NY man accused of burying starved dog under trash October 4, 2008

Source: Newsday, October 3, 2008

NEW YORK – Animal-welfare officers say a New York City man with a history of domestic abuse and sex offenses has been arrested for starving his dog to death and burying it under a pile of trash.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it first found the man in February near his Queens home trying to hide the body of the emaciated mixed-breed dog.

ASPCA peace officers took the dog’s body for an exam. The dog had lost all fat and muscle and had no trace of food in its stomach.

ASPCA officers say they arrested the man Thursday near his home.

The man is charged with animal cruelty and evidence tampering.

He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.

The ASPCA says his record shows arrests for rape, failing to register as a sex offender and other crimes.

800 Animals, Including Monkeys, Swans, Found During Kennel Raid, Freezer Contained 65 Animal Corpses, PA October 2, 2008

EMMAUS, Pa. — At least 56 dogs and cats were removed for immediate medical care from a large Pennsylvania kennel where officials said hundreds of animals were crowded together in unsanitary and foul-smelling conditions.

Authorities are negotiating for the removal of 100 more animals from the Almost Heaven Kennels in Upper Milford Township, said Elaine Skypala, program director for the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

About 20 agents raided the kennel Wednesday. Officials said they discovered as many as 800 animals including monkeys, miniature horses, turkeys, geese, guinea hens and swans packed into the facilities, many living in excrement amid the stench of feces and decay. A freezer contained 65 animal corpses.

“It’s horrible,” Skypala said.

Kennel owner Derbe Eckhart disputed the SPCA allegations, noting that an August inspection by the state Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement turned up no violations of kennel regulations.

“What they tried to do yesterday was paint a picture that wasn’t there,” Eckhart told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Skypala said authorities would continue working at the kennel. She said a tentative deal called for Eckhart to begin an immediate cleanup and for PSPCA to have unlimited access to the facilities for six months. Eckhart also will face cruelty charges.

During the raid, the site was besieged by vans and a helicopter carrying news crews, including one from the Animal Planet cable television network. Eckhart did not emerge, but called state police to order the media off the grass.

Eckhart was charged two years earlier with having too many monkeys and operating a menagerie without a permit because monkey cages were visible to the public. He paid fines and court costs.

A neighbor, Jackie Arney, said she wasn’t surprised by Wednesday’s raid.

“You hear (the dogs) screaming and crying all night,” Arney said.

But Millie Altomare, 68, of Allentown, whose dog Fern is groomed at the kennel, defended Eckhart.

“This man is never given any credit for the good things he does,” she said. “They are constantly picking on this man.”

150 dogs saved as animal welfare workers bust Quebec puppy mill October 2, 2008

MONTREAL – For the second time in less than a week, animal welfare workers have busted a puppy mill north of Montreal.

Officials have not revealed the exact location of the mill but say they’ve seized about 150 dogs of varying sizes.

The animals were living in squalid conditions and had suffered serious neglect, says Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs for Humane Society International Canada.

It took nearly five hours to transport all the dogs to the Montreal shelter of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

No charges have been laid.

Alanna Devine, acting executive director at the SPCA’s Montreal chapter, says she hopes that two busts in less than one week will ratchet up public support to shut down the mills.

Last Friday, 118 animals were rescued from a puppy mill in Rawdon, Que. where other dogs were found dead.

Quebec is often described as the puppy mill capital of North America.

Owners of malnourished dog charged by CCPD, TX October 2, 2008

Couple charged with cruelty to animals; dog was found with collar growing into skin

Source: Caller Times By Stuart Duncan, Originally published 09:00 a.m., October 2, 2008
Updated 09:00 a.m., October 2, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI — Police arrested the owners of a neglected German Shepherd that died recently.

The owners of the malnourished dog, named Shepp, were arrested Wednesday and taken to the Criminal Detention Center, police said.

Animal Care officers picked up the German Shepherd from a home in the 4700 block of Cheryl Street on Sept. 16 after they discovered that it had been severely malnourished, according to police. The dog, tied up behind the home and apparently abandoned, also had a large wound around the neck where the collar had grown into its skin, police said. Despite attempts to save it, the dog later died.

Norma Luna, 45 and Daniel Luna, 44, of Corpus Christi were charged with cruelty to animals with a $500 bond, captain Tim Wilson said. That misdemeanor charge can lead to up to one year in jail, Wilson said.

Starving dog case ‘appalling’ October 2, 2008

Source: By DEAN CALCOTT – The Press | Friday, 03 October 2008

The actions of a dog owner who left a female doberman dying from malnutrition in a snowdrift were “truly shocking and appalling”, a judge said yesterday.

Judge Jocelyn Munro fined Rodney John Burt $3800 and disqualified him from owning a dog for three years.

The Christchurch District Court was told that the dog, Sheba, was within a week or two of death when it was found by a member of the public.

Burt, 50, admitted charges of deserting a dog while making no provision to meet its needs, and failing to meet the needs of an animal he owned.

