The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Abuse The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Animal Abuse
Showing posts with label Animal Abuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animal Abuse. Show all posts

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Starving Horses Ate Aluminum Siding Off House, Sheriff Says as Crews Clean Up Bodies in Maryland


QUANTICO, Md. — With a brisk wind blowing under gray skies, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis stood in front of a farm trying to describe what he had just seen behind the house. 

"The siding — aluminum siding — was eaten off the house, and fiberglass insulation had been pulled out," said a visibly shaken Lewis on Saturday. "Those horses were so hungry, they had broken the glass sliding doors on the back of the house, trying to get in and find something to eat. There's mud and broken glass all around the back of the house."

More than two dozen dead horses in varying degrees of decay were discovered at the farm and reported to the sheriff's office Friday morning, which is when an investigation at the 2.13-acre property began. The land is owned by Clayton P. and Barbara L. Pilchard, according to Maryland property records.

Marjie Cancil, who lives near the farm, drove past Saturday afternoon and stopped to see what was happening.

To read more on this story, click here: Starving Horses Ate Aluminum Siding Off House, Sheriff Says as Crews Clean Up Bodies in Maryland

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Saturday, February 17, 2018

Fontana Man Arrested for Badly Abusing Kitten, Police Say


FONTANA, Calif. (FOX 11) - Fontana police arrested a man for allegedly trying to kill a kitten -- several times. Despite the horrendous abuse reported, the kitten named "Olive" lived.

Lucio Cota Lopez, 34, was arrested Tuesday for the alleged assault of a 3 to 4-month-old stray kitten. An investigation revealed Lopez was upset with the kitten for entering the apartment.

Witnesses reported Lopez allegedly placed the kitten in the freezer, and later took the kitten out and began squeezing its body as the frightened kitten cried out in pain.

To read more on this story, click here: Fontana Man Arrested for Badly Abusing Kitten, Police Say


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Monday, November 13, 2017

Florida Dairy Workers Seen Beating And Kicking Cows In Undercover Video


A Florida dairy farm is under criminal investigation after an undercover video from an animal rights group revealed workers kicking cows in the head and beating them with metal rods.

The video was shot by a member of Animal Recovery Mission who went undercover in August as a farm worker at Larson Dairy in Okeechobee County. The footage shows men brutally abusing cows as the bovines cower and duck their heads. In some cases, the cows are unable to get away because they are confined by bars meant to restrain them for the milking process.

Larson Dairy was a supplier of Publix Super Markets, which has announced it suspended deliveries from the farm in the wake of the video, the Associated Press reports. Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen announced Thursday that he had launched a criminal investigation into the farm.

To read more on this story, click here: Florida Dairy Workers Seen Beating And Kicking Cows In Undercover Video

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Saturday, November 11, 2017

Five Meatballs Found at a Dog Park Embedded with Fish Hooks



Ormond Beach, Florida - A sheriff's office on Florida's east coast was given a heads up Tuesday, Nov. 7, of five pieces of meat found at a dog park. Upon inspecting the meat, it was discovered fish hooks were embedded in small meatballs.

At least one dog was seen eating the meat at the Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, according to a Facebook post by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office 

Sheriff's Deputy Donna Bowen visited the park and found an additional contaminated meatball. Finding no others, she reviewed them with the person who found the first batch and noticed they were cold and sweating, like they were frozen and sitting in the sun.

The deputy searched the park -- plus an adjacent area -- and found no other meatballs.

The county's animal control called an area veterinary hospital, which did an X-ray on the dog but found no hooks inside the animal. 

Police aren't sure who placed the meat, however, Bowen responded to a similar report at the same park two years ago.






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Thursday, September 14, 2017

Florida Officials: Worst Case of Animal Cruelty - More Than 50 Animals Found Tied to Trees as Irma Approaches


West Palm Beach, Florida  -- Officials are calling it animal cruelty like they've never seen before.

