Gardai Probe After Rabbit Killed In Front of Children

GARDAI are investigating a case of alleged animal cruelty after a man killed a pet rabbit in front of children in a Dublin housing estate.

Local sources said the man used a stick to kill the rabbit and then buried it in the back garden.

But after the matter was reported by a neighbour, gardai dug up the rabbit as part of its investigation into cruelty.

The incident, on May 26, was also believed to have been reported to HSE social workers because the rabbit was killed in front of children.

“The rabbit is said to have bitten one of the children at the house, and the owner killed it with a stick because he felt he couldn’t trust the animal,” a neighbour said.

“But one neighbour who saw what was going on reported it to the gardai in Blanchardstown and the place was turned into a crime scene all of a sudden.

“The forensic guys came and dug up the rabbit and seized the stick it was supposed to have been killed with.

“I heard the dead animal was photographed and taken away for a post mortem.

“The HSE are said to be involved as well, because the children were there when the rabbit was killed,” he added. “It’s the talk of Castleknock.”

The residents of the house where the rabbit was killed declined to comment on the incident.

Gardai confirmed they are investigating an incident of animal cruelty at the address, but would not comment further.

VIOLENCE

The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) said rabbits need to be handled carefully or they can scratch or bite.

“We are always horrified to hear of violence against pets, especially when that happens in front of children,” said DSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Bird.

“It is illegal to deliberately kill or maim an animal in a way that causes suffering.

“Animals that are to undergo a post mortem are usually brought to the vets’ laboratory in UCD, but it can take a week to 10 days to get results back,” she explained.

The DSPCA said it does not recommend rabbits as pets for very small children because they can revert to a feral state if not handled properly.

“If anyone does have a rabbit and finds they cannot home it properly, we are here to give free advice,” Ms Bird said.

News Link:–http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-probe-after-rabbit-killed-in-front-of-children-29319105.html

Arrest Over Second Seizure Of Pups

A 46-year-old man has been arrested at Dublin Port after the search of a van led to the discovery of 56 puppies.

Image from Sky News

This is the second foiled attempt this week to traffic a large number of puppies bred in illegal Irish puppy farms to the UK.

The dogs have been cared for by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) since their discovery on Thursday.

The animal welfare organisation said this brought the total number of pups seized to 92 in just three days.

The latest discovery includes mainly small breeds, aged between six and 10 weeks.

Gardaí have since released the suspect, pending further enquiries.DSCPA chief executive Brian Gillen is warning people buying a puppy to be vigilant against trafficking.

This second seizure in a week has to make people aware of the problems of buying from an unreliable source.“Do not buy from the boot of a car or a van and always arrange to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeders home – the conditions the mother is living in is a good indication of the health and welfare of the animals.”

On Tuesday afternoon, gardaí uncovered 36 animals in two cars in the Coolock area of Dublin.

Twenty-five Jack Russells and a number of other breeds including Cocker and Springer Spaniels, Terriers, Beagles and Labradors were found inside boxes in the back of the vehicles, which were stopped on the Old Malahide Road

Two men arrested in connection with animal cruelty were subsequently released

News Link:–http://www.u.tv/News/Arrest-over-second-seizure-of-pups/08af7242-e145-4eb3-a263-57b079e47397

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• Loving Homes Needed For 50 Puppies Rescued From Possible Dog Smuggling Ring (preciousjules1985.wordpress.com)

Loving Homes Needed For 50 Puppies Rescued From Possible Dog Smuggling Ring

 

Fifty puppies were found in two vehicles in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday, October 9 after a routine patrol by police (garda) lead to the discovery of a possible dog-smuggling operation.

The Dublin SPCA were called to take in the puppies who had been packed into boxes in the back of the vehicles.

The puppies included Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers and Jack Russell Terriers. A number of the puppies were suffering treatable conditions like mange, ermites, fleas and eye infections. Many of the pups had had their tails docked and dew claws removed resulting in minor infections. A few of the puppies are receiving special care as they were too young to have been removed from their mother’s care.

The men involved were believed to have been trafficking the puppies from Ireland to the UK as part of a puppy smuggling scheme, where the dogs would be sold on the black market for several thousand euros.

Since July 1, dog breeders in Ireland with more than six breeding females are legally obligated to register with their local councils. This is to help facilitate stricter regulations now in place concerning animal welfare. However, none of the puppies rescued were micro-chipped and as a result, tracing the breeders involved is impossible.

The DSPCA is cautioning the public to take extra care when buying a puppy online or from roadsides. CEO Brian Gillen said, “Do not buy from the boot of a car or a van and always arrange to meet the puppy with its parents at the breeders home – the conditions the mother is living in is a good indication of the health and welfare of the animals.”

 

The DSPCA is also pleading with the public to report any concerns they have for animals they have visited with a view to buying. Head of Media and PR, Gillian Bird, said, “Many people ring us up to report cruelty to a puppy they have recently bought which may have died or be seriously ill. The usual comment is that they felt sorry for the animal and bought it to rescue it. For the welfare of the other animals it would be better to report the seller, their location or car registration number so a full investigation can be carried out.”

