Category: Grrr

Conscience-Lacking Loser Burglarizes spcaLA Headquarters

A young man apparently suffering from a lack of conscience broke into the headquarters of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA) last week and stole much-needed equipment, tools and security cameras.

“It is shameless and cowardly to steal from a charity—especially a local organization like spcaLA, dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals,” spcaLA President Madeline Bernstein said.

Surveillance video on the night of Sept. 29 shows a young man with what Bernstein described as a “distinct gait, possibly a limp,” forcing open a door to the administration office.

“He broke in, despite, or maybe to spite, a sophisticated security system including video surveillance and razor wire,” Bernstein said.

The burglar, wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, a mask and goggles, was first seen on video trying to break into the building’s garage around 1:30 a.m. He returned with a long crowbar to the other side of the building a few hours later.

Over the past few months, a thief who may possibly the same man has attempted to break into the shelter three times, Bernstein said. Some spcaLA vehicles and structures have been damaged in the process. Fortunately, no animals or people have been harmed.

spcaLA’s headquarters have been located near the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Jefferson Boulevard since 1947. From this building, Los Angeles’ first animal welfare organization operates programs and services such as animal cruelty investigations, violence-prevention initiatives and pet adoptions.

Anyone with information about the loser who broke into the headquarters is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Station at 213 485-2582.

“The costs to fix property, increase security, and the time spent away from the fulfillment of our mission are the most damaging and costly aspects of these crimes,” Bernstein said. “If you are able to help us repair, rebuild, and reinforce that which was damaged, please make a donation.”

You can make a donation to spcaLA on its website or by calling 888-772-2521.

LCC Comfort Dogs and Handlers Injured in Random Shooting

The Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) Comfort Dogs are well known for providing solace to people after mass shootings. But today, after a senseless act of violence, it’s some of these dogs and their handlers who will need the comforting.

During a random shooting in Joplin, Mo., around 5 a.m., two dogs and three people were shot as they rode in a van on their way to an LCC Comfort Dogs meeting in Saint Louis.

Two comfort dogs, both Golden Retrievers, were injured. Louie was shot in the neck and Jackson was shot through his ear flap.

Kenneth Eby, who was driving, was shot multiple times and is in critical but stable condition, the Joplin Globe reports. Heidi Gustin was shot in the arm and is in serious but stable condition. Karen Mech, struck by shrapnel and glass, was treated for minor injuries.

A couple in another vehicle were also shot. The man is in serious but stable condition, and the woman had minor injuries.

Tom S. Mourning II, the 26-year-old suspect, fired at the vehicles as he was driving. He has been taken into custody, the Jackson Globe reports. A rifle and handgun were found in his car.

“This came out of the blue and all of a sudden people were shot and going to the hospital,” Jason Glaskey, head of Immanuel Lutheran Church’s comfort dog ministry, told the Globe.

Eby’s wife, Vicki, who was not injured, told ABC News her husband had been shot in the lung. “It was so dark, we didn’t know what was happening,” she said. “If they hadn’t gotten him to the hospital when they did, he wouldn’t be here.”

Louie is recovering after surgery to remove the bullet from his neck. “I’m one sore pup who’s glad to be out of surgery and resting,” says a post on his Facebook page this afternoon. “Please pray for my people as they recover in the hospital (especially Ken who is in critical care), for the other shooting victims, and for my brother Jackson Comfort Dog, who is already home after being shot in the ear flap.”

“We are very grateful that these victims do not appear to have life-threatening wounds because of this act,” Joplin Mayor Mike Seibert said at a press conference today.

‘I’m Friendly. Please Pet Me.’

LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, based in Northbrook, Ill., sends therapy dogs from around the U.S. to areas where tragedies and disasters have occurred, as well as to local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

The dogs are available for anyone who needs a hug or absorbent fur for their tears. Their vests have the invitation, “I’m Friendly. Please pet me.”

To make a donation to help pay the travel expenses to bring LCC dogs to visit their brethren in Joplin, visit the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs website.

Photo via Facebook

PetSmart Groomer Charged with Animal Cruelty after Dachshund Dies

Henry, a 1-year-old Dachshund, was only supposed to get a grooming Sunday at a PetSmart in San Mateo, Calif.

But Henry ended up with a punctured lung and two broken ribs after spending only three minutes with groomer Juan Zarate. As Henry bled from his mouth and had difficulty breathing, an on-site veterinarian tried to save his life — to no avail.