As Hurricane Irma’s outer bands inch closer to Florida, animal control officers said they are hustling to rescue abandoned animals.

And these aren't pets who are just being left inside, Director of Animal Care Diane Suave said.

“They are left in a yard, in a pen they cannot escape from or tethered to trees or poles,” she said.

Palm Beach County Animal Care reports animal control officers have rescued 49 dogs and two cats in the last 48 hours.

“Even a tiny bit of sand can hurt an animal when it’s traveling through 100-plus mph winds,” Sauve said.

Animal control officers were slowly pulled off the road at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sauve said once winds reach a sustained 35 mph, no officers will be permitted to rescue animals.

“We are asking the public, if it is safe, consider sheltering any animals you see left outside,” she said.

Both Sauve and State Attorney Dave Aronberg said they promise to prosecute anyone who left their animals outside to fend for themselves during Hurricane Irma.

“This is a prime example of animal cruelty,” Aronberg said. “We will find you, and we will prosecute you.”

Sauve said officials will use every paper trail imaginable to track down animal cruelty offenders.

“It’s unconscionable,” she said. “We will not stand for it here in Palm Beach County.”









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Friday, April 21, 2017

Do You Think It Is Cruel to Breed Cats with Genetic Deformities Intentionally?


Controversial Munchkin Cats may be trendy to some people who find them cute, but is it cruel to breed cats with genetic deformities intentionally? You may have seen videos or pictures on social media of these short-legged felines, often affectionately called “sausage cats,” and wondered how their legs get so short.

The short legs of the Munchkin cat come from a dominant genetic mutation. This gene is referred to as a “lethal” gene because if two Munchkin cats mate and both pass on the dominant gene, the kittens will not survive. Breeders intentionally breed Munchkin cats with regular-sized cats or cats that are just shorter and do not have the Munchkin gene to produce kittens with short legs that can be sold for a high price.

Although Munchkin cats, when taken care of, can live about 12 to 15 years on average, there are some health problems that can develop due to their short legs. Lordosis is a condition that causes the spine to dip down and put pressure on the heart, lungs, and trachea, and it can be fatal as the organs begin to grow.

Munchkin cats are also susceptible to pectus excavatum, or a concave chest. This causes the breastbone to sink in. Breeders are quick to point out that these conditions can also occur in normal-sized cats, but vets have found a correlation between the genetic mutation and these health problems.

Some worry that short legs limit Munchkin cats’ mobility, which is especially important for felines. Munchkin cats may not be able to jump high, but they are surprisingly nimble and agile on ground level. Their mobility, for the most part, isn’t terribly affected by having shorter legs.

Breeders also like to point out that breeding cats with a genetic mutation that causes short legs is no different than breeding short-legged dogs like Corgis or Dachshunds. The International Cat Association (TICA) agrees with this argument and accepts the Munchkin cat as a registered breed, but the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) refuse to recognize the Munchkin. One TICA judge even resigned because of the questionable ethics of breeding a cat with a genetic deformity intentionally.

When it comes down to it, breeding a cat with short legs is done only to please humans, not for the benefit of cats. Sure they may look “cute” to some, but it certainly doesn’t make them healthier and provides them with no specific advantages. And in a world where shelters are full of unwanted healthy cats, should we really be breeding deformed felines for profit?

Andrew Prentis, of Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in Central London, had a word of advice for those wanting a Munchkin cat or breed them. Prentis told the Sun: “Why would you want to breed a cat that effectively doesn’t have any legs? If you want to see a short-legged cat, go and watch a cartoon. Leave the cat alone.”








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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

New Law: Animal Abusers to be Displayed in a Registry that is Similar to the Ones that Are Used for Sex Offenders


Now that animal abuse is being taken far more seriously than ever before; more and more jurisdictions are altering their laws to reflect this new reality.

