Bolingbrook, Illinois – Animal Control Officer BEGS for dogs life! – PLEASE READ THIS and PLEASE Help if you can!!

**If you can help, please contact Todd Baran at: TLMBARAN@comcast.net (@comcast.net),
or call him at: 630-759-0332.

Bolingbrook Animal Control
Bolingbrook, IL

Regards,
Officer Todd Baran ..591
Bolingbrook Animal Control

BALTIMORE – The nation’s largest animal right’s organization is urging the Howard County state’s attorney to seek a stiff punishment for a Laurel man charged with poisoning his neighbors’ dog.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked in a letter to State’s Attorney Tim McCrone that Jack Schroeder, if convicted, receive the maximum sentence of six years in prison for animal cruelty and related charges, undergo counseling and be barred indefinitely from owning or caring for an animal.

“I think it’s a bargain for anyone who is convicted of maliciously and painfully killing a dog,” said Dan Paden, a researcher in PETA’s domestic animal department. “Poisoning is a traumatic way to die. It’s just as horrendous as beating a dog to death or starving a dog down.”

Last month, Howard County police charged Schroeder, 58, with animal cruelty, poisoning a dog and destruction of property in connection to the death of Amy, a 2 1/2 -year-old Beagle mix.

Amy died in an Annapolis veterinary hospital after lapping up antifreeze and bacon grease from two bowls that her owners, the McSweeney-Cassella family, later found stuffed in bushes that divide their and Schroeder’s property on the 10600 block of Rachel Yates Court in North Laurel.

Paden said he researches dozens of similar cases each month, almost all of them involving antifreeze mixed with some enticing food.

Usually, he said, the offenders walk out of court with suspended jail time and a short probation — “essentially a slap on the wrist,” he said.

The state’s attorney’s office declined to comment before the case reached the courts.

Amy is the second of the family’s dogs to die in recent years, said dog owner Kathy McSweeney, adding that the first one, Toby, exhibited similar symptoms when he fell ill.

McSweeney said she thought PETA’s recommendations were commensurate with the crime.

“Amy’s death was devastating to my family and to me,” she said.

Schroeder could not be reached for comment. A woman’s voice on his answering machine said he no longer resided there. He is due in court in March.

The cries of the elephant sounded like high-pitched, anguished wails — the result of its trainer “guiding” the elephant down the road by sticking a metal prod into the tender flesh on its face. Former workers claim this, among other abuses, was an oft occurring scenario kept out of view from the patrons of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus.

The workers went public with their charges on Feb. 13 at a press conference at PETA’s Norfolk headquarters. It was timed as a preface to the circus’ annual visit to the Seven Cities. “The Greatest Show on Earth will be in town this week – Feb. 21-25 at Norfolk’s Scope and Feb. 28 – March 4 at the Hampton Coliseum.

The circus, a waning-in-popularity family event, has long incurred rumors of reported ill-treatment of its non-human “performers.” Unlike a zoo, where captive animals have room to roam, the traveling circus keeps animals chained, caged and confined to small and uncomfortable boxcars. Rarely are they allowed to exercise (i.e. walk around).

Ex-employees of the company, Archele Hundley and Robert Tom, gave many examples of atrocious treatment. Hundley, who worked mainly with horses and miniature horses, choked back tears as she told in a thick West Virginian accent of horses being smacked in the face and elephants that were impaled with bullhooks. Hundley joined the circus crew because she had always had a love of animals. She quit the circus after two months when it became clear the management was not willing to change its horrific practices.

When she complained to her bosses, Hundley was told “If you don’t like it, pack your bags.” Hundley decided to approach PETA with her story after she experienced nightmares involving the Ringling Brothers’ abuse. She, along with Robert Tom, has signed a sworn statement to the animal rights organization detailing the torture she observed.

Tom, who was with the company for two years, concurs that many trainers used unnecessary and violent force with the animals — particularly the elephants. In a letter to John Rhamstine, Director of the Department of Cultural Facilities, Arts & Entertainment at Scope Arena (that will be hosting the circus this week), Tom stated that he “saw the beating of an elephant that lasted more than 30 minutes… Ringling’s head elephant trainer attacked the elephant using two bullhooks at once. He hooked her behind the ear and on the back over and over, causing severe wounds. I can still hear that poor elephant bellowing in pain.”

Tom and Hundley encouraged Rhamstine to bar bullhooks and chains from the Scope. Bullhooks, which look like large hammers — a long metal pole with a sharp, pointy parallel tip, are used to snag the skin of the elephants and incite fear. Chains are used to keep them from moving at all. Both former caretakers testified that neither of these instruments is unnecessary in the controlling of the elephants. In fact, certain cities, like Charlotte, NC, have banned their use.