“We know that the dog was brought there with no injuries or no known illnesses of any kind and we do believe that actions taken by the groomer, during the grooming session, is what caused the dog to die,” San Mateo Police Department Sgt. Rick Decker told ABC7 News.

Zarate was arrested at the store and charged with felony animal cruelty. He is out on bail and expected to make his first court appearance sometime in June.

An X-ray revealed Henry’s internal injuries. The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is conducting a necropsy (an autopsy for animals) to determine what caused Henry’s death.

Meanwhile, PetSmart is conducting its own investigation.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Henry. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of pets, and we take full responsibility for the pets in our care,” the company said in a statement sent to ABC7 News.

“The individual involved has been placed on suspension pending the outcome of this investigation. Any incident of animal cruelty goes against everything we believe as a company and as individual pet parents. No words can express our deep sorrow for the family, and we will continue to work with the pet parent during this difficult time.”

Henry is not the only dog that has been killed or injured by a groomer at PetSmart (or Petco, or other pet stores). You may be surprised to know that pet groomers are not required to be licensed or certified in any U.S. state. They are regulated in New York City and Miami-Dade County, Fla., but not statewide.

New Jersey may be the first state to require licenses for groomers. The proposed law, “Bijou’s Bill,” is named in memory of a 6-year-old Shih Tzu who died during a routine grooming session — at a PetSmart store.

Until statewide laws are passed, to prevent a tragedy from happening to your own dog, it could be a life-or-death matter to ask the groomer some important questions, especially at PetSmart and Petco stores, where many of the incidents have occurred.

“It would behoove you to find out who your groomer is, how long they’ve been grooming, what kind of track record they have — you need to do this kind of work,” Bijou’s dog mom, Rosemary Marchetto, told CBS New York.

Photo via Twitter

Strapping a Dog to a Motorbike Is Not a Safe Idea

A motorcyclist apparently found nothing wrong with strapping his Collie on top of the back of his motorbike and then riding down a London street early Wednesday evening.

Many people disagree, while others think it’s no big deal.

A concerned witness snapped a photo of the dog and notified Gloucestershire Constabulary.

“We are making further inquiries in relation to the registered driver of the vehicle and whether he has broken the law in any way,” a Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesperson said, according to BBC News. “This is not the safest way to transport a dog.”

BBC News reports that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has also been contacted regarding the incident.

As Mashable points out,much safer options for transporting pets on motorcycles are available sale on eBay. Amazon.com also sells these pet carriers.

Yet some people don’t understand what all the fuss is about.

“Did the dog fall off or get hurt, was it scared or mistreated?” asked Simon Henly in a comment on the BBC Gloucestershire Facebook page. “Perhaps the police and RSPCA should find something else to investigate.”

Maybe the unsafe transport of dogs is a daily thing in Southeast Asia, but then, so is the dog meat trade.

Over here in the states, some people also have strange notions of “safe” ways to transport their pets. In March, photos went viral of a dog tethered to the top of a flatbed trailer as the pickup truck it was attached to sped down a highway. This dangerous mode of pet transportation is actually legal in Texas.

Photo via Facebook

GRRR: PetSmart Employee Allegedly Threw Caustic Disinfectant on Dogs

Ezekiel Reynard Pitts, who worked at a PetSmart store in Houston, was apparently having a bad day in February.

To make it worse, he told police, a dog in the store nipped at him. Pitts said that when he threw cleaning disinfectant at the dog, named Tulip, she jumped up, causing him to spill the caustic chemicals on another dog, Nala.

But the surveillance video from a security camera tells a different story, KPRC reports. Pitts can be seen measuring out the disinfectant, which he knew to be caustic because he’d been burned with it himself. He then threw it on both the dogs.

Tulip died from her injuries.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Tulip and injuries sustained by Nala. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of pets, and we take full responsibility for the pets in our care,” PetSmart said in a statement, according to KPRC.

After conducting an internal investigation, PetSmart fired Pitts and contacted local police, who are investigating the incident.

Pitts was charged with felony cruelty to animals. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

“Any incident of animal cruelty goes against everything we believe as a company and as individual pet parents,” PetSmart stated. “No words can express our deep sorrow for the family.”

UPDATE: According to a June 2019 message from Angelina Pitts, “I would like you all to know Ezekiel’s trial is over and he has been found ‘NOT GUILTY.'” 

Photo credit: Anthony92931

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