lawyer.   She really drives home the statement **Batteries Not Included**  Read all about the whiny little bitch here. She pleaded guilty to the animal cruelty charge and was given one year probation, 120 hours of community service and was fined.

Original Story:

  Soldier Heather O’Kelley was deployed 30 days after adopting Sadie and the soldier’s wife went home to visit her family.  She left Sadie in the care of a friend in November 2009.    

This here is Heather O’Kelley, the *friend* of the Fort Bliss family who trusted her with Sadie.   Heather O’Kelley was arrested on charges of animal cruelty on February 3rd.  

Sadie Today

To read the whole story: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/arrest-made-in-the-starved-dog-case-from-fort-bliss

Case update:

The Casey County woman accused of neglecting more than 100 dogs under her care pleaded guilty Tuesday in Casey County District Court to one count of second-degree animal cruelty. Cheryl Turner, 50, of Chelf Ridge Road will serve 30 days in jail and work 240 hours of community service dealing with animals as part of her plea bargain. She also will undergo mental health evaluations and is banned from owning any animals except for her pet parrot. Turner's official sentence was 12 months, the maximum sentence allowed for second-degree animal cruelty. But the judge suspended 11 of those months as long as Turner does not own any new animals or break state law concerning treatment of animals, a Casey County court employee said Tuesday. Turner will be subject to random searches of her residence in order to make sure she does not bring any additional animals into her home. Turner will serve three days in jail every week beginning Oct. 8. She will have four days out of jail because of a medical condition, the court employee  said. Once her 30 days have been served, she must begin her community service at an animal shelter, humane society or other court-approved organization. She must complete at least eight hours of community service every week until the full 240 hours have been served.

3 dogs found neglected, 2 dead Fort Myers, FL (US)

Frances Danelle Rochford Also known as: Frances Danelle Ernest, Frances Sillett
 History of interpersonal violence

A North Fort Myers woman was arrested after investigators say she neglected to give her dogs food and water. Neighbors watched as three pit bulls sat for hours in scorching heat with no food and water outside a North Fort Myers home.  "They had the chain on the rope to the brick so they let it out in the yard and it didn't escape," said neighbor Rose Johns. Lee County Sheriff's deputies attempted to rescue the three dogs in February from Frances Rochford's home.  One was saved, another found dead, while the third had to be put down. "There was water and electricity to the house," said Lee County Animal Services Director Ria Brown. "There is no need to not provide good food and water."

Convicted: 3 dogs found neglected, 2 dead. Sentence: Rochford was sentenced on one felony and two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Rochford received one year in jail, one year of house arrest, one year probation, and more than three thousand dollars in fines. In addition she must submit to DNA collection and following her incarceration must undergo random drug testing and mandatory psychiatric and anger management counseling. Once released from jail, she cannot be in the care, custody, or control and any animals or take part in any activities related to animals while on probation.... more...

Notes:
On August 16, 2010 Frances Rochford was sentenced on one felony and
two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Rochford received one year in jail, one year of house arrest,
one year probation, and more than three thousand dollars in fines. In addition she must submit to DNA
collection and following her incarceration must undergo random drug testing and mandatory psychiatric
and anger management counseling. Once released from jail, she cannot be in the care, custody, or
control and any animals or take part in any activities related to animals while on probation.

Read more: Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: 3 dogs found neglected, 2 dead - Fort Myers, FL (US) http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/16697/FL/US/#ixzz1Aa16mM3M

Man Accused Of Leaving Two Dogs To Rot In Garden City, Idaho

 "They got skinny enough where you could literally see (their) bones.  It was just skin and bones," said Joe Bunn, the dog owners' neighbor. "I tried to take care of them sometimes, and another neighbor would help out.  There were just so malnourished and just left there to die." Investigators believe Sarah Sowell originally owned the dogs, but abandoned them to her boyfriend at the time, Rick McCusker, who reportedly refused to take care of them.  Investigators say, eventually, Katherine Cagle moved in and also allegedly knew about the horrible conditions the animals were in. But, they say, she did nothing to help the animals. Sowell turned herself in to the Ada County Jail last week. McCusker was arrested Saturday. Both have since bonded out. A warrant has been issued for Cagle's arrest. All three are charged with two counts of misdemeanor Animal Cruelty.  If convicted, they can face up to six months in jail and a fine of $5,000.   KIVI Today's 6 News http://www.kivitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12073282

Case Update:

Teacher charged with felonies in deaths of two cats in Boca Raton apartment. She is accused of leaving pets without food for weeks.   I thought this was still worth mentioning.

