Latest news with #animalneglect
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Former Carlton player is slapped with 10-year ban from owning cattle after pleading guilty to shocking animal cruelty charges
A former football player has been banned from owning cattle for 10 years after he pleaded guilty to 72 charges of animal cruelty and neglect. Joseph Dare, 33, joined the Carlton Football Club during the 2010 Rookie Draft but would never make a first-grade appearance for the club. The dairy farmer, who lives in Victoria, was convicted and was also fined $75,000 for the offences, which were described by Magistrate Franz Holzer as 'one of the worst examples of animal neglect that I have seen'. A well-known footballer among the Victorian local leagues, Dare had first faced 33 charges of animal cruelty in September. Further charges came in April, with 13 aggravated animal cruelty offences and 16 animal cruelty charges for alleged offending being made against the ex-footballer. The incidents were said to have occurred between July 2022 and January 2024. The Colac Magistrates Court heard accounts of how livestock had both suffered and died on his Dreeite farm. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action prosecutor Scott Ward told the court that his farm had been visited by officers from Agriculture Victoria on multiple occasions during that period. He presented photographs to the court, while detailing graphic incidents where cattle had suffered or died on Dare's farm. The charges levied included allegations that Dare had not provided appropriate care, treatment or attention to the animals and had also failed to provide his livestock with sufficient food. Ward explained that cattle were found to have body score conditions of 0-1. Some of the animals were suffering from issues including lung disease, pneumonia, starvation, dehydration and trauma. Speaking to the court, he said one officer had described the cows as 'walking skeletons and still had calves suckling from them.' Officers found a total of 170 animals on the farm, however, 45 had to be euthanised. Dare was charged with in relation to breaches of Victoria's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. During sentencing, Magistrate Holzer described Dare's farm as 'animal killing fields'. 'He got animals that were unwell and then neglected them even further … that's just shameful, shameful,' the magistrate explained. After leaving Carlton, Dare, who is the son of a dairy farmer, moved to play football for the Northern Bullants in 2011 and again moved to Cobden in 2012. After hanging up his footy boots, Dare took up a coaching role at Alvie, going on to help the side win a premiership. Dare told police that his business had grown from 200 milking cows to 2,000, the court was told. He had just one farmhand after losing multiple members of staff back in 2023. But Magistrate Holzer believed that his background in farming should have meant that Dare was better able to care for his animals. 'It's such a significant departure from the standards expected,' Holzer added. 'He was growing his business too quickly, he didn't have the financial capacity … It seems to me he was out of his depth, well and truly.' Dare had been farming in the Nalangil district, 15km from Colac.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
44 dogs rescued from Harford County home following citizen's report of suspected animal cruelty
44 bully-type breed dogs were removed from a Harford County home following a citizen's report of suspected animal cruelty on Thursday. Harford County Deputies and Animal Control Officers were called to the residence on the 1400 block of Eagles Grove Court, in Whiteford, on Friday, July 11, 2025, following the complaint of suspected inhumane conditions. When officers arrived, they found multiple violations of Maryland Criminal Law (Title 10, Section 604) and Harford County Code (Section 64-18) due to the mistreatment, abuse, or neglect of animals. These violations included the lack of access to drinkable water, improper shelter, and poor air quality, along with insufficient space, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Officers also observed extremely soiled bedding inside the kennels, insufficient ventilation, and temperature controls where the animals were housed. On Thursday, July 17, 2025, after officers secured safe kenneling for the dogs, they executed a search warrant at the residence with support from numerous agencies, including the Criminal Investigations Division and Forensic Sciences Unit, the Harford Humane Society, and the Harford County Department of Emergency Services Special Operations Division, Hazardous Materials Unit. The 44 dogs were then safely transported to a local shelter for evaluation and care. As the investigation is ongoing, police ask anyone with information relating to this crime to call Animal Control at 410-638-3505. Those who wish to remain anonymous may report their information through Metro Crime Stoppers Tipline at 1-866-7Lockup. Earlier this month, a pharmacist in Harford County was sentenced to one year in prison for using prescription drugs to kill his dog. After 38-year-old Ryan Kenneth Ball, of Bel Air, tried to pay people to take his 6-year-old Plott Hound, Louie, Ball took it upon himself to kill the dog. Harford County deputies found syringes and two prescription drug vials in a neighbor's trash can. The drugs are often used to relax a patient's muscles during surgery, which can lead to breathing issues and even death if the patient is not ventilated, according to court documents. Ball was a licensed pharmacist at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. In a separate case of animal cruelty, Harford County residents rescued a 4-month-old pitbull after witnessing her get abandoned on Winters Run Road back in May. "It felt like a movie," Jonathan Izer, a neighbor, told WJZ. "It was devastating, really sad, just to watch the puppy run after the car, and they didn't stop or slow down or anything. It was quite heartbreaking." Izer reportedly watched the entire abandonment from his porch, which he then alerted the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Offenders may face up to a $1,000 fine and or 90 days in jail for abandoning an animal in Harford County.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Several dogs found neglected inside camper in Oakdale, suspect facing more than 50 charges