A number of United States jurisdictions have now made laws that require the names of animal abusers to be displayed in a registry that is similar to the ones that are used for sex offenders.

These registries are designed with the objective of keeping people who have harmed animals in the past from ever having the chance to do so again; and they are a welcome addition to the lawmaking policies of places as disparate as New York City and Tampa.

Retail outlets and shelters no longer have an excuse when it comes to providing animals to those who have a history of abuse; as they are required to have a prospective adopter read and sign an affidavit that provides assurance that they are not on the registry.

If you are a regular person who is in search of a pet sitter while you are away on vacation; these registries also take on added value; allowing you to vet candidates more readily and do the proper research before potentially leaving your animals in harm’s way.

The registries are not yet a requirement in all states, but they are slowly popping up throughout the country; in places like New York City (although theirs is not able to be viewed by the general public); Tennessee (whose is statewide) and Cook County, Illinois.

For those who consider pets to be family members, this is welcome news.

Perhaps individuals who consider hurting animals-animal abusers in the future will reconsider their actions; if they are aware of the fact that their name will end up on a list that is easily searchable.

Having actual documentation to use makes life simpler for animal lovers, as well as law enforcement.

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William Dodson, The Man Who Taped a Dog’s Muzzle in 2015, Will Spend 15 Years Behind Bars


By now, you’ve likely heard about Caitlyn, the dog whose muzzle was taped so tightly that she risked losing her tongue and suffering permanent damage to her nasal passage.  She’s absolutely thriving now, and her abuser was sentenced to five years in prison for what he did to her, to be served concurrently with a 15-year sentence for other crimes.The 15-month-old chocolate pit bull mix was found in June 2015 on the porch of a South Carolina resident who called 911 after seeing what horrible shape she was in.

She was taken to the Charleston Animal Society, who got her immediate medical attention.  The blood flow had been completely cut off from her tongue, making the situation quite delicate.  When the tape was removed, Caitlyn screamed in excruciating pain.“It was 36 hours of torment,” CAS spokesman Alwin Roman told the court.

Caitlyn’s former owner, William Dodson said he taped her snout shut because she wouldn’t stop barking.  He was charged with felony ill treatment of an animal, and was indicted in February 2016.  He will serve 5 years for what he did to Caitlyn, but it will be served concurrently with a 15-year sentence he received for a federal drug and weapon conviction.Dodson made no apologies for what he did, and Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. told the abuser that he wished the sentence could be longer.Meanwhile, Caitlyn is doing wonderfully in her loving new home.  She has fans all over the world and is an ambassador for animal welfare.

To learn more about this case, please read the following posts:

$1,000 Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for Taping a Dog's Muzzle Together with Electrical Tape

William Leonard Dodson Has Been Arrested in the Animal Cruelty Case of Caitlyn the Dog That Was Found with Electrical Tape Tightly Wound Around Her Muzzle

Caitlyn, The Dog Found with Her Muzzle Taped Shut is Making a Remarkable Recovery

Caitlyn the Dog Who Suffered Grotesque Injuries After Her Snout Was Taped Shut with Electrical Tape is on the Mend

Caitlyn, The Pit Bull Who Was Found with Her Muzzle Taped Shut Will Be in Shirtless Firefighters Calendar

Do You Remember the Story of Caitlyn? The Dog Who Had Her Muzzle Taped Shut: Take a Look at Her Now






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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Spring Breakers Are Abusing Sea Creatures To Get Drunk


There’s nothing funny about these images.

Spring break is a time for college students to go out, get wild and indulge in a bit of alcohol-fueled hijinks. But some drunkards are spoiling the fun for everyone and harming wild animals in the process.

This year, Total Frat Move, a blog about college life, launched an Instagram account dedicated solely to spring break. Buried in between photos of beer bongs, boobs and more beer are videos that show straight-up animal abuse.

