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