Couple Pleads Not Guilty to 17 Counts of Animal Abuse – Not First Run In With Animal Control

“If you love your pets, you don’t clear off on holiday & leave the poor things alone! If they don’t get a serious sentence & all the dogs taken from them, they will carry on abusing!! Laws have to change to stop this type of thing happening again…an Animal Abuse Registry could stop repeat offenders etc.”

By News Staff – Reporting by Kainani Stevens – kstevens@abc6.com

An Exeter couple appeared in court Wednesday facing 17 counts of animal abuse.

Accused of 17 Counts Of Animal Abuse & Neglect – Kathleen and Donald Perkins

Police say the couple went on a two-week vacation, leaving their dogs locked up at home, alone, without enough food or water. This is not the first run-in the pair have had with animal control.

Both Kathleen and Donald Perkins plead not guilty in court, accused of the 17 counts of abuse and neglect.  The Perkins’ operate Celie Kennels out of their Ten Rod Road home, breeding golden retrievers for over a decade, according to their website.

Last week, 10 golden retrievers, six papillons, and one cat were removed from the Exeter home after State Police received a call from a concerned neighbor. Animal Control responded and found the dogs in “unsafe” conditions.

“The dogs were in crates barely big enough for them, standing in urine and feces. Their paws were raw and they had little or no water,” said Sgt. David Bassignani of the Rhode Island State Police.

All the dogs and the cat are being housed at several shelters across the state and will remain there until the judge rules on the case. Several neighbors of the Perkins’ have contacted animal control in the past.

“We have in the past had calls made by concerned citizens about the living conditions of the animals,” said Dr. E. J. Finocchio, Director of the RISPCA. The pair are due back in court on January 13th.

News Link:–http://www.abc6.com/story/30769351/couple-pleads-not-guilty-to-17-counts-of-animal-abuse

Pregnant dog burned alive, gets help from local animal rescue group

"OMG...this is beyond sickening, I can't see the dog walking willingly into fire, so she was either burnt or doused in some type of chemical; on purpose. I pray they catch the scum that did this & will keep her in my prayers, in the hopes that all her pups make it & she finds a forever loving home!" 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A pregnant dog that was severely burned is doing much better after being taken in by a local animal rescue group.

“Someone did something unkind to this very sweet dog,” says Donna Casamento with Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Pregnant dog burnt is carrying puppies

It’s something so unkind, it’s horrific to view.  Nina, a terrier mix, has second to third degree burns on her chest, all the way down to her legs.

“It’s been a very very sad situation. We weren’t sure when we first got her how the burns happened,” said Casamento.

But Donna thinks Nina’s burns may have been intentional. And what makes this worse, she’s pregnant.

“Whether she walked into a fire on the ground, like a fire pit or was pushed into a fire pit. Dogs don’t walk into those kind of situations,” she said.”

Now the race is on to save the unborn dogs while Nina recovers. “It’s somewhat difficult for us to tell exactly if the puppies are still alive yet,” Casamento said.

Nina was brought up yesterday from Miami-Dade rescue.  Veterinarians here are taking care of her around the clock. “Every couple of hours, she’s getting this applied to her and then several baths throughout the day,” said Donna. “We’re giving her pain medication about every three or four hours at this point.”

The hope is eventually to find her and her babies, a loving home. “In spite what she’s been through, all she wants to do is sit with her head in our lap and get love. This is a great dog,” she said.

Vets say once Nina becomes comfortable, they’ll be able to perform an ultrasound to see if the puppies are alive. They’re asking the community to help with donations for Nina’s care. Find out how you can help at their website, http://www.bdrr.org/ .

Miami-Dade animal rescue is investigating the case.

News Link:-http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/pregnant-dog-burned-alive-gets-help-from-local-animal-rescue-group

Lake Charles Man Gets 10 years For Stealing, Abusing Puppy

“Finally a judge with the balls to jail those who abuse animals!”

By Ginny LaRoe, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Email the author | Follow on Twitter on April 05, 2014 at 4:57 PM, updated April 05, 2014 at 4:58 PM

Stealing and abusing a puppy got a 21-year-old Lake Charles man a 10-year prison sentence, KPLC-TV and the American Press reported, and he will have to spend four years of that term behind bars.