Take this clip titled “The shark shotgun,” which shows a guy using a beached shark to open his can of beer:

To read more on this story, click here: Spring Breakers Are Abusing Sea Creatures To Get Drunk


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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Brooklyn Woman Convicted of Hoarding Rabbits Could Actually Be Too Crazy for Jail


The Brooklyn woman convicted of hoarding rabbits could actually be crazy enough to avoid jail.

Obsessed animal lover Dorota Trec underwent a court-ordered psychiatric exam Wednesday – two months after she was found guilty of abusing 100 rabbits that lived outside her Gowanus home in a trial at which she acted as her own lawyer.

The official results will be released later in February, but Trec, who faces up to two years behind bars, hinted that she won’t be doing hard time.

“I think this is leading to not putting me in prison,” Trec, 36, said outside the Brooklyn Supreme courtroom.

She believes she’ll instead be ordered to “come for treatment [by] a psychologist.”

Trec, who was charged with mistreating 125 of the furballs, represented herself during the wacky three-week jury trial.

The Polish-born bunny breeder said the person who evaluated her “was very surprised I did the case myself and that the same person who goes for an evaluation is allowed to do [a] trial.”

Earlier this month, Judge Curtis Farber said he was worried about “serious mental health issues” and ordered Trec to undergo the psych exam before he handed down his sentence.

“I am trying very hard to think of an appropriate sentence in your case,” he told her at the Jan. 13 hearing.

“I am not sick,” Trec shouted to the judge. “I am a very intelligent person.”

In December, the ASPCA came to seize 45 bunnies of the 90 Trec had from her yard. She claims she’s been trying to give the remaining furry creatures away ever since.

“I am always going to have animals around. Who can stop me? They will have to put me in jail,” Trec said Wednesday. “If [Judge Farber] puts me in prison, I will continue to work on plans” to build a bunny sanctuary.

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Rabbit Hoarder, Dorota Trec Gets 45 Days in Jail for Animal Cruelty


Dorota Trec was sentenced Friday in Brooklyn Criminal Court after she was convicted in November of abusing some 100 rabbits she kept in a squalid yard in the Gowanus section.

She had faced up to two years incarceration.

Judge Curtis Farber told Trec that she can’t keep any pets for five years and must undergo psychiatric treatment.

If she violates those terms, she faces a year behind bars.

She also has to pay the ASPCA more than $20,000 for veterinary treatment for the bunnies.




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Sunday, November 13, 2016

SeaWorld: Rewards Employees for Staying Quiet in the Face of Clear Cases of Abuse


This week, trainers from around the world will arrive at SeaWorld for the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association conference. The event is likely to draw controversy, as the Chicago-based IMATA has come under recent fire for its policy allowing trainers to participate in the violent Taiji dolphin hunts.

A change in this policy is long overdue. But as a former trainer myself, I can attest that IMATA’s stance is symptomatic of a much deeper culture of turning a blind eye to cruelty - one that runs throughout the marine park industry, including SeaWorld.

For 12 years, I worked alongside Smooshi, an 800-pound walrus, as a marine mammal trainer at Marineland. In that time I saw a lot of bad things, from repeated animal neglect to mass graves.

Even though the conditions were shocking, nothing could have prepared me for the cult-like work environment that rewarded employees for staying quiet in the face of clear cases of abuse.

If you speak out, there’s hell to pay.

I found this out the hard way. When I blew the whistle on Marineland’s dodgy practices, they sued me for $1.5 million. And I am just one of 15 whistleblowers, along with others from parks like SeaWorld, who finally said enough is enough.

Though it may look fun from the outside, working as a marine animal trainer is a tough gig. I loved Smooshi like family and wanted to protect her, but I also knew I was part of the problem.

When she first arrived at Marineland in a small wooden box, Smooshi was just 18 months old. The vet came to take her blood for a health check and she was terrified. She ran to me looking for help and we instantly bonded.

