MD: Dog-fighting charges dropped, but groomer isn't in clear yet
By Peter Hermann | peter.hermann@baltsun.com
March 11, 2010
Back in January, friends and police portrayed Nicole Marie Caruso alternately as a dog groomer and a dog fighter, an animal rights activist and a drug dealer, a beloved worker with loyal clients and a thief who pilfered piles of animal meds from her employer.
Her co-workers, bosses at two jobs, friends and neighbors defended the 26-year-old. They called the charges of drug-dealing, theft and animal cruelty preposterous. Baltimore County Police Chief James W. Johnson told reporters at a televised news conference full of props and photos that the evidence indicated a marijuana and dog-fighting ring at Caruso's Lange Street town house in North Point.
Now, two months later, prosecutors have quietly, and without television cameras rolling, vindicated Caruso of the charges that her lawyer said most seriously harmed her reputation in the animal-loving community. They dropped all charges related to mistreating dogs that had been filed against her and her two housemates, one of them her boyfriend.
Assistant Baltimore County State's Attorney Adam Lippe said veterinarians disagreed with the police conclusion that pit bulls Dutch, Whezzy, Lucia, Bruno, Gotti and Kane were used for fights. The dogs - some owned by Caruso, others by her roommates - were aggressive, but all were spayed or neutered, and healthy, Lippe said. Caruso and the others still face drug and theft charges.
Caruso's attorney, Brian G. Thompson, called the initial statements and charges by police proof of an overzealous investigation that unfairly dragged a respected dog groomer "through the mud in public as some kind of Michael Vick character" to capitalize on visceral public reaction to dog-fighting.
But authorities say the case is far more nuanced. They are prepared at trial to say that although the dogs didn't fight, they played rough and were trained to be aggressive to protect the sale of $5 marijuana bags from the house. One law-enforcement official noted that these dogs "were not the type to bring home to your child."
Bill Link, who owns SoBo Dog Day Care in South Baltimore's Locust Point, where Caruso worked for six months and had a loyal following of dog owners from as far away as Towson, said this week that he would wait until all the charges are adjudicated before deciding whether to bring Caruso back to work.
She is accused of stealing medicine and equipment from Link's business to treat the dogs at her home.
"I need to let things settle down with her," Link said. His company's Web site links to Caruso's Facebook page, on which she wrote this week:
"To everyone that has supported me, THANK YOU!! my most exciting news to report is ... the cops had to admit they were wrong about dog fighting. ... They put me through the ringer [sic] and now who is going to announce on the news that they lied ??????"
Police initially linked Caruso and her housemates to the bloodthirsty sport based on evidence that included blood stains on an inside wall, photos of injured dogs, a torn-up backyard and the bulk medicine that detectives said indicated Caruso nursed dogs injured in fights back to health. They also pointed to a collar with bite marks, a leg iron with a 2 ¿ - pound weight and a treadmill with paw prints, evidence, they said, of dogs forced to work out.
Neighbors said Caruso bought the treadmill for $30 on Craigslist to lose weight, herself, that she treated not only her dogs but countless strays and other injured animals she found, and that her dogs' injuries were the result of aggressive play, not sport.
Prosecutors said they are prepared to proceed with a trial and that they don't have a problem with the way police investigated or with the conclusions they reached. Caruso's attorney wishes police had done more work before making arrests and announcing the busting of a dog-fighting ring on television.
"The only evidence they had was pit bulls and a torn-up backyard," Thompson said.
A Baltimore County police spokesman declined to comment.
Caruso still has a long way to go. Court records show she has money problems. Even with animal cruelty charges dropped, she faces the possibility of prison time if convicted of the remaining charges. Her dogs are at a shelter, but her attorney said they won't be destroyed and she might get them all back.
Copyright © 2010, The Baltimore Sun
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
IT'S ME OR THE DOG - New espisode premieres 3/13/10
IT'S ME OR THE DOG
NEW EPISODE Premieres Saturday March 13 at 8pm ET/PT
Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell swoops in to rescue a couple trying to manage a pair of Papillions with some pressing problems: one has a paralyzing fear of thunderstorms, while the other flees at every opportunity. Can Victoria calm their fears?
• Watch and Learn Easy Training Tips
• Is Your Dog Ruining Your Love Life? Take the Quiz & Find Out!
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NAPPS Issues Appeal for Pet Safety During Poison Prevention Week
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Issues Appeal for Pet Safety During Poison Prevention Week
National Poison Prevention Week to take place March 14 – 20, 2010.