A man facing more than 50 charges of animal cruelty was taken into custody early on Saturday morning in Washington County. According to Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus's office, 36-year-old Joshua Humes was taken into custody Sunday morning after he was charged by North Fayette Township Police with animal neglect and cruelty charges. Police received a tip that several dogs were inside a parked camper on Noblestown Road in Oakdale. Along with the tip, police were provided with photos that revealed the dogs were in small cages that were in deplorable condition. Buildups of feces, urine, and rotting food could be seen in photos, indicating that the dogs had not received proper care in a long time. "The details of the lack of care provided to these dogs and the indifference toward their suffering are egregious, and quite frankly, sickening," said Sheriff Kraus. "I consider anyone who engages in this type of conduct to be a danger to the community, and I commend our detectives for their quick work to locate him and get him off the streets." Acting on the tip, North Fayette Township Police went to the camper and removed the dogs with the help of a humane officer. They were also able to ascertain that Humes was the owner of the camper and the dogs. It was originally agreed that Humes would surrender to police on Monday, but detectives learned that he was planning to leave the area over the weekend. An investigation found that he had gone to a trailer in Bulger, Pa., Washington County. Around 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, Humes was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Allegheny County Jail. Humes is facing more than 30 charges of neglect of animals, more than 10 charges of cruelty to animals, and six charges of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Irish Times
Photos of animal neglect on Clare farm ‘most distressing', Judge says
The Department of Agriculture removed almost all cattle and sheep from a Co Clare farm due to a mortality rate of two to three cows dying a week as a result of a farmer's neglect, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector Andrew O'Connor outlined the level of animal neglect at Pat Cahir's (61) farm at Buncraggy, Ennis, which he visited 22 times between November 2023 and October 2024. Mr Cahir's farm had 100 cattle and 200 sheep and, recalling the conditions he came across on his first visit, Mr O'Connor said the 'cattle had no fodder. They were hungry. They were lean, in poor body condition and scavenging for anything they could get. There was no grass.' He said the sheds were not in a fit state to inhabit and there were water troughs which were highly contaminated with algae growth and stagnant water. READ MORE He said the department decided around Christmas 2023 to remove the animals and on January 4th, 2024, it 'seized all animals bar 10 bullocks and a handful of sheep that were uncatchable on the day'. A booklet of photoswas handed to the court showing the level of neglect including abandoned carcasses of animals. Judge Alec Gabbett said he was 'stunned' by what he had seen. He said there was evidence that some of the carcasses were there for weeks. 'These are the most distressing set of photos of animals I have seen in a long time. It takes a hard stomach to walk past what I have seen,' he said. On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Thomas Wallace O'Donnell BL said Mr Cahir had agreed to a compliance notice which limits his stock to 20 bovines and no sheep. In response, Judge Gabbett asked: 'What about the 20 bovines – do they have no rights?' The judge asked: 'Is there capacity to comply with the notice? It strikes me that someone's capacity is at issue today. They are not able to do it or can't do it.' Solicitor for Mr Cahir, Daragh Hassett said his client is a bachelor and has farmed for almost 50 years. Mr Hassett said Mr Cahir has suffered very badly with his physical and mental health, particularly since 2021. He said Mr Cahir 'is now maintaining his physical and mental health which is benefiting the animals he has going forward'. Mr Hassett pointed out Mr Cahir has no off-farm income and his annual turnover would be, at most, €30,000 per year. Mr Hassett said it is Mr Cahir's wish is to return to stock levels of 50 cattle and 50 sheep. He said Mr Cahir feels that a 20 cattle limit 'is going to eventually bankrupt him'. Mr Cahir has pleaded guilty to neglect or was reckless regarding the health and welfare of animals. The case was adjourned to October 10th.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Yahoo
Bend man arrested after over 100 dead animals found in home
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A wanted man was arrested in Bend on Thursday after more than 100 animal carcasses were found in his abandoned home, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office announced. Authorities said 68-year-old William Griffiths had an active warrant for his arrest after a Deschutes County grand jury indicted him on June 13, charging him with 25 counts of first-degree animal neglect. The indictment stems from an investigation that started in October 2024 south of La Pine, where a patrol deputy was dispatched to conduct welfare check at a home on Deer Street, officials said. Suspected shooter who fired at Milwaukie officers on the run A woman reported that she arrived at the house to retrieve property that came from a private business in Bend where Griffiths used to work, the Sheriff's Office said, noting the woman believed the property was likely at the house. There, the woman said she found several dead reptiles in and around the house, which appeared to be abandoned. The patrol deputy and an animal control officer responded to the scene and reported that no humans were found in the home and discovered more than 100 'dead and rotting animal carcasses,' including those of snakes, lizards, turtles, rodents and tarantulas. No live animals were found, officials said. Oregon appeals court finds gun forensics method is not 'scientifically valid' A detective later found Griffiths — who owned the home — in a trailer on Dickey Road east of Bend. During the interview, officials said the detective developed probable cause for first-degree animal neglect. Griffiths was arrested and booked into Deschutes County Jail on the warrant for his arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