The two of us became inseparable. Smooshi would follow me around the park and bark incessantly when she couldn’t see me. Television shows like Jimmy Kimmel even ran stories about us, with the headline “Walrus in love”. I did worry about Smooshi and the other animals’ living conditions, but my concerns were ignored by management.

Even though I was paid to look the other way, the realities of captivity were difficult to ignore. At times, the water was so caustic with chlorine it caused blindness to the animals and gave Smooshi chemical burns. I’d run my hand over dolphins and watch as their skin literally flaked off. Six of the park’s seven seals were blind or had serious eye problems due to the high levels of chlorine.

Some days there would be mysterious bloodstains on the floor I’d have to mop up, no questions asked. One time I even found myself in a mass animal grave, digging up Kandu, a wild-caught orca from Iceland, because his necropsy wasn’t done properly the first time around.

Another cruel aspect trainers are forced to look the other way on, is how wild animals are collected. Marine parks often promote their animals as “rescues” when really they are deliberately captured from the wild and stolen from their families. I am guilty of shying away from this reality myself, because Smooshi didn’t come to Marineland as a rescue walrus. She was captured in the Black Sea in Russia.

Since leaving the park, I can see the truth: Smooshi should never have been in captivity in the first place. Capturing marine animals like walruses, beluga whales and dolphins is a violent and cruel process. And putting them in sterile, unnatural environments is torture, even with the so-called “best” care there is.

It’s terrible how many marine parks and trainers are still involved in the wild capture of marine animals, even though reaction to movies like Blackfish and The Cove show the general public clearly don’t agree with it.

Perhaps the most shocking thing is that the peak body for trainers in the United States, IMATA, still actually allows their trainers to be involved in the Taiji dolphin hunts. This is one of the most controversial wild capture operations in the world, yet IMATA gives its trainers permission to participate and select dolphins for sale to marine parks.

For many young people, a job at a marine park is an all-access pass to touch and play with animals. It’s a reward every young child wants - until they learn the truth.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Washington, DC - $2,000 Reward for Information on the Person(s) Responsible for Leaving a Senior Female Yorkie-Type Dog in a Trashcan in an Alley of the 4200 block of Mead Street and Lane Place NE - Humane Rescue Alliance


The Humane Rescue Alliance needs your help! If you have any information about the person or persons responsible for leaving a senior female Yorkie-type dog in a trashcan in an alley of the 4200 block of Mead Street and Lane Place NE on October 20, please contact our Humane Law Enforcement Department at 202-723-5730 (ext. 132).

We are offering at $2,000 reward to any person who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this horrific act of animal cruelty.




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Sunday, October 23, 2016

Kristen Lindsey, The Austin Veterinarian Who Bragged on Social Media After Killing a Feral Cat Has Had Her License Suspended for a Year


Austin, Texas - A veterinarian who used a bow and arrow to kill a feral cat has lost her license for now.

Kristen Lindsey, the Austin veterinarian who bragged on social media after shooting and killing a feral cat with a bow and arrow, has had her license suspended for a year. She'll also be on a probationary period for four years. During that probation she is to have a board-approved supervising veterinarian to watch over Lindsey and submit quarterly reports to the board. In addition, Lindsey will have to take continuing education classes in animal welfare.

In the Facebook post, Lindsey is seen holding a dead cat by an arrow lodged in its head. "My first bow kill. The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through its head," she allegedly wrote.

After the post surfaced, Lindsey was fired from her job at a Brenham animal hospital, which faced heavy public backlash.

"Those actions don't any way portray what we're here for at Washington Animal Hospital," the hospital's Dr. Bruce Buenger told abc13 at the time. "We put our heart and soul in this place."

