Recently in Animal abuse Category

For more, see this story and an expanded video with interviews.

This video of a woman in England placing a cat in a garbage can went viral shortly after it appeared. And because of that, the culprit was caught. She's facing an interview with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The cat, a young tabby named Lola, is fine, by the way. The bin was in front of her owners' home and, after 15 hours, they finally heard her cries and rescued her on Sunday morning.

The owners had recently installed a surveillance camera outside their home in Coventry when a series of thefts moved through their neighborhood. The video attracted tens of thousands of viewers after it was posted.

****Aug. 25 Update: Woman issues a public apology.

Animal cruelty charges are being filed against a 51-year-old man who was "marinating" his cat in oil and peppers. Police discovered the cat when they heard it meowing from the man's trunk during a traffic stop.

 And we thought we'd heard everything.

***Update: The cat, Navarro, has found a new home through the SPCA.

In this photo provided by the SPCA Serving Erie County, Navarro, a four-year-old cat found "marinating" in oil and peppers in the trunk of a car in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sunday night, is

shown Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at the agency's Tonawanda, N.Y., shelter infirmary. Buffalo police say officers heard the cat meowing when they stopped 51-year-old Gary Korkuc, of Cheektowaga, to ticket him for running a stop sign. Korkuc was charged with animal cruelty and released. (AP Photo/SPCA Serving Erie County)

Many of you have probably already seen this story about a pit bull named Mary Jane written earlier this week by my Daily Breeze colleague Larry Altman.

On Monday, a Hawthorne man -- Ricardo Salvador Plascenia, 19 -- was booked on suspicion of animal cruelty after neighbors heard his dog, Mary Jane, "screaming and crying," police said. The neighbor thought a dog had been struck by a car.

A neighbor's cell phone video allegedly captured the dog being punched and kicked; slammed to the concrete pavement; and then suspended by a rope and a choke chain over a clothesline in the man's backyard.

The black 50-pound pit bull, which was slammed to the concrete in an alleged crime caught on video, was taken to an animal hospital. On Tuesday, she cowered in her cage but was said to be in good condition.

"She's actually a very, very good girl," Hawthorne animal control officer helen Coronel said. "She's very timid. I don't blame her."

Animal cruelty charges, however, were not immediately filed against Plascenia. Prosecutors sent the case back to police to gather more evidence, including a medical report on the dog's condition.

Larry tells me this is no different than any other case in which prosecutors hope to gather the most documentation they can before moving a case forward. Remember, though, that dogs legally are considered property so this could wind up a misdemeanor. 

(Mary Jane is shown below in a photograph by Scott Varley of the Daily Breeze.)

Plascenia was scheduled to be released from custody earlier this week.

The dog, a pit bull mix, will be transferred and held at the Carson animal shelter pending any court proceedings.

Regardless of the outcome, authorities said the dog would not be given back to Plascenia, who also allegedly had marijuana plants on the premises in the 4000 block of 141st Street. 

We'll keep readers posted as the case moves forward.

I  received an email today from Marietta Durst wanting folks to know about this black and brown Tibetan Mastiff (3 years old) that was found on April 21 severely ematiated wandering the streets in an industrial area of Gardena. Animal control was called and the dog was taken to the Harbor Animal Care Center in San Pedro.

I called the shelter this morning and was told that the dog  (A118950; 310-548-2632) is still there but is currently under a 10-day quarantine after having inflicted a bite. There also is an ongoing criminal investigation into animal cruelty, the shelter representative said. He was microchipped and owners have been identified.

So while the dog is not available for adoption -- and it is unclear what medical or other issues he may have beyond being extremely malnourished -- volunteers are trying to spread the word to find him a new home if that does become a possibility. One of them has pledged to pay for medical costs.

The city shelter told me the case is officially under the jurisdiction of county animal control and that after the quarantine period is up the dog would be transferred back to them once.

 Here's the original story that was passed on to Marietta:

"Driving in Gardena today I found the most emaciated dog I've ever seen wandering in the streets. Most of his hair was gone and he had sores all over his body. I went and brought him food and water, he came right up to me with these beautiful sweet eyes and quickly ate and drank everythign I gave him. He then laid down between two bushes, put his paws over his eyes and went to sleep.

I called Animal Control for help. I later found out he is micro-chipped. I promised him I would make sure he's OK ... He is sweet and not aggressive at all.

...One of the animal control officers who came to his aid said that one of his ribs had pierced his skin."

The microchip linked to people who live in Palmdale. For more information, email Marietta at marietta@gogoluckey.com.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a law aimed at banning videos that show graphic violence against animals, saying it violates the right to free speech.

From the AP story posted on the Daily Breeze website:

The justices, voting 8-1, threw out the criminal conviction of Robert Stevens of Pittsville, Va., who was sentenced to three years in prison for videos he made about pit bull fights.

.... In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito said the harm animals suffer in dog fights is enough to sustain the law.

 

Reporter Denise Nix wrote a story about a fascinating issue that pits religious freedom against animal rights. Check it out.

A Lawndale man who told a detective that the decapitated animals found around his home died in religious sacrifices will stand trial for animal cruelty, a judge decided today.

The case against Rafael Giralt, 58, could raise some freedom of religion issues, especially since there are conflicting laws regarding animal sacrifices in religious practice.

I got this e-mail from our friend, Sanpedrodogs.

It's heartbreaking what some people will do to animals, but it's nice to know there are people out there who will jump in and help them.

My friend found this sweetheart on the street covered in gasoline. With all the fireworks I am sure they were hoping she would go up in flames. They have given her 5 baths and she still smells. If you know of anyone that will foster or adopt this sweet pup please let me know.

Her name is Vanessa, and she is about 7 or 8 weeks old.