Two kittens thrown in dumpster: Huntington, WV (US) - Jun 2, 2011

Images for this Case

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 2, 2011
County: Cabell

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Michael Anthony Clark

An Ohio man allegedly threw two kittens inside a dumpster Thursday night, according to a report filed with the Huntington Police Department.

Police said Michael Anthony Clark, 52, of Columbus, was seen throwing two black kittens into a dumpster at 555 W. 14th St. in Huntington around 10:30 p.m.

The report stated Clark was later found in the 1200 block of Fifth Avenue. Police said he smelled like alcohol, had glassy eyes and slurred speech. Clark refused to let the police fingerprint him.

Clark was charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals, public intoxication and failure to process.

The kittens were taken to the Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter. The staff said the kittens appear to be three weeks old and have taken to another mother cat. They will be ready for adoption in approximately three weeks.

« WV State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Cabell County, WV

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

Six of a dozen family pets found dead: Palm Harbor, FL (US) - Jun 2, 2011

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 2, 2011
County: Pinellas

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Michael Edward Waite

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Palm Harbor man June 2 after discovering several dead animals inside his home.

Deputies responded to a report of animal cruelty at 516 Rebstock Blvd. at 6:15 p.m., according to a sheriff's report. When deputies arrived, they met with Joanna Waite, 34, of Pinellas Park, who reported she and her husband Michael Edward Waite, 39, have been separated since late April. They shared custody of their three children and 12 family pets.

Joanna said she left the animals with Michael in the home they shared in Palm Harbor when she and the children moved to Pinellas Park in late April. Since then the children have been staying between the two homes while still attending school.

Joanne reportedly picked the children up from school about 3 p.m. June 2 and brought them to Michael at the Palm Harbor residence only to find him not there and house locks changed.

One of the children entered the home through a window and unlocked the door. This is when Joanna discovered the deplorable living conditions inside, and the animals deceased, missing, or suffering from malnutrition, according to the sheriff's report.

One bird, a blue and gold Macaw, was still barely alive. She rushed him to her veterinarian's office where he later died. Joanna then called deputies. In all Michael was in charge of 12 animals, and according to Joanna he never told her he was having a problem taking care of them.

Deputies called the Pinellas SPCA to the scene and they removed one cat and two kittens, all suffering from starvation. Two dogs and one cat were given to the custody of Joanna.

When deputies interviewed Michael, he stated he could not afford the animals and had stopped feeding them. He claimed two of the birds that were missing, an African Gray Parrott and a Moluccan Cockatoo had died, and he threw them in the trash. One kitten that is still missing he could not account for, but deputies believe it had also died along with two other kittens found dead in the home.

Deputies reported the house was in a state of deplorable unsanitary condition. Animal feces and urine was documented to be all over the floors, carpets, and furniture. The birdcages appeared as if they had not been cleaned in sometime, and no food could be found.

In all five of the animals are confirmed dead because of lack of care and intentional starvation. Michael allegedly told deputies he was glad he was being arrested because he needed this push to straighten out his life.

The investigation continues.

« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Pinellas County, FL

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

Malnourished animals seized: Jacksonville, TX (US) - Jun 2, 2011

Images for this Case

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 2, 2011
County: Cherokee

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: William Earl Franklin

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of East Texas seized animals from a property on CR 3304 in Jacksonville on Thursday and Friday because the animals were "cruelly confined, severely neglected and improperly fed," according to a warrant application.

One horse was seized Thursday and seven horses, one bull, two cows, and one donkey were seized Friday and taken to a veterinarian in Tyler, said Cherokee County Deputy Joe Self.

"(The horse we picked up Thursday) was in the worst shape, just super skinny, not being fed and taken care of, probably not wormed," Self told the Daily Progress Friday. "These animals have gone to Smith County and our veterinarian is going to inspect these animals."

Deborah Dobbs, SPCA of East Texas president, said a tip on the organization's hotline spurred the investigation.

"This is one of the worst we've seen in awhile so we connected the Cherokee County authorities," Dobbs said.

After seizing one horse Thursday, authorities saw several other animals in need of attention, she said.