All of the puppies will eventually be found new homes. The dogs, which range in age from three to eight weeks, are now in secure accommodation at the DSPCA centre in Rathfarnham, Dublin.

 

The DSPCA has confirmed that none of the puppies are available for new homes until DSPCA inspectors have concluded their investigations.

“When the dogs are ready to go to new homes, we will put it up on our website and our Facebook page” said Ms Bird. The DSCPA’s website is at www.dspca.ie.

News Link:-http://www.dogheirs.com/larne/posts/2054-loving-homes-needed-for-50-puppies-rescued-from-possible-dog-smuggling-ringsmuggling

Left for dead in Tracy ditch, pup now looking for a home

“OMG…wouldn’t surprise me if this was done by kids…unfortunately some parents aren’t fit to have children! Their behavior can manifest itself through to the child, who then doesn’t know how to deal with the things they have seen or felt; thus they take their rage out on defenseless animals or smaller kids etc Please if anyone know’s anything, contact the local police!!”

TRACY — Larry the puppy had a bad start on life. Found in a Tracy ditch last month, he had been abused, his right eye poked out, and was left in the dirt to die.

But the Labrador pup is resilient, and after being treated for his injuries, is now looking for a new home.

“Our foundation was contacted after an anonymous good Samaritan found the puppy and took him to the local animal shelter,” said Larry Hite, founder of the Noah’s Ark Foundation.

“Seeing his injury, shelter staff took him to the local vet and that’s when we got the call. When I saw him I knew I couldn’t walk away. I felt so sorry for the little guy that I ended up paying most of his vet bills out of my own pocket,” Hite said. “His right eye could not be saved.”

The pup was nicknamed Larry after Larry Hite, both of whom are blind in their right eye.

Noah’s Ark, a non-profit, was formed by Hite, a Tracy resident, in January. The goal of the foundation is to rescue sick or injured animals and be able to cover their medical costs. The average surgical cost for a dog could run $600 to $800, and in one case it was upwards of $1,000,” Hite said.

The foundation has helped both dogs and cats in multiple cities including Dublin, Brentwood, Tracy and Stockton. It has also been featured on the morning news show “Good Day Sacramento.”

After surgery, the pup was placed in the care of Sharon Silbert, a member of Noah’s Ark.

“Larry is just a love,” she

said. “He gets along great with other dogs and even cats. He has a mellow personality, which is rare for a puppy. He’s very playful, housebroken and has manners. Who ever gets him is going to get a wonderful dog.”

This past week, Larry traveled to Dublin where he will remain in foster care with Tri-Valley Animal Rescue until a home can be found for him. Larry is current on his shots and has also been micro-chipped.

“He has so much energy and loves to play,” said Chris Stein who is now fostering the injured puppy. “When you watch him play you realize that he doesn’t even know he had this injury. And, on top of that, he is highly intelligent.”

Stein plans to bring Larry, recently re-named Raider, to their pet adoption fair which is held Saturdays in downtown Pleasanton at the Farmer’s Market. For information on adopting him, call Stein at 925-461-4347.

News Link:–http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_21176512/left-dead-tracy-ditch-pup-now-looking-home

FWC: Gopher tortoises smashed, killed; 3 arrested

ORLANDO, Fla. –

Two men and a teen have been arrested after officials say they ran over two gopher tortoises with a vehicle, picked them up and intentionally slammed them to the ground.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested Michael Dublin, 20, of Jacksonville, Dalton Bothwell, 19, of Middleburg, and a 17-year-old boy from Middleburg in Orange County on charges of killing a state-designated threatened species and felony cruelty to animals.

On May 27, FWC officers found a large, severely injured gopher tortoise attempting to move on a roadway in the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area. Its upper and lower shells were cracked open, and internal organs were protruding from its sides, officials said.  The tortoise was barely alive. Nearby was another, smaller tortoise. It too had a cracked shell and was surrounded by blood, officials said.

After investigating the incident, the officers determined that Dublin had intentionally struck the tortoises with a vehicle. He hit the smaller tortoise first and “left the injured animal to suffer and die in the hot sun while they rode off and messed around,” according to deputies.

Hours later, as they were leaving the area, they struck the larger tortoise and then got out, picked up the injured animal and slammed it to the ground, causing additional injuries. They then found the first tortoise still alive, and picked it up and slammed it into the ground.

“They made no attempt to render aid or take the animals to a vet. They said they simply wanted to ‘see what would happen if we dropped it,'” said FWC Officer Steve McDaniel in a release.

Both animals died.

“I just don’t understand how and why people can do things like this,” McDaniel said.

The adults were transported to the Orange County Jail; the teen was taken to the Orange County Juvenile Assessment Center. The charges carry a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and five years in prison

News Link:-http://www.clickorlando.com/news/FWC-3-smashed-killed-gopher-tortoises/-/1637132/14459840/-/msku65z/-/index.html