Mount Laurel, NJ (PRWEB) March 11, 2010 -- During National Poison Prevention Week, March 14 – 20, 2010, professional pet sitters across the nation are issuing an appeal for pet owners to conduct a comprehensive safety examination of their home to protect their pets from accidental poisoning.
“Many household pets are naturally curious creatures,” explains Monica Leighton, President of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). “While great care is taken to create a safe environment for the family, many are not as comprehensive with their furry family member. We believe it’s vitally important for pet owners to become educated on dangerous substances to create a safe environment and prevent accidents for each household member.”
To create a pet-friendly home, NAPPS encourages pet owners to conduct a room-by-room safety examination and recommends the following tips for each room of the house:
About NAPPS: NAPPS is a national non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals. The Association aims to help the pet owning public, those interested in pet sitting, and professionals engaged in the in-home pet care industry by fulfilling its vision statement, “To be the most respected authority in professional pet sitting.” It does so by providing the tools and support to foster the success of its members. Additionally, pet owners can benefit from NAPPS’ free resources including a disaster preparedness guide, tips on how to select a pet sitter, nationwide referral service, and quarterly teleconferences aimed to educate the pet owning public. To find a pet sitter in your area, check out NAPPS’ nationwide “Pet Sitter Locator” at www.petsitters.org. For more information on NAPPS, please follow @TheNAPPS on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheNAPPS.
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National Poison Prevention Week to take place March 14 – 20, 2010.
Mount Laurel, NJ (PRWEB) March 11, 2010 -- During National Poison Prevention Week, March 14 – 20, 2010, professional pet sitters across the nation are issuing an appeal for pet owners to conduct a comprehensive safety examination of their home to protect their pets from accidental poisoning.
“Many household pets are naturally curious creatures,” explains Monica Leighton, President of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). “While great care is taken to create a safe environment for the family, many are not as comprehensive with their furry family member. We believe it’s vitally important for pet owners to become educated on dangerous substances to create a safe environment and prevent accidents for each household member.”
To create a pet-friendly home, NAPPS encourages pet owners to conduct a room-by-room safety examination and recommends the following tips for each room of the house:
- Kitchen – Ensure that all food is in secure containers, and only feed pet food to your pet. Even small amounts of food such as grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol (artificial sweetener found in gum and other foods) and chocolate can be dangerous to your pet. Purchase a garbage can with a heavy, secure lid.
- Living Area – While plants can seem harmless, some plants contain toxic substances. Consult with your veterinarian before purchasing a new household plant.
- Bathroom – Keep all medications in original, safety top containers, personal care products in a medicine cabinet, and cleaning supplies in a secure location. Install child-proof cabinet devices to prevent pets from opening cabinet doors.
- Bedroom – Under-the-bed storage space can be great for keeping last season’s sweaters out of sight, but do not use the space to store toxic substances. Examine the room for perfume, medicine, or personal care items and store them in drawers or boxes.
- Laundry Room – Keep laundry detergent and supplies in tightly closed, original containers.
- Garage – Bug spray, weed killer, paint, charcoal, gasoline, and antifreeze can be fatal for your pet. Store these items in a locked cabinet or box to prevent your pet from accidental ingestion.
About NAPPS: NAPPS is a national non-profit trade association dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals. The Association aims to help the pet owning public, those interested in pet sitting, and professionals engaged in the in-home pet care industry by fulfilling its vision statement, “To be the most respected authority in professional pet sitting.” It does so by providing the tools and support to foster the success of its members. Additionally, pet owners can benefit from NAPPS’ free resources including a disaster preparedness guide, tips on how to select a pet sitter, nationwide referral service, and quarterly teleconferences aimed to educate the pet owning public. To find a pet sitter in your area, check out NAPPS’ nationwide “Pet Sitter Locator” at www.petsitters.org. For more information on NAPPS, please follow @TheNAPPS on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheNAPPS.
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MI - Different pit bull may have killed girl
MI - Different pit bull may have killed girl
by Nicklaus Lovelady, nicklaus.lovelady@jackson.gannett.com
Posted: March 11, 2010
Authorities say a second pit bull found dead at the scene might have been the one that killed a 5-year-old Terry girl last month.
Animal control picked up a pit bull Feb. 12, the day Anataisa Bingham was killed, and that dog since has been quarantined.
The dogs got loose from a neighbor's property, but no one witnessed what happened. Anataisa had gone outside early that morning to find a friend so they could play in the snow. She was discovered later in a ditch by a neighbor.