The judge ordered the fine be paid to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

SPCA prosecutor Richard Raymond told the court that on June 8, an emaciated dog was found lying in snow on the side of a road between Burnham and Springston.

At 15.9kg, its weight was at least 50 per cent below optimum. It had no discernible body fat, a loss of muscle mass, and widespread pressure sores.

The dog was traced to Burt’s ownership, and after initial denials, he ultimately admitted abandoning it.

“It is right at the extreme end of appalling animal treatment,” Raymond said.

Burt told inspectors that the dog had been left with a relative to look after, but he knew her condition was not good, that inspectors had already visited, and he was embarrassed about being found out. He then decided to make a late-night trip to dump the animal in the country.

Owner fined for starving and dumping dog October 2, 2008

Thursday Oct 02, 2008

Fines totalling $3800 for starving and dumping a dog on a snowy night have been imposed in a case described by counsel for the SPCA as “at the extreme end of appalling animal treatment”.

Lawyer Richard Raymond said: “A message needs to be sent with a stern fine, and for the court to give some teeth to the legislation and send a signal to bring home to this offender that it is simply unacceptable conduct.”

A veterinarian said the dobermann, Sheba, was within a week or two of death when it was found.

Rodney John Burt, a 50-year-old builder’s labourer from Christchurch, today pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to charges that as the owner of the dog he failed to provide for its health and behavioural needs, and deserted the animal.

Judge Jocelyn Munro fined him $800 on the first charge and $3000 on the desertion charge.

“To have found the dog was in an emaciated state and close to death and then to have dumped it on the side of the road is truly shocking and appalling and there can be no excuse whatever for that,” she told Burt.

“A dog is a defenceless animal that depends on its owner to be cared for.”

The judge also ordered that all the fines be paid to the SPCA which has treated the dog, and nursed it back to health. It is now with another owner who loves it, the court was told.

Burt said he was deeply sorry for what he had done. He had left the dog with a relative and provided food but they “never fed the bloody dog”.

The relative is also facing a charge, and that case has been adjourned.

Mr Raymond told the court that an SPCA inspector went to the property to inspect two dogs at the relative’s house but it was dark and she said she would return to complete the inspection in a better light.

Burt told the SPCA he then received a text message and knew of the dog’s poor condition. He was embarrassed about being found out and late that night he collected Sheba and left her on a quiet road in the country south of Christchurch. It was a snowy night in June.

The dog was found by a Selwyn District Council animal control officer and taken to the SPCA.

It weighed just 15.9kg which was at least 50 per cent below her optimum weight.

Three days after the initial visit, the SPCA inspector returned to the original address and found one dog was missing. Burt would not say where it had gone, but Mr Raymond said inquiries and information from the public led to him being interviewed.

He finally admitted dumping the dog.

After six weeks on a balanced and controlled diet, Sheba increased in body weight by 64.1 per cent to 26.1kg, which is still about 2kg less than ideal.

Burt has another dog, but Judge Munro today made an order that he is not allowed to own or exercise authority over any dog for three years.

Dog dies after being set on fire October 1, 2008

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, by Georgina Robinson
October 1, 2008 – 8:15AM

A dog has died after being badly burned in Sydney’s west yesterday, police said.

The male terrier cross was found by a man walking his own dog along Orchardleigh Street at Old Guildford about 5.30pm, police said.

Police said the man took the dog to the RSPCA at Yagoona but its injuries were so severe it was put down.

Inspector Slade Macklin from the RSPCA said it appeared the dog had been set on fire deliberately.

“Unless the dog was in a house fire or if someone turned around and said ‘the dog jumped in an open fire’, it’s sort of unlikely that a dog would [do] something like that,” Inspector Macklin said.

But a police spokeswoman said Bankstown investigators were following a number of lines of inquiry and had not ruled out the possibility the dog’s injuries were accidental.

It is believed police last night made contact with the dog’s owner, who lives in the Yagoona/Old Guildford area.

Inspector Macklin said the dog, which was “only a couple of years old”, was in shock when it was delivered to the RSPCA.

Yesterday a dead dog was found hanging from a tree in Mount Druitt.

Dog found hanging from tree October 1, 2008

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
September 30, 2008

A dead dog has been found hanging from a tree in Sydney’s west, the RSPCA says.

RSPCA NSW is appealing for witnesses to what it has labelled a shocking case of animal cruelty.

The female cattle-dog cross was discovered this morning in RAAF Memorial Park, on the corner of Belmore Avenue and Woodstock Road in Mount Druitt.

The tan-coloured dog, thought to be no more than five years old, was probably hanging there for at least a few days, the RSPCA said.

RSPCA NSW Inspector Matt Godwin said it was not clear if the animal was already dead before being strung up in the tree, but there were no other obvious injuries.

“It is without a doubt, the worst case of cruelty and the most disturbing that I have ever seen,” Inspector Godwin said.

“We’re appealing to anyone who has any information or who may have seen people acting suspiciously in the area over the weekend, to come forward.

“The dogs’ owners might still be looking for their pet.”