Allison Dinsmore (Palm Beach County School District / March 20, 2009)  By Brian Haas and Marc Freeman South Florida Sun-Sentinel... Two cats suffered so cruelly before dying, prosecutors say, that they decided to charge a Palm Beach County teacher with two felonies Monday. Police initially accused Allison Dinsmore, 26, of misdemeanor animal cruelty this month when her two cats' wasted corpses were found in her Boca Raton apartment. Investigators said the Congress Middle School teacher's cats clawed up the apartment in a frantic search for food as they starved for up to a month before they died. The corpses then rotted in the filthy apartment about a month before an apartment manager found them. Dinsmore is not teaching this week because schools are closed for Spring Break, school district spokeswoman Her salary is listed as $36,100. A necropsy determined the cats suffered neglect for weeks or months before dying a slow, painful death from starvation and dehydration.

Animal Cruelty for a badly neglected and abused dog in New Mexico

Philip Narvaez

Convicted in March 2009 of Animal Cruelty for a badly neglected and abused dog.  In August 2007, his dog was found along side a road. The dog’s right hind leg was mangled with nearly two inches of bone exposed and her foot had rotted and turned black so the leg had to be amputated.

He got quite the sweet deal from the state of New Mexico.  He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and 364 days of unsupervised probation in lieu of 364 days in jail.  His fine of $1,000 was lowered to $300, and he was ordered to get mental health counseling. He couldn’t even do that. He repeatedly failed to prove to the court that he was attending counseling.  He even failed to show up at a hearing regarding his violation and the courts had to issue a bench warrant to gain his attention.  The judge said “I am not going to go lightly, this is a blatant violation”, and gave Navarez a whopping 5 days in jail.  That’s not a typo.  FIVE days in jail.

Robert Brunette, 46, of Boulder Creek, CO, was arrested this past summer after police responded to a call about “animals crying in pain” at his property at 100 block of Hartman Creek Road. What they found almost defied description; dogs found locked in small cages covered in their own urine and feces, others running loose over the property. Puppies as young as only two days old were rescued. One old dog was found in the cab of a truck where it had probably been living for a year or two, the cushions were torn up, covered in urine and feces, no food or water. Inside the house, animal control and sheriff’s department investigators found one dog locked in a crate with no food or water and a dog that weighed only half what it should have. The dogs, many of them with ribs protruding, had mange, worms and scars. Many were almost wild and had never been socialized. Many were scared and timid, others were covered in scars from fighting, fighting for food with each other.  In all, after puppies were born, more than 50 dogs were rescued. Brunette was known for breeding and selling dogs and trying to create his own line of guard dog. There were also dog skulls and paws scattered around the property and hanging from his “house.” The whole situation turned into a fiasco after he was released and took off, a $50k warrant was sworn out and he was eventually taken into custody again. Initially facing 10 counts of animal cruelty, including felony charges of neglect, Brunette could have been facing up to four years in state prison plus thousands in fines but we should have known that would never happen, even with all the BS surrounding this case.  Brunette was sentenced by Judge Paul Marigonda to one year in jail plus 5 years probation. He will also have to pay restitution in the amount of $150k to county Animal Services Agency to cover the officers’ time, veterinary bills and boarding fees for his dogs. He is not allowed to own dogs and he must undergo counseling.

If you'd like to read more: 

http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/abuser-of-more-than-50-dogs-gets-jail-probation

Good news for Dogs Deserve Better and a happy ending too !! 

I think by now everybody in the Dog world knows about this case involving the CEO of "Dogs Deserve Better". She was jailed for trying to save a starving dog.  Doogie who did die later from being starved on a chain. ( see article in little angels we have lost section)

These are the other 2 dogs...