Lindsey's attorney issued the following statement:

"Dr. Lindsey and I are disappointed that the Board ordered suspension of Dr. Lindsey's license based on an action that had nothing to do with the practice of veterinary medicine. We are also disappointed that the Board has, for all intents and purposes, chosen to take sides in the culture war between the animal rescues zealots - who have campaigned to destroy Dr. Lindsey and her family - versus rural property owners who have the right to protect their property and their own animals from feral animals who are destroying their property and threatening their own animals. Dr. Lindsey did what she did to protect her property and her own cat from an animal that was trespassing on her property, damaging her property, and endangering her domestic cat and her horse. It is also disingenuous - if not absurd - that the individual who now claims she owned the cat didn't care enough about the cat at the time to give it a collar and tag - or any evidence of ownership, or to get the animal vaccinated for rabies (in an area where rabies was pervasive), or to prevent the animal from roaming wild in an environment where it was likely to be eaten by coyotes or otherwise suffer and perish. It should be very troubling to regular people that the State of Texas is spending precious tax dollars on the prosecution of someone who killed was simply protecting her property from a free-roaming feral animal, and that this Board doesn't have the integrity that the District Attorney in Austin County had to stand up to an irrational - but loud - lynch mob of zealots. We will be appealing the Board's decision to the District Court and we are confident that common sense and justice will prevail."





You may be interested in reading:

A Veterinarian Has Been Fired From Her Clinic After She Posted a Horrifying Image of Her Holding a Cat She Had Killed by Firing an Arrow Into its Head

Veterinarian Shown in a Facebook Post Bragging About Killing a Cat with a Bow and Arrow, Can Not Be Charged Until Investigation Determines if the Picture is Genuine



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Monday, October 17, 2016

Thinking About Buying a Puppy? Take a Look at This Video to See Exactly Where Your Dog is Coming From


There is nothing more tempting than the big-eyed face of a puppy. Seeing one through a pet shop window must be the human equivalent of kryptonite because all it takes is one shot of their tiny paw pads pressed against the glass to make our knees go out. But what if we told you that life for these perfect little puppies wasn’t always so cute and that by purchasing one of those irresistible little ones, you would be condemning hundreds of other dogs to a life of abuse and suffering. Well, tragically, thanks to the puppy mill industry, this is exactly what happens.

Puppy mills are large-scale dog breeding facilities where puppies are churned out like a machine. In the video below, you can see the horrific reality of what a puppy mill looks like. Breeding dogs never get to leave the mill but spend their entire lives in tiny wire cages, deprived of basic medical care,  food, and water. Many dogs are covered with their own filth and suffer from severe dental and other medical issues. These pups know nothing but exploitation and abuse at the hands of humans and have to endure the pain of giving birth and having their puppies taken away far too soon. The most disheartening part of this industry is the fact that the sale of those puppies only enables mills to continue breeding and abusing their parents. With millions of healthy dogs waiting to be adopted in U.S. shelters, the idea that there is an entire industry dedicated to mass-breeding new puppies is not only disgusting but downright irresponsible.

The good news in all of this is that there are many organizations working to rescue dogs from mills and raise awareness for the plight of these animals. Here we see the Humane Society of the United States save over 140 dogs from a terrible mill in North Carolina. Don’t support the puppy mill industry, always adopt and don’t shop!

Share this video and encourage others to learn the truth behind the puppies in the window.




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Sunday, October 16, 2016

Cat Who Was Found Shot in the Back and Dragging Herself Through the Park Needs Help with Her Recovery


Calera, Alabama  - When people welcome a companion animal into their lives, they usually have so much compassion and affection in their heart, that they want to share it with another being. They will go to the shelter and pick out a pup or kitty to pour all of that love into. Alternatively, there are some people out there who treat animals as a way to release their aggression, and sadly, homeless animals with no guardian to protect them, tend to be the target of this anger. We’ve heard stories where stray animals are abused by people living in the area who are simply annoyed by their presence. We’ve heard of stray animals getting run over by cars and no one bothering to stop and see if they’re okay. And, sadly, we’ve seen dogs get picked up off the street and turn into bait or aggressive opponents for dogfighting circles.

