Tag: abuse
Cocker breeder prosecuted under new puppy mill law
Cocker spaniel breeder Linda Brisco, owner of Moser Kennel, was the first prosecuted under Missouri’s new [Puppy Mill] Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The new law was also known as Proposition B approved by voters last year.
Brisco’s kennel was raided on June 28th for inhumane conditions she kept her dogs including failing to provide veterinary care for sick and injured dogs. State inspectors said they couldn’t see the kennel’s floor because it was covered with a thick layer of feces. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says Brisco routinely used a shotgun to euthanize her dogs.
Seventy-three dogs were taken from Brisco’s kennel including cocker spaniels, Labradors, and other breeds. They are receiving medical care at the Humane Society of Missouri Lawrence County. Kostner says she will be unable to breed dogs for six years in a judgement handed down by the court.
Many Missouri breeders opposed Proposition B including Joe Overlease, president of the Professional Kennel Club of Missouri, claiming it denies Americans their rights and “lowers animal care standards.” Overlease owns a large scale operation called C & J Cockers which was cited last year for overcrowding and inadequate shelter.
Attorney General Chris Koster wants to rid Missouri’s reputation as a puppy mill state. “It is our goal that Missouri will gain the reputation as the state with the best and most humane breeders in the country.”
Texas cocker spaniel club member convicted
Sixty-one-year-old Betty McClendon, owner of B-Mac’s Kennels, member of Cocker Spaniel Club of South Texas, Secretary of Cocker Spaniel Club of Austin and Secretary of Cocker Spaniel Club of San Antonio, was convicted of 32 counts of animal cruelty (a misdemeanor in Texas). Her sentence of one year of jail was waived because of her age and clean record. Instead she will serve 15 days in jail and two years probation. As part of her probation she cannot own any animals or participate in animal-related clubs. She must also reimburse the SPCA for veterinary treatment provided to her cocker spaniels.
On May 29, 2009, deputy Bill Jenkins responded to an animal abuse complaint at Betty McClendon’s residence in Rosenberg, Texas. Thirty-two cocker spaniels were found in a hot shed stacked in cages. All were severely neglected some with maggots. One dog did not survive the ordeal. The animals were taken into custody by the SPCA.
Cockapoo breeder faces $250,000 bond
Gloria Marriott (A.K.A. Linda Snow, Mary Howard) was offered a plea bargain of nine months in jail in return for having her bond reduced from $250,000 to $49,000 dollars. Charges stem from an animal cruelty case when she was arrested February 18, 2011. Police became suspicious when overpowered by the smell of feces and urine then discovered five dogs in neglectful states some with matted fur, all without food or water. Marriott faces five counts of animal cruelty and running a puppy mill from her Mystic, Connecticut home. Regardless of her plea bargain she will remain jailed for violating probation in Massachusetts where she was convicted of animal cruelty–over 100 sick dogs were found on her property. Marriott runs the Web site conneticutcockapoos.com with the tagline “Breeding For Quality – Raised With Love.”
All five dogs have been adopted and placed in good homes including the brown cocker spaniel pictured above. Drew and Londa Wesche adopted two of the dogs including the cocker renaming her Katie. “They are great. We couldn’t have asked for better. I think they are kind of like POWs. They formed this bond in the awful situation they were in, and they can’t not be together.”
Cocker thrown from car: Woman charged
I have been covering this story since March 19th. Fifty-six year old Maximina Shelton has been charged with animal cruelty in the case of the cocker thrown from a moving car. She and her husband tossed their cocker spaniel named Puddles from a 1985 green Buick LeSabre on March 18, 2011. The vehicle had been identified thanks to witness description. The Sheltons said they tossed Puddles from the car to get rid of her. Puddles was renamed Bambi by the Shamrock Pet Foundation. Bambi has kept her sweet disposition despite sustaining multiple fractures from the abuse done to her. Sadly animal cruelty only carries a misdemeanor charge in Indiana.