A Lake Charles man has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges, getting a 10-year sentence, of which four years will be served, for stealing a pit bull puppy and then abusing him. Halo, who is now in good health after being rehabilitated with the Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue, had broken bones and pellet bullet wounds when a mail carrier found him in December. (Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue)

Tyler Scott Sanders pleaded guilty this week to aggravated cruelty to animals and theft of animal, the news outlets reported.

The charges came after a pit bull named Halo was found with pellet gun wounds, a broken skull and other broken bones, law enforcement officials told KPLC-TV.

Halo was stolen in August, and a mail carrier found the animal in November, when he was about six months old.

Halo was taken in by the Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue, which rehabilitated him.

He has some ongoing health issues but is up and running, according to the Team Halo Facebook page, which has chronicled the puppy’s recovery and the court case.

“There’s a possibility that his front right leg may have to be amputated. It’s an inch shorter than the other legs and he’s still growing so it may eventually bother him,” Jess Single, with the Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue, said Saturday. “Right now he runs and plays with the others well.“

Single and Renee Smith, along with other volunteers with the rescue group, praised the judge and prosecutor for taking the case seriously. 

“The DA’s office worked non stop to also make sure that justice was served. They fell in love with Halo and made sure that a message was sent that animal abuse is not tolerated in this parish,” Smith wrote on Facebook.

A judge imposed a 10-year prison term, then suspended half of the sentence, and said Sanders would have to spend 85 percent of it behind bars, plus pay for medical bills and a $5,000 fine, the news outlets reported.

News Link:-http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/04/lake_charles_man_gets_10_years.html

Read more:

• http://lakecharlespitbullrescue.org/
• http://www.pbrc.net/
• https://www.facebook.com/pbrc.net

Georgia Man Arested For Beheading And Stabbing Puppies

“OMG…this POS must be mentally impaired, as no sane person would do such despicable things to innocent puppies! His name & picture need to be on any Animal Abuse Registers & on every shelter wall. I hope he rots in jail, where hopefully another inmate might show him more things one can do with a pair of scissors 🙂  (sorry some posts are outdated but I feel some stories need to be told; especially if it may help others by sharing an image of the offending party) My apologise to anyone who sent me stories to be posted & they haven’t been done yet, I’m splitting my time between so many different things, I’m meeting myself coming backwards!!” 

By Eric W. Dolan – Tuesday, August 13, (No updates seen as yet)

A man in Cobb County, Georgia has been arrested for allegedly mutilating two puppies his neighbors gave him to watch.

Robert Williams Davis

Robert Williams Davis, 38, was arrested just before midnight on Saturday after police officers found the dogs’ dead bodies in a wooded area behind his house.

A 14-year-old neighbour of Davis had given him and his girlfriend the two pit bull puppies. A pit bull rescue group was going to pick the dogs up within a few days. But the neighbour, Tyler Tedesco, learned that Davis had killed the two puppies. He called 911.

“I saw that, I dropped what I was doing and just walked away. I couldn’t bear to see that because I raised those dogs,” Tedesco told WSBTV.

Davis allegedly killed both puppies with a pair of scissors. Police said one dog was beheaded, while the other was stabbed in the throat. It is unclear why Davis killed the puppies.

“We all ran back to the house and cried. As soon as we saw it, it was something nobody wants to go through or see. And it’s really hard for all of us to know that somebody could even do that to a poor innocent animal,” Tedesco said.

Davis was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and three counts of tampering with evidence. He is being held on $250,000 bond.

Watch video, courtesy of WSBTV:–http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/man-arrested-for-allegedly-killing-puppies/v8sMq/

 News Link:–http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/13/georgia-man-arrested-for-beheading-and-stabbing-puppies/

Neglected, Chained Dog Dies In The Bitter Cold

“Just heartbreaking, all that was needed was a bit of compassion, love & warmth. Another dog that was used as just a garden ornament…WTF…if you have a dog that’s tied up outside all the time, not allowed into the home…why do you have a dog at all??  Instead of a living creature, just get a proper alarm system, one that won’t feel pain & die a slow death because it’s not taken care of.! This just makes me furious! I hope the owners are taken to court & charged with animal cruelty etc. because they have to pay; nobody should be allowed to get away with murder! 

“Apparently charges have been brought against the owner of the dead boxer. Read the latest news from RRR at the end of this post Or visist their Facebook page:-https://www.facebook.com/roughroadrescue“

Perry County’s animal rescue team, Rough Road Rescue, is on a mission to prosecute two Brewer pet owners who neglected their dogs — one to the point of death.