Just recently, the residents of a mobile home park in Calera, found a cat who had been shot in the back and was dragging herself through the park. At the time they found her, the bullet was still lodged in her spine. The fact that this little kitty was pulling herself around the park, likely looking for food or help, shows that this cat had a clear will to live. The folks who found her immediately called The Purrfect Love Cat Rescue. The kitten, now named Jackie, seems to be permanently paralyzed and the employees at the center are skeptical as to whether she will ever be able to walk, control her bowels, or her bladder. According to the veterinarian on board, it appeared someone put the gun up against her back, then fired, almost certainly intentionally.

Why anyone would harm such a precious creature is beyond us. This kitty’s only crime was existing in the same space as a cruel human.

Sadly, Jackie is too weak to undergo any surgery, so all that’s left to do is hope that this sweet kitten can somehow pull through the ordeal.

Despite the fact that Jackie cannot undergo surgery, the rescue center employees are determined to do all they can for her and hopefully find the horrible individual who did this to her. They have set up a Facebook page and hope to get donations for what will likely be a very costly recovery program for Jackie. If you’re touched by this story and would like to donate to the cause, click HERE.


Please donate if you can. Remember no amount is too small. Thanking you from Jackie and The Pet Tree House



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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

College Football Star ‘Suspended Indefinitely’ Over Animal Abuse Investigation


A Missouri State football star was suspended indefinitely after allegedly punching a dog three times and breaking its jaw, according to reports Sunday.

Bears quarterback Breck Ruddick, 20, hit the 42-pound Australian shepherd so hard, the pooch, Luca, lost teeth and was rushed to a vet with a shattered jaw, the Daily Mail reported.

The player was suspended Friday for “conduct detrimental to the team” just hours after a Facebook post detailing the attack emerged, the paper reported.

The player lost his cool, punched the dog and let him “run off, all alone and bleeding profusely,” Shelby Filbeck, a friend of the dog’s owner, Katie Riggs, wrote in a Facebook post Friday afternoon.

Riggs “spent the whole night looking for her dog,” Filbeck said, according to the Daily Mail.

On Saturday, the college said the suspension was linked to the animal abuse allegations. Reddick won’t play again “until the situation is resolved,” said athletic director Kyle Moats.

To read more on this story, click here: College Football Star ‘Suspended Indefinitely’ Over Animal Abuse Investigation



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Monday, September 12, 2016

Humane Society of the United States Offering $5K Reward In Gruesome Killing of Cat in Elkton, Maryland


Elkton, Maryland  - The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the gruesome killing of a cat in Maryland.

On September 7, 2016, authorities say a cat was found burned to death in an apartment complex in Hollingsworth Manor in Elkton, Maryland.


Investigators believe it was severely tortured and then set on fire.

“It is absolutely horrific to imagine someone intentionally and viciously harming an innocent cat in this way,” said Emily Hovermale, The HSUS’ Maryland state director. “Whoever would commit such a crime is clearly a dangerous person, and we are hopeful that this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this heinous crime.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Cecil County Animal Services at 410-441-2040.



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Friday, September 9, 2016

Convicted Animal Abusers Will No Longer Be Able to Adopt Animals in Hillsborough County, Florida


Tampa, Florida - County commissioners on Thursday approved a new registry for people convicted of harming animals. Individuals on the registry won’t be able to adopt or work with animals, and retailers and shelters will be required to check the registry whenever someone wants to adopt.

Commissioner Kevin Beckner has pushed the issue for months but it was continually pulled back to fix kinks. For example, retailers had objections that their staffs would be in charge of confronting people with violent pasts.

Beckner said the issue was resolved. Instead of checking people against the animal registry at the point of sale, potential adopters would have to sign an affidavit affirming that they have never been convicted of animal abuse. Then, retailers would verify after and notify the county to send animal control officers to seize the pet.

Shelters would run the background check immediately.