Provided Straw, Food, and Water to Underweight Dogs Suffering in -11 Wind Chills
May 11, 2010, Altoona, PA — Dog advocate Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO of nonprofit organization Dogs Deserve Better, received a "nolle prosequi" when appealing a second conviction for helping America's forgotten dogs: those left chained or penned and suffering in Pennsylvania's frigid winter temps.  "Nolle prosequi" formally means that the prosecution ended its criminal case against Thayne, therefore the case did not proceed before the judge in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth's witness and accuser, Krystal Cann, of Lilly, Pennsylvania, failed to show up to testify. Without a witness, there would have been very little chance of the Commonwealth proving its case. Unfortunately, Cann's two dogs remain chained to this day. Thayne is asking all Pennsylvania residents to stand against this form of abuse by joining the coalition to Unchain Pennsylvania Dogs. The coalition seeks to pass a bill setting time limits on chaining, and creating better conditions for Pennsylvania's dogs. Sign up today at Unchainpadogs.com. See more photos and watch video of the dogs at the site: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/thaynetrespassing.html

I found her on MySpace: Let her know how ya feel about this: http://www.myspace.com/krystalcann

Note: The dogs that remained were released to a shelter and are being cared for now.

Last week police were called to a house in Canfield, OH after a woman saw three sickly looking dogs running loose in the picturesque neighborhood.  When police arrived, they found Brian Spin, 38, in the yard of the house at 535 Brookpark Drive along with the 3 sick dogs. Further investigation revealed that three sick dogs were only the tip of the problem that turned out to be a house of horrors in this Canfield house!

“The entire house was completely uninhabitable,” Canfield Detective Brian McGivern said. “It was like walking in two inches of maple syrup. That’s how saturated the rugs were with urine and feces.” Piles of trash, debris, feces inches thick, dirt, mold, human waste were found in the home that was inhabited by Brian Spin, his wife Betsy, 32 and they two young sons, 2 and 7 as well as animals, dogs and cats.

There were 9 dogs found in the house, all in deplorable condition! It took 4 days to search the 4,596 sq. ft home, worth (at least it was) almost $350k to even find the dogs. The dogs ranged in age from about a year old to about 6 years old and they were covered in mange, open sores, feces and urine. Three of the dogs died en route to the pound and the other six had to be euthanized because they were so sick. Days later yet another dog was found living in a mattress in a pile of debris in the back yard. The little dog was barely alive.

As horrific as this whole situation is, what makes it even worse is that the only charges that can be leveled are misdemeanor charges!! Ohio has no provision in place for felony animal cruelty charges even after the the horror at High Caliber K-9 Kennels last year where dead and starved dogs were found, brutalized at the hands of the man who was supposed to be caring for them. Croley got a plea deal and for 7 dead dogs and 12 starved dogs, all Croley wound up being charged with was 4 misdemeanors, a measly 30 days in jail and a fine.

Liz Raab, who owned one of the starved, dead dogs, Nitro, a once beautiful rottweiler that when found could not even be determined what kind of dog he was he was so skeletal, has been lobbying, begging and petitioning for stronger animal cruelty laws Ohio.  In March, legislation was introduced but so far nothing has happened and dog deaths continue to pile up with no more than misdemeanor charges!

UPDATE 8/16/08 – And the Verdict is… GUILTY!! YES!!!

A nice house, expensive cars, a Cadillac and a Lexus, in the driveway, nice furniture in the house but 5 sickly, starving dogs. Doesn’t make much sense but that was the scene a a house in Carrollwood, FL.

Aixa Rodriguez and Wilmer Fernandez are now facing felony animal charges after deputies found the five dogs, one of them barely clinging to life at the home that the couple shared with several children. And not only are these scum animal abusers, they also have racked up domestic abuse charges as well.  Real pillars of society.  

Wilmer Fernandez

He and his wife starved their dog named Casper saying they had no money for dog food in spite of having expensive possessions and a nice house.  Another piece of shit. Sentenced to 15 months in prison, 45 months’ probation, 300 community service hours, more than $1,000 in restitution and said he could never own, possess or care for an animal again. He appealed the length of the sentence but a judge upheld the prison sentence so his ass was tossed back in jail.  Idiot.

