United States
Seventeen Cats Found Dead And Another 20 Rescued From Extreme Heat
A Louisiana woman is facing 54 animal-cruelty charges after police found 17 cats dead and another 20 in severe distress at a business in Walker.
Officers reportedly discovered cats and kittens confined without food or water while temperatures inside approached 100°F almost 38°C. The surviving animals were removed for emergency treatment and shelter.
Madison Rebecca Colello faces 17 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty relating to the cats who died and 37 misdemeanor cruelty counts.
Charges are allegations until determined by a court. Twenty animals survived because somebody reported what was happening.
Brazil
Pet Day care Owners Indicted Following Allegations Of Abuse
The owners of a dog and cat day care centre in Rio de Janeiro have been formally indicted on suspicion of animal mistreatment.
The investigation began after a former employee reportedly provided police with videos and messages from inside the business. Police say footage showed dogs being struck, kicked and confined in spaces where they could not lie down or reach food and water.
Former employees and customers were also interviewed, with some owners reporting that their dogs had returned from the centre with injuries.
The business says it has supplied information to investigators. Prosecutors will now decide whether charges should follow.
Australia
Woman Banned From Keeping Animals After Severely Emaciated Dog Was Rescued
A woman in Tasmania has been banned from keeping animals for seven years after her dog was found severely emaciated.
The dog weighed only 11kg and reportedly received the lowest possible body-condition score when RSPCA inspectors intervened. She was taken directly to an emergency animal hospital and has since made a full recovery.
Kristy Williams pleaded guilty to two offences involving a failure to provide adequate food, water and veterinary treatment. She received a 12-month community correction order and was ordered to pay more than $6,400 in costs.
United States
Animal-Cruelty Case Dismissed After Dog Died At Boarding Facility
A New York judge has dismissed felony charges and acquitted a former boarding-facility owner of misdemeanor offences following the death of a French bulldog named Gus.
Prosecutors alleged that Gus died from heat exposure while in the facility’s care. The owner had also been accused of failing to provide adequate food and water for 20 dogs and ten cats.
The district attorney publicly disagreed with the decision and expressed concern that no restrictions were imposed on the defendant keeping animals in future.
The facility has closed. The verdict leaves no criminal finding against its former owner—and no further protection attached to the case.
United States
Year-Old Video Leads To Felony Animal-Cruelty Charge
A Connecticut woman has been charged with felony animal cruelty after a video appearing to show two dogs being abused inside a cage resurfaced online.
The footage was reportedly recorded around a year ago but reappeared on social media in August, prompting an investigation by Waterbury police and animal-control officers.
Police say the two dogs are now living elsewhere, remain in good health and are no longer in the woman’s custody or contact.
The accused has not been convicted and the allegation must now be tested in court. The case also shows that evidence does not become irrelevant simply because time has passed.
End of Bulletin