Anyone with information is urged to phone RSPCA NSW on (02) 9770 7555.

AAP

Glendale man, 76, faces 90 days behind bars, probation in dog-fighting case September 30, 2008

Source: By Melinda Rogers, The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/30/2008 12:40:47 PM MDT

A 76-year-old Glendale man who pleaded guilty to felony dog fighting charges was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail.

John Clinton Smith was also ordered by 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas to not own or possess any dogs.

Himonas also placed Smith on probation for 36 months and ordered him to complete 75 hours of community service and undergo counseling programs ordered by Adult Probation and Parole.

The punishment brings closure to the controversial dog-fighting case against Smith, who has maintained his innocence throughout court proceedings.

In 2003, animal control officers seized six pit bulls and dog-fighting equipment such as treadmills from Smith’s home. Videotapes and dog magazines were also found in the home, according to charging documents.

Smith was originally charged with six counts of dog-fighting felonies and six misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, but most of those charges were dismissed in exchange for guilty pleas in July to three counts of third-degree felony dog fighting.

The case drew outrage of animal rights organizations, in particular because Smith’s criminal history includes previous animal neglect charges.

Anne Davis, executive director of the Animal Advocacy Alliance of Utah, said her organization was dismayed by Smith’s sentence. Each felony dog-fighting charge carries the potential for up to five years in prison.

“I think it’s a shame on the system and shame on him,” said Davis, noting some of Smith’s dogs that were involved in fighting had to be euthanized.

Defense attorney Edward Brass had argued on Smith’s behalf that he struggles with dementia and a “mental condition,” which was a factor in his behavior.

Smith told news reporters at previous hearing that he didn’t train dogs to fight and that “everybody uses treadmills to get dogs in shape.”

At St. Paul apartment, girls watched as ‘doggie went boom’ September 29, 2008

Source: Pioneer Press, By Tad Vezner
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2008 10:17:11 PM CDT

With his 6-year-old daughter and two other girls playing in the room behind him, a St. Paul man threw his ex-girlfriend’s dog from her third-story balcony, injuring it so badly it had to be put to sleep, according to police.

On Friday, police charged Donald Dornseif, 44, with felony animal cruelty.

A pair of neighbors who had been standing on the balcony below said they saw 3-year-old “Precious” plummet to the ground outside an apartment complex in St. Paul’s Payne-Phalen neighborhood, where she moaned until authorities arrived about 10 p.m. Thursday.

Cynthia Hayes — whose 5-year-old daughter was in the apartment with Dornseif — was standing below him when she said she heard him say “I hate animals.”

“I told him, ‘You hate animals because you are an animal,’ ” Hayes yelled up.

“Do you want to see the dog hit the sidewalk?” Dornseif allegedly replied.

Seconds later, “the dog came out flying,” said Debbie Bailey, who had been standing beside Hayes. She didn’t see Dornseif throw Precious, a stout English bulldog. But Hayes said her daughter did; the young girl described to police how Dornseif propelled the dog with both arms.

Two-year-old Elizabeth Mabry — who was being watched by Hayes and Bailey — later described what she saw to her mother, Andrea Mabry, who also lives in the building.

“Doggie went boom,” the girl said, throwing her arms wide.

Dornseif’s ex-girlfriend, Sara Goff, said she got a call from Bailey after the three girls — her daughter, Mya Dornseif-Goff, 6; Hayes’ daughter, Cameryn Hodges, 5, and another 10-year-old girl from the building — ran frantically down to Bailey’s apartment.

“I said, ‘What did you do to my dog?’ He said, ‘I didn’t do nothing to her. She jumped,’ ” Goff said.

Goff, 25, said Dornseif had “popped by,” and she left the apartment to go to the store. She and her daughter had received the dog as a gift from a new boyfriend, and she claimed Dornseif never warmed to it because of that. She and Dornseif had split several years ago, but their daughter lived with her full time.

Dornseif told police he hadn’t talked to the neighbors, though he had been drinking, according to a criminal complaint. He said he bent to pick the dog up, but “before he could even get it up right, the dog jumped out of his arms, over the railing.”

But police said it was impossible for the short, 60- to 70-pound dog — which fell 20 to 25 feet down and a full 8 to 10 feet out from the balcony — to have jumped that far out without being thrown. The balcony has a 4-foot railing that the dog cannot squeeze through.

Precious broke her leg and neck and suffered other internal injuries. She was later euthanized.

“This morning my daughter still insisted the dog’s in the hospital,” Hayes added. “I had to tell her that the dog’s in heaven now.”

Officers searched for Dornseif after he left the complex in the 1300 block of Mississippi Street. They were called about an hour later to his current girlfriend’s home in the 1100 block of McLean Ave. The current girlfriend didn’t know about the dog but called police about a separate argument they were having, according to police spokesman Peter Panos.

As for young Mya, her mother found her that night curled up and asleep in the corner where Precious usually rests.

“I don’t think Mya actually wants to believe her dad did that,” Bailey said.