Two dogs neglected Greyhounds, abandoned in Watertown, MA (US)

Defendant/Suspect: Kevin Schneider
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Kevin Schneider walked silently down the courthouse steps as an angry group of people taunted him for being an "animal abuser." The Watertown resident has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning his two Greyhound dogs. According to reports, Schneider pushed one dog named Talca from a moving SUV in Connecticut, and left the other dog, Sari, under a bush near a Rhode Island hospital, where it later passed away from severe malnourishment. Schneider pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been ordered by the judge to not have any responsibility or custody over animals. His pretrial hearing has been set for Dec. 27.

Case Update: Schneider was sentenced to 18 months in the county House of Correction, with 60 days to be served. Judge Gregory C. Flynn placed Schneider on probation for two years, during which he is not allowed to own dogs or other companion animals. Schneider also must submit to a psychiatric evaluation. Talca survived and was since adopted.

Matthew Teymant escaped jail time for leaving 64 animals to die in his foreclosed home. Teymant worked as a dispatcher with the Toms River Police Department. In February, police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Teymant never returned to work and had remained on suspension after the discovery last year.

Man arrested for animal cruelty, police chief said it's the worst conditions he's ever seen.

A Farmington man is under arrest on 11 counts of animal cruelty. Macedon police have arrested 57-year old Scott Gears after almost a dozen dogs were found malnourished at a home he owned. A utilities meter reader reported seeing neglected dogs at Gears’ property on Daansen Road. When police found nine Huskies at Gears' home. Six dogs were found inside the house, one of which was in a cage in standing sewage. Three dogs were found in a pen outside and two were found dead.  The Wayne County District Attorrney was contacted and animal cruelty investigators were called to the scene. One of the dead dogs was found in the basement and the other in a bag in the garage. All of the dogs were malnourished and two were no more than skin and bones.  Police say Gears has not lived at this residence for at least six months after he moved to Farmington, but he claimed he would come and check on the dogs every few days. Macedon Police Chief John Colella said the conditions the dogs had endured were the worst he had ever seen. Gears was arraigned in the town of Macedon Court and was remanded to the Wayne County Jail on $2,500 cash bail, $5,000 bond. The Wayne County Humane Society currently has custody of the dogs and they are being evaluated medically at this time.

View police photos from Macedon animal cruelty case (some photos may be graphic)

If you'd like to read more:

Abused Animals From Florida to Oregon

Vikki Kittles

Since 1982, Vikki Kittles has been run out of Florida, Mississippi, Colorado, and Washington for hoarding animals. In 1993, Kittles faced charges in Oregon when she was discovered keeping 115 sick and dying dogs crammed into a school bus, where they lived in filth, received no exercise, and got no veterinary care for their extensive health problems.  After five minutes of deliberation, the jury unanimously convicted Kittles on 42 counts of animal neglect. She was sentenced to 4 months in jail (plus an additional 70 days for contempt) and ordered not to possess animals.

Kittles has gone on to hoard animals again in Oregon and other states several times since. She has been evicted from multiple residences in Wyoming for hoarding dozens of animals; dogs, cats, and horses of hers have been found in horrible conditions and seized by authorities on numerous occasions. In 2006, a veterinarian in Colorado reported that Kittles had brought a septic and maggot-infested dog to her for treatment, signed an estimate for $2,000.00 worth of care, but could not pay. The dog was confiscated by authorities and euthanized.

Dog Starved to Death in Beaver County, PA – VIDEO

Update 7/15/09 – No Justice for Cruelly Starved Beaver County, PA Dog

Another German Shepherd starved to death in a cage, this time in Beaver County, PA.  Humane officers are calling it one of the worst cases of animal cruelty they have ever seen.