Figuring out which dog killed Anataisa is important because it will determine whether someone is charged, Hinds County Sheriff's Department investigator Capt. Steve Bailey said.
Days after Anataisa's death, detectives interviewed the owner of the pit bull seized at the scene, although the Sheriff's Department repeatedly had said it still was looking for the owner.
The owner said the dog caught was his but not the one found dead, Bailey said.
"We don't know who's the owner of the second dog," Bailey said.
Bailey said he didn't know how the dog died.
Investigators still are waiting on DNA samples to determine which dog killed Anataisa. The samples were sent to a California laboratory, Bailey said.
Both dogs, one of them or neither could have fatally attacked the child, Bailey said.
If DNA determines the dead pit bull killed Anataisa or neither pit bull did, it would be hard to develop a case, Bailey said.
Both dogs had traces of human blood on them, he said.
"We don't have any witnesses to say 'That was the dog,' " Bailey said.
If the dog quarantined at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League is the one that killed Anataisa, prosecutors can pursue a number of charges, including depraved heart murder and culpable negligence, once the owner is identified.
Both the Hinds County Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office said they also will consider a statute that says the owner of a "dangerous animal" can be charged with homicide if the animal kills a person. A person found guilty would face up to 20 years in prison, the same as culpable negligence. Depraved heart murder carriesup to life in prison.
"When I heard about the case, this is the statute that first came to mind," said Matt Steffey, law professor at Mississippi College School of Law, referring to the dangerous animal statute.
"One, it says the owner must know the propensity of the animal. Two, it's the owner's responsibility to keep the animal in ordinary care."
Steffey said ordinary care refers to how an animal is secured to prevent it from escaping. He said animals with a history of aggression should be restrained differently from other animals.
"Ordinary care, in my opinion, varies depending on the type of dog you have. Ordinary care for a lab may be different from ordinary care for a trained killer. A person with a killer dog should take greater steps to make sure the dog is restrained," Steffey said.
Anataisa's family members said the pit bulls consistently got loose. They also said the pit bull they believe killed Anataisa was used in dog fighting. If investigators find that to be the case, Steffey said, the owner would have known the dog has a propensity for violence.
Rescue League Director Deborah Boswell said the dog at the shelter has scars consistent with dog fighting.
"If that dog was made into a killer, you need to absolutely make sure it's properly confined," Steffey said. "If you don't, it's like leaving a loaded gun in the grass of your backyard and waiting for a child to pick it up."
District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith said it is too early to determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
"Every charge has different elements that have to be met, and based upon the facts they find in their investigation, we can then determine the appropriate statute," Smith said.
What charges authorities file depend on the outcome of the DNA test, Bailey said.
"The first thing we have to do is prove if this is the dog," Bailey said.
To comment on this story, call Nicklaus Lovelady at (601) 961-7239.
Source
by Nicklaus Lovelady, nicklaus.lovelady@jackson.gannett.com
Posted: March 11, 2010
Authorities say a second pit bull found dead at the scene might have been the one that killed a 5-year-old Terry girl last month.
Animal control picked up a pit bull Feb. 12, the day Anataisa Bingham was killed, and that dog since has been quarantined.
The dogs got loose from a neighbor's property, but no one witnessed what happened. Anataisa had gone outside early that morning to find a friend so they could play in the snow. She was discovered later in a ditch by a neighbor.
Figuring out which dog killed Anataisa is important because it will determine whether someone is charged, Hinds County Sheriff's Department investigator Capt. Steve Bailey said.
Days after Anataisa's death, detectives interviewed the owner of the pit bull seized at the scene, although the Sheriff's Department repeatedly had said it still was looking for the owner.
The owner said the dog caught was his but not the one found dead, Bailey said.
"We don't know who's the owner of the second dog," Bailey said.
Bailey said he didn't know how the dog died.
Investigators still are waiting on DNA samples to determine which dog killed Anataisa. The samples were sent to a California laboratory, Bailey said.
Both dogs, one of them or neither could have fatally attacked the child, Bailey said.
If DNA determines the dead pit bull killed Anataisa or neither pit bull did, it would be hard to develop a case, Bailey said.
Both dogs had traces of human blood on them, he said.
"We don't have any witnesses to say 'That was the dog,' " Bailey said.
If the dog quarantined at the Mississippi Animal Rescue League is the one that killed Anataisa, prosecutors can pursue a number of charges, including depraved heart murder and culpable negligence, once the owner is identified.