If retailers had any lingering objectives, Beckner said, the retail industry would prefer to have no obligation whatsoever.”

“We as a committee believed that there had to be some obligation to protect animals and protect the public safety,” Beckner said.

While groups like the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and their volunteers lobbied for the ordinance, animal advocates in the community weren’t unanimous in their support of the registry.

Lisa Hutches, chair of the county’s citizen Animal Advisory Committee said the ordinance was “ill written” and would prove costly to the county. She asked for commissioners to send the proposal back to the committee for further review.

“It is not going to save one animal in the county,” Hutches said. “What you have right now is not sufficient at all. This is an animal rights driven activism.”

It seemed that commissioners at one point considered obliging Hutches. Commissioner Stacy White made a motion to delay action until October and await a recommendation from the advisory committee and several commissioners expressed that it would be their preferred option.

“I don’t think the ordinance right now is exactly ready for us to vote on. I am in favor of an animal abuse registry,” Murman said. “Personally I believe this is a state issue.”

But Beckner said the state Legislature has repeatedly killed bills to create an animal registry. The registry, he and supporters said, would also allow law enforcement to keep tabs on violent individuals, noting that a history of harm to animals often proceeds violence toward people.

He defended his proposal against objections from the Animal Advisory Committee as politically motivated.

“They seem to have a problem with them not being approached to begin with to draft this ordinance,” Beckner said. “Their intention is to get this thrown back to them so they can get the credit for trying to bring this forward.”

Ultimately, the board voted 6-1 to approve. White was the “no” vote.

The ordinance will go into effect on November 1, 2016.

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Friday, August 19, 2016

Retired FBI Agent, Jaquin “Jack” Garcia is Now the Director of Investigations for Guardians of Rescue


Guardians of Rescue has a reputation for helping animals, as well as veterans. But they are about to become even more effective when it comes to bringing animal abusers to justice. The animal rescue organization announces that they brought on Joaquin “Jack” Garcia, a former FBI agent, to head up the unit that investigates reports of animal cruelty.

“Bringing Jack Garcia on board is great news for us, and bad news for those who abuse animals,” says Robert Misseri, founder and president of Guardians of Rescue. “Jack is the best there is at investigating such things and will get to the bottom of complicated animal abuse cases. This is one more giant step in helping the animals.”

Garcia spent 26 years as an FBI agent and was even dubbed by some as being the best undercover agent in the history of the FBI. He worked on over 100 undercover investigations, and his last case he went undercover as mobster “Jack Falcone” for many years, which helped get 39 convictions of Mafia figures. Today, he’s retired from the FBI, but ready to take on investigating those who abuse animals and help bring them to justice.

With the Guardians of Rescue, Garcia will be acting on larger complaints of animal abuse, cruelty, and neglect. As a investigator, he will be working with a group of licensed private investigators who are retired law enforcement that will aid in the investigations and assist with gathering information that can be used in animal cruelty cases. These cases may involve a range of issues such as hoarding, dog fighting, illegal breeding, etc. He will be working with the local state and federal authorities to investigate and document his findings.

“I’m happy to be able to put my skills and experience to use helping uncover animal cruelty,” says Jack Garcia. “Working with Guardians of Rescue I am confident we will be able to hold people accountable for the animal cruelty they are participating in. After years of investigating drug dealers, organized crime, murder for hire etc., the acts of violence on defenseless animals is as vicious as some of the crimes I’ve investigated.”

Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster-home placements. They are also instrumental in helping military members with their pets, and to provide service dogs to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. To learn more, get involved, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log onto www.guardiansofrescue.org.

About Guardians of Rescue
Based in New York, Guardians of Rescue is an organization whose mission is to protect the well being of all animals. They provide aid to animals in distress, including facilitating foster programs, rehabilitation, assisting other rescue groups, and providing support to families, both military and not, who need assistance due to economic factors. To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org.

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