“The officers, when they went in they found garbage and trash, half eaten food all over the place … a lot of different packages that were ripped open by the cats,” said Chief Daniel Madgar, of the Beaver Police Department. “There were four cats in the residence; litter box piled about two and a half feet with feces. They found a dog in a wire cage, had been dead for quite some time.” “It basically starved to death. Its muzzle and teeth were intertwined with the cage. Its muzzle and teeth were broken. Its lips and everything was just attached to the cage. The dog, as it was in there, trying to bite its way out several times. Finally, as it was dying was trying bite its way out of this cage,” said Madgar. Nicole Spatig, 22 yrs-old, who rents the apartment but doesn’t actually live there, not all the time anyway, says she got sick and her boyfriend was supposed to take care of the dog. She says she didn’t even know the dog was dead but when police investigated they found the windows open and fans on in the apartment. Someone knew the dog was dead. The cats were basically fine although they had no food or water. Spatig claimed that she only fed the cats every other day because they were overweight. Wonder how she missed the dead composing dog when she fed the cats? Police have file 10 misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty against Spatig but it is doubtful that she will serve any time because animal cruelty laws at so lenient.

To read more: http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/dog-starved-to-death-in-beaver-county-pa-video

Humane Society relocating 130 neglected dogs to Portland.

                                                  

Credit: Courtesy: Humane Society of Oregon by By kgw.com and AP Staff Posted on August 15, 2009 at 2:28 PM Updated Tuesday, Sep 15 at 9:53 AM          

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Trucks carrying 130 dogs from Eastern Oregon are headed for the Oregon Humane Society in Portland after they were seized from an owner near Burns. Another 70 dogs were scheduled to be confiscated and trucked to Portland. With more than 200 dogs needing help, The Humane Society of Oregon called it one of the state's largest dog rescues in history. Sheriff David Glerup said Friday the dogs' owner, Ted Tellefson, was charged with animal neglect and agreed to surrender most of them. The 57-year-old man was allowed to keep 20 older dogs he's had for years. Glerup said if Tellefson abides by the agreement, the charge may be dropped. said most of the dogs appear to be in good health but were roaming freely and living in pens, house trailers and crates on the rural property a few miles from Burns. Oregon animal advocates coordinated with the Harney County Sheriff's Office and two members of the Humane Society of the United States in the seizure.

This is just some of his neglect arrests:

Tellefson sells a Shiba Inu puppy to a Californian. The dog bites people and is euthanized. February 2009: Tellefson's property  to investigate a non-dog-related issue and sees 200-plus dogs, including some chained without water. Tellefson is charged with 20 counts of animal neglect. March 2009: Glerup and Tellefson agree he will give up all but 20 of his oldest dogs. The sheriff arranges with Oregon Humane Society to pick up the rest. March 13: Oregon Humane Society takes 125 dogs from Hines. March 15: Tellefson and the remaining dogs leave his property. July 1: Tellefson is arrested in Klamath County on accusation of breaking his agreement with Harney County. He has 60 to 70 dogs. July 17: Klamath County charges Tellefson with four counts of animal neglect. August: Tellefson pleads guilty to animal-neglect charges in Klamath and Harney counties. He serves a little over a month in jail and pays a fine and restitution. He is banned from keeping any animals for five years.

 If you'd like to read more:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/08/after_22_years_law_finally_cat.html

Woman Convicted In Butler Co. Animal Cruelty Case

Julianna Bennett-Blue, was charged with "animal hoarding". This basically means keeping a lot of animals on your property and not taking care of them. She also has a long history of animal In April of 2005 she plead guilty and was put on probation by the court.

I have written about this because I believe the way Dan and Tara Goleman have handled this family embarrassment helps us see that they are not deserving of the fame, credibility, wealth and influence they currently have. The  woman has a thirty year history of animal hoarding... She moved here in the 80's, and since then, there have been big media goings on...raids on the property in the 80's and a large raid in 1994, removing nearly 150 animals from the property. Neighbors have filed complaints, and we too began registering complaints about the number of neglected animals breaking loose and wandering our road for fear that someone  would hit them and be hurt.  Noise was also a constant.  So, our next door neighbors on Jan 9 or 10 (I can't recall exactly) went out in the morning to get their paper, and found 2 starving  dogs eating a still live llama.   The SPCA begins the process of removing over 100 animals.  Several dead animals are found on the property, both inside and out in various states of decomposition, and the home is condemned.  The woman owning the property is skilled in generating sympathy for herself, although, this time around there  has been a lot more media coverage to her discredit.  The home has no heat or running water and broken windows allow the animals to exit and enter the home at will. Health and code reports report 4-6 inches of a combination of feces and garbage throughout the home, including human waste in buckets.