After Linda and Steve Svehla, of RRR, were called to a home Sunday concerning a dead boxer lying in the snow (and a second dog that was severely malnourished), the couple is now seeking justice for the animals.

The boxer’s living space

The dog owners, and residents of the Brewer home, are in the process of moving out, but apparently had intentions of leaving their pets behind, Steve Svehla said.

In the days leading up to RRR’s visit on Sunday, a concerned neighbour noticed consistent neglect of the dogs, including lack of food, water and proper shelter. She made every attempt to notify the owners of her concern, but Svehla said the owners were uncooperative.

“The neighbour contacted the people several times with concerns about the dogs,” Svehla said. “After so many times, she got really concerned, so she planned to take food and water over. When she got there, the boxer didn’t respond. It was barely breathing.”

The neighbour took the boxer home in hopes of reviving it, but it was too late. Unsure of what to do with its body, especially with no direction from the owner, the neighbor placed the boxer inside a makeshift doghouse located on the owner’s property.

As reports of snow came in, the neighbor couldn’t stand to see the dog’s body freeze, so she covered it, Svehla said. Meanwhile, the second dog, a lab, was nearby, also without proper care. The rescue couple would later learn the dogs belonged to two different owners who are both believed to be residents of the Brewer home.

“They belonged to people in the process of moving out,” said Linda Svehla. “The two dogs that were there belonged to two different people, but they still left them there. The owners were coming and going, moving stuff out, and there were no tracks [in the snow] going back to the dogs.”

Fed up with lack of concern, the neighbor contacted the Perry County Sheriff’s Department on Sunday. Upon arrival, deputies contacted RRR.

“We took possession of the lab,” Steve Svehla said. “We wrapped the boxer in a blanket and took it [to a local vet]. The only protection that dog had was a wooden box.”

Svehla said he believes the dog owners are aware of current circumstances, but have still made no attempts to learn of their dogs’ whereabouts or well-being. As far as he knows, Svehla said the owners know of the boxer’s death.

Currently, the Svehlas are sheltering the lab, and said she’s doing well. An autopsy has been performed on the boxer to check for another, undisclosed form of animal abuse, and the couple is awaiting results.

“We’re looking to prosecute,” Steve Svehla said. “I’ve given the sheriff’s department all our information on this. If [the county] chooses not to prosecute this, we’ll take it further ourselves.”

The couple posted a photo of the dead boxer on their Facebook page with an explanation of its circumstances.

Several thousand Facebook users have shared the photo, or commented on it with disdain and concern.

“We’re getting responses everywhere,” Svehla said. “People need to be aware. This is just not acceptable.”

To stay updated with the Svehlas and their endeavor to bring the dogs to justice, follow their page on Facebook under “Rough Road Rescue, Inc.”

News Link:-http://www.perryvillenews.com/archive/article_e30448aa-6341-11e3-870a-001a4bcf6878.html

Help did not come in time!

Thousands of people are mourning the senseless death of a beautiful dog they did not know…a neglected, tethered dog who was left outside in frigid conditions, without adequate shelter…a dog who perished as a result.

Rough Road Rescue, Inc., which is located in Perry County, Mo., shared the bitter news of the neglected boxer‘s passing via Facebook on Sunday:

Both of these dogs was tied out. no food no water and barely any protection. Well I have both the animals. It kills me to say, I was called a little late. This beautiful animal (boxer) couldn’t stand the bitter cold with no food or water to sustain his body.

He laid down and died. By himself with no one to comfort him. Except for the other dog. A chocolate lab, which was unable to get close to the boxer and watched as her friend froze to death. She is safe and will be cared for here at the rescue.

The rescue added:

I will bury her friend out here. And give him the respect he deserved.

Extreme winter weather is blanketing much of the nation – unfortunately, many dogs are not provided with the comfort and safety of a warm home to shield them from the elements, and they are left to their own devices outdoors.

If you see a dog who has been left outdoors, without adequate protection from the elements, please reach out for help. If the dog’s owner is unwilling to remedy the issue, contact local animal control officials as soon as possible.