Going one step farther, the cities of New York and Buffalo, NY are considering banning all exotic animal acts completely. It appears that much of the population is catching on to the unappealing aspects of the circus and are turning to more humane and, well entertaining, forms of entertainment, such as Cirque du Soliel — which does not exploit animals. In 2000, The Seattle Times reported that “The Greatest Show on Earth was more a no-show here in Seattle than anything else.”

At the PETA press conference, Circus Specialist RaeLeann Smith explained how much of the abuse inflicted by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey goes unnoticed. Often the circus is aware in advance of USDA inspections and instructs its trainers to clean up their behavior. Still, PETA videographers have captured incidents on film. One such video showed a trainer jamming a bullhook into the sensitive skin on the underside of an elephant’s chin and tugging the animal by it for an entire 13 minutes. The elephant’s wails of pain can be heard on the tape. Hundley said she heard these cries every single day.

Crystal Drake, regional public relations manager of Feld Entertainment (the parent company of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey), denied the inappropriate usage of bullhooks by trainers. When asked over the phone why they continue to employ this tool that has been banned by certain cities and venues, she stated that “we use [bullhooks] as a guide. It is an extension of a handler’s arm.” Drake also claimed that most of the elephant’s waking hours were not spent in chains and theorized that Hundley and Tom were a case of “sour grapes.” •

Friday, March 16, 2007 3:20 PM

Investigators say that a woman who confessed to killing 650 cats and dogs is expected to return to Columbus to face criminal charges on Monday.

Maureen McLaughlin, 56, apparently had checked herself into a mental-health facility in the Mansfield area by the time authorities went to her North Side apartment on Wednesday, Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Hedrick said.

Hedrick said that a social worker who knows McLaughlin told authorities that the woman has a bipolar disorder.

“I want to make sure our mental-health experts are ready,” Hedrick said.

Investigators from the Franklin County Animal Shelter and the Capital Area Humane Society say McLaughlin has described drowning hundreds of animals in a large trash can filled with water.

Hedrick said McLaughlin told them she got the animals from rescue groups and neighbors. She said she killed them because she didn’t want them to languish in the animal-welfare system.

McLaughlin has been charged so far with one count of animal cruelty.

Two animal rescuers have told authorities that they gave Maureen McLaughlin about 150 animals during the past five years.

Hedrick described the apartment as “meticulous,” with no signs of pets, though neighbors referred to McLaughlin as “the cat lady.”

She had called Columbus police over the weekend telling of her crimes.

When investigators from the Franklin County Animal Shelter and Capital Area Humane Society went to McLaughlin’s apartment, she told investigators that she had killed 650 animals and showed them how: She would put an animal in a crate, then drown it in a large trash can filled with water, Hedrick said.

McLaughlin also showed investigators 16 envelopes that had names and descriptions of animals written on them as well as the dates of their deaths, Hedrick said.

The envelopes contained fur or hair.

On Sunday, Cpl. Joe Rock of the Franklin County Department of Animal Care and Control met McLaughlin and videotaped her confessing to killing the animals.

She then led him to the most recent grave, which was in some woods near her home. He said the remains of a short-haired gray and white cat were inside. McLaughlin was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

Sam Massie, a private security guard and animal rescuer, said he hates to think McLaughlin lied to him all these years.

They met in 2001, and he began bringing dogs and cats to her because she said she was affiliated with an organization that did not euthanize animals, he said.

He estimated he and his wife brought McLaughlin 100 animals.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Massie said. “When we heard, it made us sick to our stomachs.”

The Humane Society, the County Animal Shelter, the Columbus Dog Connection and the Columbus Cat Welfare Association, where McLaughlin volunteered about a decade ago, said they have not taken in any animals from McLaughlin during the past five years.

Hedrick said that building a case might prove difficult. The statute of limitations prevents his office from prosecuting animal-cruelty cases more than 2 years old.

McLaughlin, who got around by bicycle, told investigators she dropped the bodies in parks and different forested areas around the county.

When investigators returned to her apartment at 4331-B Malin Dr. E. with a search warrant Wednesday, the envelopes, crate and trash can were gone.

McLaughlin had left a note saying what she wanted to be buried with.

I thought that i would share some pic’s of my dog’s now you all tell me if my babies are spoiled or what..