"The conditions out there are horrible," Dobbs said. "It's more about the cruel confinement of these animals. Some of them are grossly underweight and need to be fed, but the conditions are very dangerous for any animal. There's a lot of glass, wire and metal, and trash."

The animals had no natural source of food, she said.

"They're in a dirt pen with no grass," Dobbs said. "There's a tiny bit of hay that had been thrown out but these animals are so thin. It takes months for a horse to get like this. This didn't happen overnight."

The owner of the animals, alleged to be William Earl Franklin according to the warrant application, will appear at a civil hearing before Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Phillip Grimes on June 13 at 10 a.m.

"At that point we will present evidence to the court and decide if the animals have been cruelty confined," Dobbs said. "If he makes a finding there's been animal cruelty, he must remove them from the owner."

The animals could be awarded to the SPCA of East Texas to place them with a new owner, she said.

At the civil hearing, the owner may also be ordered to pay restitution to the SPCA of East Texas.

Criminal charges had not been filed as of Friday.

"Criminal charges typically wait until there's a veterinary examination," Dobbs said.

Because the case is still under investigation, Self said he could not disclose whether the sheriff's department is seeking to file criminal charges.

At a civil hearing Monday, 12 animals seized from a Jacksonville property earlier this month were awarded to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of East Texas.

"This is the first time the SPCA of East Texas has gone into Cherokee County on seizure," said Deborah Dobbs, SPCA of East Texas president.

Dobbs said she was very pleased with Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Phillip Grimes' decision.

Eight horses, one bull, two cows, and one donkey were seized from a property on County Road 3304 by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department and the SPCA of East Texas for being "cruelly confined, severely neglected and improperly fed," according to a warrant application.

Tyler Veterinarian Michael Williams examined the animals and found them to be malnourished, Dobbs said.

His findings were presented in court.

"The environment these animals were being kept in was extremely dangerous, so they were at risk and they had injuries and they were living in squalor," Dobbs said. "It was pretty horrific."

The animal owner, alleged to be William Earl Franklin according to a warrant application, was ordered to pay all costs the SPCA of East Texas incurred in seizing the animals within the next 30 days.

The defendant may file an appeal within 10 days.

If an appeal is not filed, the SPCA of East Texas assumes full ownership of the animals and begins the process of finding them new homes, Dobbs said.

Criminal charges may also be filed against the defendant.

"Deputy (Joe) Self will have to make that decision of whether to proceed with criminal charges," Dobbs said.

Self was not available for comment Monday.

« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Cherokee County, TX

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

Dog-fighting: Memphis, TN (US) - Jun 2, 2011

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 2, 2011
County: Shelby

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Darryl Cross
» A Juvenile

Bobby Tittle says she came to her front window Thursday after hearing a loud commotion.

"We heard some hollering and yelping, so we looked down the driveway and there was a guy just leaning on the fence watching two dogs and then he grabbed the little one and threw it over in the middle of them," said Tittle.

Tittle says she was witnessing dog fighting in her neighbor's backyard.

And she wasn't the only person who heard the commotion. A Memphis Police Officer was driving by at the time with her windows down.

"She heard it, stopped, backed up and pulled into the curb and went running up the driveway," added Tittle.

38-year-old Darryl Cross is now facing charges of animal or cockfighting.

Cross' fiancé's 11-year old son was also taken into custody.

According to an affidavit, the officer observed Cross encouraging the boy to throw two puppies over a fence into an area with three pit bull dogs.

Memphis Police say that Cross was agitating the pit bull dogs by shaking the fence and yelling, causing them to attack the puppy.

"They moved in just a few months ago. Then the dogs came in and we would see them trying to make them fight," added Tittle.

Animal Control took 5 animals from the home: three pit bulls and two puppies which were at the center of the action. One of the puppies had to be put down this morning. And the same could happen to the others.

"In a situation like this you have animals that have not been socialized correctly , that have been taught aggressive behavior, and they become challenging at best and impossible to place into a home," said Matthew Pepper from the Memphis Animal Shelter.

The 11-year-old was released from Juvenile Hall to his parents' custody.

Cross is due in court Monday morning.

The dogs will remain at the Memphis Animal Shelter until Cross' case is heard.