Both the Hinds County Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office said they also will consider a statute that says the owner of a "dangerous animal" can be charged with homicide if the animal kills a person. A person found guilty would face up to 20 years in prison, the same as culpable negligence. Depraved heart murder carriesup to life in prison.
"When I heard about the case, this is the statute that first came to mind," said Matt Steffey, law professor at Mississippi College School of Law, referring to the dangerous animal statute.
"One, it says the owner must know the propensity of the animal. Two, it's the owner's responsibility to keep the animal in ordinary care."
Steffey said ordinary care refers to how an animal is secured to prevent it from escaping. He said animals with a history of aggression should be restrained differently from other animals.
"Ordinary care, in my opinion, varies depending on the type of dog you have. Ordinary care for a lab may be different from ordinary care for a trained killer. A person with a killer dog should take greater steps to make sure the dog is restrained," Steffey said.
Anataisa's family members said the pit bulls consistently got loose. They also said the pit bull they believe killed Anataisa was used in dog fighting. If investigators find that to be the case, Steffey said, the owner would have known the dog has a propensity for violence.
Rescue League Director Deborah Boswell said the dog at the shelter has scars consistent with dog fighting.
"If that dog was made into a killer, you need to absolutely make sure it's properly confined," Steffey said. "If you don't, it's like leaving a loaded gun in the grass of your backyard and waiting for a child to pick it up."
District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith said it is too early to determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
"Every charge has different elements that have to be met, and based upon the facts they find in their investigation, we can then determine the appropriate statute," Smith said.
What charges authorities file depend on the outcome of the DNA test, Bailey said.
"The first thing we have to do is prove if this is the dog," Bailey said.
To comment on this story, call Nicklaus Lovelady at (601) 961-7239.
Source
PA - Dog activist faces new charges
PA - Dog activist faces new charges
By Greg Bock, gbock@altoonamirror.com
Posted: March 11, 2010
The founder of Dogs Deserve Better will be charged with criminal trespass for allegedly going onto posted property in Snyder Township to videotape chained dogs.
Tamira Ci Thayne, also known as Tammy Grimes, 46, of Tipton trespassed on a property Sunday on Gypsy Camp Hollow Road as she checked on the welfare of seven dogs allegedly chained on the vacant, wooded property, state police at Hollidaysburg said.
Police contend the property was clearly posted, and Thayne knew she didn't have permission to be there. Thayne doesn't deny the allegations.
"I absolutely, 100 percent trespassed to get video and photo evidence of the condition of the dogs that were chained on the property," Thayne said Wednesday.
Thayne took pictures and also posted a video of the visit on YouTube. She said that the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society now has custody of three of the dogs.
The three dogs were voluntarily turned over to the organization Monday by owners Carl and Tonya Hardy because they could not afford to get the animals treated by a veterinarian, Humane Society Police Officer Paul Gottshall said. Gottshall said the conditions are treatable and not life-threatening, and the dogs are now in the care of a veterinarian.
The society, at this time, isn't pursuing any charges against the Hardys because they have been cooperating and have taken steps since the video was made to clean up the dogs' area on the property, Gottshall said. Gottshall also said none of the dogs were underfed and were "in good shape."
"We're taking care of it," Gottshall said, who added that the CPHS will be following up on all of the dogs' conditions.
Because it isn't against the law to chain a dog outside, the owners can't be charged with a crime unless the dogs were being otherwise mistreated, Gottshall said.
The video and pictures taken by Thayne can't be used as evidence because they were obtained illegally, he said, and as of now, no laws are being broken on the property based on Monday's inspection.
The dogs' owners do face two state dog law citations for not having two of the dogs properly vaccinated, state Department of Agriculture spokesman Justin Fleming said. All dogs were licensed, he said.
Thayne, who is appealing a defiant trespass conviction in Cambria County for a similar case in Lilly, said the case illustrates why Pennsylvania needs a law outlawing chaining dogs outdoors. Thayne was also convicted in 2007 in Blair County Court for stealing a dog from outside an East Freedom home.
"Pennsylvania has a new bill coming out to stop the chaining of dogs, and people need to take a stand against this form of abuse," Thayne said.
Source
By Greg Bock, gbock@altoonamirror.com
Posted: March 11, 2010
The founder of Dogs Deserve Better will be charged with criminal trespass for allegedly going onto posted property in Snyder Township to videotape chained dogs.
Tamira Ci Thayne, also known as Tammy Grimes, 46, of Tipton trespassed on a property Sunday on Gypsy Camp Hollow Road as she checked on the welfare of seven dogs allegedly chained on the vacant, wooded property, state police at Hollidaysburg said.
