Wanted in N.C. 8 counts animal cruelty

Richard A. Walter
Richard A. Walter

Richard A. Walter is wanted by Cumberland County police for 8 counts of animal cruelty. Walter left his home last January and never returned leaving 8 dogs to starve. Six of the dogs died. A cocker spaniel and pit bull mix were the only survivors. Walter had no excuse when police questioned him by phone.

Walter’s description: 51 year-old white male, 6 foot tall, 180-200 pounds, blue eyes, graying brown hair. Call Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500.

Richard A. Walter
Richard A. Walter

Fort Kent, ME woman failure to appear

Kim Mitchell Fareed failed to appear in court February 2nd for animal cruelty. On Christmas Eve last year police found five dogs and several cats abandoned in a rental home without heat. The dogs went without food or water a week. Owner Wayne Vaughan said the renters had left his property trashed.

A cocker spaniel, cocker-beagle, Havanese, and 2 chihuahuas all required medical treatment. One dog had 33 teeth removed. All have since recovered and plan to be adopted.

Fort Kent, ME
Fort Kent, ME

Neglected Cocker Spaniel Abandoned at Humane Society

"Pilgrim" before picture
“Pilgrim” before picture

Staff from the Waterford Humane Society discovered an abandoned cocker spaniel outside their facility Saturday morning.  They turned him over to Waterford Animal Control and named him Pilgrim.   Officer Robert Yuchniuk said Pilgrim’s hair was so dirty and matted he could barely walk.  Under sedation groomers Gina Garreffi and Caitlan Nadolny removed 7.6 lbs of feces matted fur.

“He now looks and feels 1,000 percent better,” Yuchniuk said. “I also want to thank Doctor Cathy Clark for administering a sedative shot to make the painful grooming process bearable for this guy. He did wonderful and is now back at the shelter smelling like shampoo!”

Testimony from Gilmer, TX animal cruelty case

Visitors attending the hearing were visibly upset after hearing more than 2 hours of testimony alleging animal cruelty against Jeremy Delton Reddin and Cleo Hobson III of Gilmer, Texas.  Veterinarian Dr. Terri Stevenson said of the 37 dogs seized, “maybe one or two” were in good health, and the others “were in desperate need of being treated.”  A cocker spaniel found hiding in the closet had almost no hair and had in injury that was cause by a “lot of force” she added.

Dr. Stevenson said the dead puppies found in dog food bags all had injuries including one that appeared to have been decapitated with something sharp like a knife.  She said it was possible they were used in dog fights.

Dogs rescued from Michigan breeder

dogs rescued from puppy mill
Photo Pam Sordyl

Raisin Tree Farms kennel in Fowlerville was raided Wednesday. Authorities seized over 90 dogs living in overcrowded cages stack on each other. Various breeds including whoodles, standard poodles and Soft-coated Wheaten terriers were found soaked and matted in urine and feces.

Proprietor Margaret Komorny was charged with animal cruelty to 10 or more animals. 76-year-old Komorny denies the charges: “I love animals. I’m devoted to animals,” she said. Michigan has no puppy mill laws and is part of the Midwest “Puppy Mill Belt.”