« TN State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Shelby County, TN

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

Puppy beaten, buried alive, teens charged: Bakersfield, CA (US) - Jun 6, 2011

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 6, 2011
County: Kern

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» 15-year-old-male
» 17-year-old male

Officers with the Bakersfield Police Department have arrested two teens who were in the process of burying live dogs.

Sgt. Mary DeGeare said that about 8:20 a.m. Monday, the BPD received a call regarding two boys, 15 and 17 years old, who were burying live dogs in the 1900 block of East Planz Road.

A homeowner said they saw two teens, one of whom was striking one of three puppies with a stick.

The boys then began to bury the same puppy in a pre-dug hole on the shoulder of the road where East Planz Road intersects with Hale Street, DeGeare said.

DeGeare said the witness called the police and then confronted the boys, who both ran.

Police said the buried puppy was freeing itself from the dirt and the other two puppies were loose nearby.

The 17-year-old returned to the area and the younger returned later with a parent.

The BPD's investigation revealed the animals were owned by the boys, and they were attempting to dispose of the dogs because of problems they were causing in their yard, DeGeare said.

Both boys were arrested on charges of conspiracy and animal cruelty and taken to Juvenile Hall.

The 8-week-old pit bull mix puppies were taken by city Animal Control

« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Kern County, CA

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

18 starving, dehydrated horses found at boarding facility: Ludowici, GA (US) - Jun 4, 2011

Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 4, 2011
County: Long

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available

Alleged:
» Jason Ashley
» Curtis Austell

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A tip leads authorities to neglected horses in a Long County boarding facility off of Stafford Dairy Road...one deputy refers to the scene as an obvious case of animal cruelty.

The tip came in on Saturday and led to the discovery of 18 horses at the un-named boarding facility.

The owner had been paid to care for the animals but they were found in various stages of neglect…many in advanced stages of starvation and dehydration.

Deputy Walt Pelton with the Long County Sheriff's Office says, "These animals are in very bad condition. There's a couple we're not sure we're going to be able to save or not - it's just sickening."

Investigators say most of the horse owners have been contacted and some have already retrieved their animals. The Department of Agriculture is expected to join the investigation on Monday.

The owner of the boarding facility has also been contacted - authorities say he is currently in Florida and they're not sure if he plans to return on his own.

Long County Sheriff officials confirm they have taken the owner of a horse stable into custody. They say Jason Ashley showed up on the property a short time ago.

Sgt. Mark Hall with the Long County Sheriff's Office says that Jason Ashley has been charged with one count of animal cruelty, which is a misdemeanor. Sgt. Hall also says an employee of Ashley's, Curtis Austell, was charged with being a party to a crime. Both men are set to appear in court on July 20.

Hall told us that the Georgia Agriculture Department spent much of the day on the scene investigating and that when Ashley showed up, "they called me and I came out and arrested him," Hall told News 3.

Owners of horses boarded at a farm near Ludowici began removing their animals today after some were found near starvation over the weekend.

A young woman names Sarah Johns told us her mare appears to have lost as much as 300 pounds. Johns told us she is a busy student at Armstrong and on the golf team so she had been out of town a lot and hadn't been able to see her horse for about two months.

Mark Hall told us when they arrived on scene Saturday night that there was no water or feed or hay in any of the stalls. Hall says up to eight horses out of an estimated 15 at the stables, appeared very malnourished.

« GA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Long County, GA

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here

4 horses stabbed with pitchfork: Mcvey, AL (US) - Jun 1, 2011

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 1, 2011
County: Clarke

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Law enforcement authorities in Clarke County, Ala., are seeking those responsible for using a pitchfork to attack four horses residing in a pasture in McVey.

Clarke County Sheriff's Department Chief Investigator Ron Baggette said the horses' owner reported finding the wounded animals on Wednesday. All the horses sustained puncture wounds.

"The owner said one of the horses is now blind," Baggette said.

All four horses are under veterinary care for their wounds. The animals have been relocated from the pasture where the attack occurred, Baggette said.

If caught those responsible could face animal cruelty and other charges, he said.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of those responsible for the attack.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the Clarke County Crimewatch Hotline at 251-275-8132.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Clarke County Crimewatch Hotline
251-275-8132

« AL State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Clarke County, AL

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

View the original article here