Police contend the property was clearly posted, and Thayne knew she didn't have permission to be there. Thayne doesn't deny the allegations.
"I absolutely, 100 percent trespassed to get video and photo evidence of the condition of the dogs that were chained on the property," Thayne said Wednesday.
Thayne took pictures and also posted a video of the visit on YouTube. She said that the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society now has custody of three of the dogs.
The three dogs were voluntarily turned over to the organization Monday by owners Carl and Tonya Hardy because they could not afford to get the animals treated by a veterinarian, Humane Society Police Officer Paul Gottshall said. Gottshall said the conditions are treatable and not life-threatening, and the dogs are now in the care of a veterinarian.
The society, at this time, isn't pursuing any charges against the Hardys because they have been cooperating and have taken steps since the video was made to clean up the dogs' area on the property, Gottshall said. Gottshall also said none of the dogs were underfed and were "in good shape."
"We're taking care of it," Gottshall said, who added that the CPHS will be following up on all of the dogs' conditions.
Because it isn't against the law to chain a dog outside, the owners can't be charged with a crime unless the dogs were being otherwise mistreated, Gottshall said.
The video and pictures taken by Thayne can't be used as evidence because they were obtained illegally, he said, and as of now, no laws are being broken on the property based on Monday's inspection.
The dogs' owners do face two state dog law citations for not having two of the dogs properly vaccinated, state Department of Agriculture spokesman Justin Fleming said. All dogs were licensed, he said.
Thayne, who is appealing a defiant trespass conviction in Cambria County for a similar case in Lilly, said the case illustrates why Pennsylvania needs a law outlawing chaining dogs outdoors. Thayne was also convicted in 2007 in Blair County Court for stealing a dog from outside an East Freedom home.
"Pennsylvania has a new bill coming out to stop the chaining of dogs, and people need to take a stand against this form of abuse," Thayne said.
Source
WI - Dog bite investigated
WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) A teenage girl was bit by a dog yesterday near Horace Mann Middle School, and county health officials need to determine if the dog has all its shots. If they can't locate the animal, the girl will have to get a series of painful rabies shots as a precaution.
It happened while a man was walking two Labrador retrievers. The dogs barked at the girl and one of them nipped her. The dog-walker wasn't aware of the bite, and kept walking.
Anyone with information should call the Marathon County health department at 715 261-1908.
Source
It happened while a man was walking two Labrador retrievers. The dogs barked at the girl and one of them nipped her. The dog-walker wasn't aware of the bite, and kept walking.
Anyone with information should call the Marathon County health department at 715 261-1908.
Source
SPECIAL SERIES: Troubled pedigree
SPECIAL SERIES: Troubled pedigree Part 1
Do you know where your puppy came from?
After a listener complained to WDBO about getting a sick dog from an upscale puppy boutique Dr. Philips, we did some investigating.
Lisa Celestino told us she usually gets her dogs from rescue shelters, but a Border Collie at Palm Beach Puppies caught her eye and she fell in love.
"I asked them if it was a puppy mill dog and they said 'no'," Celestino recalled.
The store's veterinarian initially gave the puppy a clean bill of health, but in the next couple days she developed kennel cough.
"I brought her back to the vet; the doctor gave her medication and sent us on our way," Celestino said.
But Celestino says the puppy she named "Princess" got worse, and soon began to cough-up white liquid.
Celestino became worried. Late on a Sunday afternoon, she took Princess to an after hours vet for emergency care. The vet said Princess had developed pneumonia and required her to stay overnight at the clinic.Days later, Celestino took her bill to Palm Beach Puppies thinking she'd be reimbursed.
"Since the care was not given from Kirkman Road Veterinary Clinic, the clinic of record, [Palm Beach Puppies] was not going to pay," Celestino said.
Celestino would have taken Princess Palm Beach Puppies' vet, but it's closed Sunday evenings.
To make matters worse, Celestino's 14-year-old Cocker Spaniel also got sick. The bills for both dogs
came to $1,500, and Lisa began to wonder if she'd been duped.
When WDBO first went to the Orlando Palm Beach Puppies location, an assistant manager named Veronica assured us that they only get their dogs from the best breeders.
"We don't work with puppy mills... bottom line," she said emphatically.
But coming up Friday in part two of the story - violations for improper housing, sanitation and pest control at the breeder where Celestino's puppy came from, a place the US Humane Society says is most likely a puppy mill.
Source: http://wdbo.com/localnews/2010/03/special-series-troubled-pedigr.html
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