Latest news with #animalcruelty
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- Health
- CBS News
Vet testifies NYC carriage horse "never should have been working" on day it collapsed
The prosecution rested and the defense began its case Thursday in the animal cruelty trial of a man whose carriage horse collapsed in Hell's Kitchen nearly three years ago. Video of a carriage horse named Ryder on the ground at 45th Street and Ninth Avenue on Aug. 10, 2022, went viral. The horse's handler, 56-year-old Ian McKeever, has pleaded not guilty to overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance, a misdemeanor. The Manhattan district attorney's office alleges Ryder the horse collapsed after working a full day in 84-degree weather and that McKeever repeatedly tried to force the animal to stand, never offering water and ignoring signs he was in distress. A forensic veterinarian who examined Ryder nearly two months after the fall was called as a witness by the prosecution and testified the horse "never should have been working on that day." Ryder retired to an upstate farm, but was euthanized in October of that year. A necropsy was done. The veterinarian said cancer was found in multiple organs and the final diagnosis was T-cell leukemia. The effects of the leukemia likely were a contributing factor in the animal's collapse, the vet testified, but not the sole cause, adding Ryder not having enough fat and muscle, the heat, and a long day as other contributing factors. "He was pushed beyond his limit," the vet testified. The defense argues the horse tripped and fell, and was well taken care of. They called the director of Veterinary Public Health Services for New York City to the stand. She testified before they sign off on horse licenses, a vet has to submit a certificate of health. Christina Hansen, the chief shop steward for Central Park Carriages TWU Local 100, testified Ryder was in the stall next to her horse. Hansen said she saw Ryder most days, calling him bright and alert. "[He] never struck me as being an unhealthy horse," she testified. The defense called the current equine veterinarian for the NYPD as an expert witness. Prosecutors pointed out the doctor, a former horse racing vet, has been repeatedly fined with the state's gaming commission and faced other suspensions. He examined Ryder after the collapse and says he appeared responsive, but right away thought the horse had neurologic issues and was underweight. McKeever is expected to take the stand in his own defense before both sides make their closing arguments. If convicted, he faces up to one year behind bars.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
2 dogs died inside hot car with closed windows in Massachusetts, police say; 2 women charged
Two women have been charged with animal cruelty in Bridgewater, Massachusetts after police said two dogs died inside a hot car on Wednesday. Police were called to a condo on Heather Lane shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday after getting a 911 call reporting two women screaming and crying outside the building. When police arrived, they said they found two dead medium-sized dogs lying on the ground near a walkway. The 59-year-old woman and 32-year-old woman, both of Bridgewater, had allegedly left the dogs inside a hot car for more than 90 minutes with the windows closed and no air conditioning. The two women allegedly took the dogs out of the car and tried to revive them before police were called. Bridgewater firefighters determined the temperature inside the car at the time was at least 130 degrees. Police said their investigation also revealed the dogs had also been living in unsanitary conditions inside the home. Both women will be summoned to Brockton District Court on charges of cruelty to animals and confinement of an animal in a motor vehicle causing exposure to extreme heat. The women aren't being identified but police said they're related. The two dogs, a 4-year-old male and a 2-year-old female, were taken to a veterinarian's office for a necropsy. "This is a really terrible tragedy that was truly preventable," said Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte at a news conference Thursday. "In extreme conditions, particularly under direct sunlight, we know that vehicles can heat up very, very quickly and so our advice to people is obviously make your pets a priority as well as your own family," said Delmonte. "But in making them a priority, make sure you're accounting for the conditions that may sneak up on you." In 2016, then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law that allows people to rescue animals trapped in hot cars without facing charges if they believe the animals are in imminent danger.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hamilton man guilty of causing distress to animal, fined $2K after video showed him dragging dog
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details about animal cruelty. A Hamilton man has been found guilty of causing distress to an animal and fined $2,000, two years after a video showed him dragging his dog down a sidewalk. Neil Stratford was convicted on June 10 under Ontario's Animal Welfare Services Act, the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced recently. Ministry spokesperson Brent Ross told CBC Hamilton the charges were related to the video. In it, Stratford is seen whipping Merlin with a leash and pulling him roughly 100 metres down a sidewalk in the Dundas area. CBC Hamilton attempted to reach Stratford for comment by phone. The person who answered at his residence hung up after a reporter told the individual who was calling. The 2023 video was widely shared and prompted a public outcry. Dog 'never got the chance to truly heal' At the time, Ashley DaSilva, founder of volunteer-based Hamilton animal rescue group Fur Warriors, criticized the response from police and the province, telling CBC Hamilton she thought Stratford should have faced criminal charges. On July 7, Fur Warriors posted on Facebook about the decision in Stratford's case, saying Merlin "was failed every step of the way" and "never got the chance to truly heal." Ross said Merlin was removed from Stratford's possession and stayed in the care of Animal Welfare Services until dying of cardiac arrest a year later. Stratford, who was also found guilty of permitting distress to an animal, is prohibited from owning, caring for or living with animals for 15 years. He must also allow Animal Welfare Services inspectors to come by unannounced four times per year and notify that service if his address changes. Ross was not able to confirm if a third charge against Stratford was dropped.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- CTV News
‘I just started screaming': U.S. woman discovers cat cut in half in her front yard
Watch An Oklahoma woman who takes care of local feral cats was horrified to find a cat cut in half on her front lawn, sparking a police investigation.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Two men hacked XL Bully dogs with meat cleaver & knife in horrific attack in Scots street
A PAIR of thugs have admitted stabbing and punching two Bully dogs during a frenzied bloodbath attack. Jamie Seery, 36, punched XL Bully Bronson and screamed 'chop it, chop it' while Michael Keegans, 32, rained down blows with a meat cleaver and a knife. 3 3 The incident in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, left Bronson and an American Bully called Karma with horror injuries. Police discovered both yobs with their hands covered in blood, while the weapons were also discovered in a garden. Keegans claimed his own Staffy, called Tyson, had been attacked, but no wounds were found on him. The dogs were given emergency treatment in January last year and their shocked owner left with a vet bill of £600. Seery and Keegans, both of Bellshill, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted causing the dogs unnecessary suffering. Seery also admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner and resisting arrest. Depute fiscal Rebecca Clark said: "Both men were at the address visiting Mr Seery's uncle and consuming alcohol. "At 2am the dogs were let out into the garden to go to the toilet, but later she heard her dogs barking and formed the impression that, in her words, a stramash was taking place. "She then heard Mr Seery shouting 'chop it, chop it', so ran out and saw both accused appearing to punch into her dog Bronson. "She did not see any weapons but police later found weapons within the garden. Baby is mauled to death by family dog after mom turned back to pick up laundry before desperately trying to stop attack "Both dogs were collected from the garden, and she could then see both dogs had significant injuries, described blood as 'squirting' and could see the dog's brain." The prosecutor added: "Police attended and both accused were noted to literally have blood on their hands and appeared under the influence. "Mr Keegans said, 'I'll tell you what happened, the dog attacked my dog, the knife was there and I had to defend my dog'." Scott Jones, defending Seery, said: "The Crown now accepts that he punched the dog and did not use a weapon." Sheriff John Hamilton KC deferred sentence on both men until next month for reports and continued bail. 3