News Link:-http://www.examiner.com/article/neglected-chained-dog-dies-the-bitter-cold

About Rough Road Rescue Inc.:-

Rough Road Rescue, Inc. is a state licensed animal rescue located just outside of Perryville, Mo. It’s a small organization, started in early 2013, and operated by its founders, Steve and Linda Svehla. The rescue is located on the couple’s property just yards from their backdoor and located seven miles from Perryville. It is the only licensed animal rescue in Perry County, Mo.

The name Rough Road Rescue is not only depictive of the events that lead animals to the rescue, but equally as consistent with the beginning of the organization itself. It has indeed been a rough road for all, but according to Steve and Linda Svehla, one well worth traveling.

It started with a dog wandering into the Svehla’s yard. A hound that had somehow gotten through the fence surrounding their yard, and found its way onto an old tarp for refuge from the frozen ground. Upon investigation, the Svehla’s discovered the hound was starving and its feet were frostbitten. They decided to take the hound in, give him a real home, and named him Sam.

After taking on Sam, the Svehla’s agreed to do what they could to help other stray pets. That was the beginning of Rough Road Rescue, Inc.

Shortly after opening, the rescue obtained its license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture, is a registered charity with the Missouri Attorney General, and is currently going through the process to become a 501(3)c non-profit organization. A non-profit status will enable donors to deduct their contributions to the rescue on their taxes as well as open doors for the rescue to seek grants to help fund their operation.

Since the creation of Rough Road Rescue, Inc., the project has grown to nine outdoor kennels, an isolation kennel, and a substantial exercise yard. Having no paid employees or regular volunteers, the Svehla’s provide care for the animals on their own. The rescue is a non euthanizing operation and pets taken in by RRR remain there until they are adopted or sent on to other rescues.

Early on the Svehla’s approached the city and county governments as well as another local animal welfare organization, to offer their assistance with local strays. RRR was met with skepticism and opposition that made its way into the local news on more than one occasion.

While Rough Road Rescue has formed a line of communication with local government entities, cooperation is far from desirable and the rescue works consistently to improve relations with local offices and law enforcement. It is the intent of RRR to be persistent until a good relationship can be established and therefore save lives and provide care for the needy strays in the area.

Being a small, no-kill operation, the rescue has it’s limitations but takes in each new ward as available space allows. Despite those limitations, RRR is not “selective” of the animals they take in. Dogs and cats alike have been housed at the rescue, and the dogs that have been there have come in all sizes and breeds.

To date, Rough Road Rescue has rescued and rehomed more than 30 animals and have crossposted countless numbers of lost pets, helping them find their way back home.

Several of the pets taken in by the rescue have required extensive medical treatment provided by local veterinarian, Dr. Freeman at All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, LLC, in Perryville, Mo. Most recently RRR took in a dog with severe injuries as a direct result of extreme abuse. The dog had to have its leg amputated but is expected to make a full recovery.

If you would like to contribute to veterinarian expenses incurred by the animals of Rough Rough Rescue, Inc., you may make direct contributions to All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, LLC, 202 E. Ste. Maries, Perryville, Missouri 63775.

For more information about Rough Road Rescue, Inc. you can contact them by calling (573) 547-8070. Donations can be mailed to Rough Road Rescue, Inc. (R.R.R. Inc.) 9126 S. Hwy. 51 Perryville, MO 63775. Donation may also be made online through the Facebook page of Rough Road Rescue.

FaceBook Page:–https://www.facebook.com/roughroadrescue

RRR. Latest News Regards The Above:-

We have been requested from the sheriffs dept. That we post to ask everyone to stop calling the department asking what’s going on. And since the department is releasing this info. Then I will let everyone know what’s going on. There were two dogs at this residence. Two owners. I was called by the sheriffs office on sunday at 9:44am that a animal had been abandoned. I met the deputy at this home.

It was requested that I take the lab into my possession, then informed there possibly was another dog across the yard dead, again the deputy requested that I take it also. Making a long explanation shorter. The owner of the boxer was charged last night. I was also informed by the deputy that I had to return the lab to the other owner. Even though neither animal had food water or appropriate shelter.

The only difference was one animal survived. the owner showed up this morning, with the charged owner and took possession of the lab. With the understanding we had concerns about the well being of this lab. That’s it in a nut shell…..it’s a sad day for us at the rescue. This will continue to happen if we don’t get the laws changed. My opinion only.

Love & Repect Steve

https://www.facebook.com/roughroadrescue