This is Madison and Dakota my two golden retrievers i have to dig through the thousands of pic’s i have of my babies

There are so many people out in this world that i would like to take out in the back woods and beat the shit out of them and those people are mainly animal abusers that is one thing that i can not stand i don’t care what that animal does to you.. NO ONE should ever abuse an animal and these so called animal lovers out there say that they are animal lovers and what not and would never abuse their animals and then once they go home and they see a pile of dog shit or peepee on the floor they beat the hell outta that dog… and i don’t understand how the hell that they can call them selves..

 I personally would never hit or beat my dog’s and i have 5 of them Yea they get on my nerves but there is no way that i could or would ever hit them.. these damn animal abusers have gotta be stopped

New Delhi: The killing of stray dogs in Bangalore has found its echo in the capital with animal lovers taking out a protest march against the “inhuman drive” in the tech-city.

Reports of mass indiscriminate killing of dogs disturbed residents who cared about animal welfare.

It has even prompted the Governor of the state T N Chaturvedi to write to the chief minister asking for a scientific approach towards dealing with the situation, rather than what he described as a knee jerk reaction and saying that all life was precious.

SMSes and e-mails have been doing the rounds, talking of inhumane large scale culling.

A group of animal lovers joined by those from Bangalore protested against the drive and displayed video footage and pictures which depicted the “inhuman nature” of drive.

“Look at the inhuman way dogs are being slaughtered. Killing them is not the solution. The corporation should initiate mass sterilisation and vaccination,” said Parveen Talha, a UPSC member.

“We want the Bangalore Municipal Corporation to immediately stop the operation and release the nearly 200 dogs from its captivity. We are going through hell every day with the corporation taking away even domesticated dogs,” said Jayshree M, a Bangalore resident.

The Karnataka government has ordered the killing of stray dogs after two children lost lives after dogs attacked them, sparking protests by the people.

As part of the drive to curb the menace posed by stray dogs, 30 vehicles with dog squads have been deployed across Bangalore.

ST. PAUL  —  A 17-year-old Minnesota girl who spent weeks looking for her missing dog was horrified when she unwrapped a box left on her doorstep and found her dog’s severed head inside.

Homicide investigators were looking into the case because of the “implied” terroristic threat, St. Paul Police Sgt. Jim Gray said. The Humane Society of the United States said Wednesday that it was offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“This was extraordinarily heinous,” said Dale Bartlett, the Humane Society’s deputy manager for animal cruelty issues. “I deal with hundreds and hundreds of cruelty cases each year. When I read about this case, it took my breath away. It’s horrible.”

“That level of depravity is beyond belief,” Bartlett said.

Click here for FOXNews.com’s Crime center.

After Crystal Brown’s 4-year-old Australian shepherd mix Chevey wandered away last month, she peppered the neighborhood with “missing” posters, and went door to door looking for him. She called the St. Paul animal shelter and rode the bus there several times

“I felt empty,” Crystal said. “I couldn’t talk to anyone. He was my dog. It was just me and him. … I told him everything and he never shared any of my secrets.”

Two weeks ago, a gift-wrapped box was left at the house Crystal shares with her grandmother. The box had batteries on top, and a note that said “Congratulations Crystal. This side up. Batteries included.”

Crystal opened the box and found her dog’s head inside. The box also contained Valentine’s Day candy.

Crystal screamed when she saw her dog’s face, the Star Tribune reported.

“She was just hysterical,” said Crystal’s grandmother, Shirley Brown. “She was screaming. She said, ‘Grandma, it’s my dog’s head.’

Authorities say the case is an isolated incident and the suspect likely knew the family. A motive is unclear. 

I got this off the foxnews website a few moments ago and  it pisses me off to the max!!!

March 3, 2007 — A tragic Queens pooch starved and froze to death after his owner left him tied up outside just a few feet from shelter during a bitterly cold spell last month, authorities said yesterday.

Winston Mitchell, 37, of Corona, was busted for animal cruelty yesterday after the ASPCA found the corpse of his 2-year-old pit bull mix, Apollo, tied on a short chain in his backyard two weeks ago.

“It really is torture to die this way,” said ASPCA Special Agent Joseph Pentangelo. “To starve and be frozen to death just inches from shelter is the definition of cruelty.”

Mitchell, a security manager, told investigators he had forgotten he’d left his dog outside, Pentangelo said.

But a neighbor begged him to take Apollo indoors on Feb. 6 as temperatures dipped to 18 degrees, said Pentangelo.

A state law passed several years ago makes it illegal to keep an animal outdoors without appropriate shelter.

Winston faces up to a year in jail.