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MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI charged with animal cruelty

- Florida, USA -


The North Port Police Department announced the arrest of 24-years-old MERALD ODINAKACHI ONYEMAECHI and his brother, 28-years-old MATTHEW UCHENNA ONYEMAECHI (both pictured).


In a media release, police said that back in July 2023, they received a tip and a video from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) alerting them to a small Pit Bull puppy having his/her ears cropped without the use of anesthesia.


According to police, “The video also showed that the animal lost an excessive amount of blood as a result of the cutting. Both brothers witnessed the incident within their home and failed to act which caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal for no medical reason.”


Voice For Us obtained a copy of the Probable Cause Affidavit and part of the narrative stated: “In the video I observed the dog to appear older than 6 weeks of age laying with its belly on a white plastic folding table. All four of the dog's extremities were extended out of the edges of the table and its snout was tapped with black tape to prevent movement of the dog. The upper half of the dog was laying on what appeared to be a white and blue puppy absorbent pad with one cut out to fit around the dog's head and neck. The dog's right ear was then observed being clamped and cut off to the clamp. As the ears were being cut the dog attempts to pull away where a white female bystander places a hand on the dog to assist in restraining it to the table. I then observed the video to show the dog with its ear cut with the absorbent pads having a significant amount of blood on them before the video cutting off.”


In the affidavit, the Voiceless Victim is identified as Khaos and in the media release police said he/she survived the illegal procedure.


On the morning of October 2, 2023, police executed a search warrant for suspected animal cruelty at a property in the 4000 block of Baynes Road in North Port.


Police did not give any details of any evidence recovered. According to the release, five dogs were removed from the property and taken by Sarasota County Animal Services for safekeeping. No information about the dogs was released either.


The two brothers were placed under arrest and booked into the Sarasota County Jail on one felony count each of Causing Cruel, Death, Pain, and Suffering. Bond was set at $50,000.


The third person seen in the video performing the illegal procedure is yet to be identified.


North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said in a statement: “We love our four-legged friends, and this type of act towards animals will not be tolerated in North Port.”


Police urge anyone who has information about this case to contact the Department at (941) - 429 - 7300. Thank you!


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the North Port Police Department.





 
 
 

ANTONELLA RIVOIR arrested for intentionally failing to care for dogs she was hired to sit–One died

- Florida, USA -


The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department arrested 20-years-old ANTONELLA RIVOIR (pictured), of Berwyn, Illinois.


Patricia Gutierrez and her husband hired RIVOIR, once listed on Rover.com, to stay in their apartment to look after their cat and five dogs while they were going to be on vacation for thirty days.

Patricia and her husband left on May 30, 2023.


According to the police report obtained by Voice For Us, Patricia left several cameras inside the apartment that only activate when it senses motion and instructed RIVOIR on how to care for all six furbabies, including the administration of their medication.


Patricia told police that from May 30 through June 27, she was in contact with RIVOIR every day and asked her how her furbabies were doing. Patricia said that RIVOIR reassured her that the cat and the dogs were fine and healthy. The report states that Patricia told police she thought “it was weird that sometimes she couldn't access the cameras through her phone to see what was happening in the apartment.”


On June 27, 2023, Patricia called her housekeeper and asked her to go to the apartment to clean it before her return from her vacation. When the housekeeper arrived at the apartment, she found dog feces and urine all over the floor and furniture, she noticed that the furbabies “looked sad and appeared to have lost weight”, and there was no food or water in their bowls. Furthermore, she noticed that RIVOIR's boyfriend, Hector, was there and told her “he was also living at the apartment” with RIVOIR. Patricia told the police that RIVOIR could not do that.


The housekeeper then saw two of the five dogs, Daisy, an 8-year-old Pomeranian, and her sister Lucy, a 13-year-old Pomeranian, “laying down stiff and unable to walk.”

She immediately called Patricia and informed her of the situation.


Patricia instructed the housekeeper, RIVOIR, and Hector to take Daisy and Lucy to a veterinarian in Surfside. Due to the dogs' severe condition, from there they were transferred in an ambulance to another clinic in Aventura. Upon arrival, Daisy was given CPR and sadly pronounced dead shortly after.


Lucy was able to get better. Dr. Kegen reported that Lucy had bruises all over her body and told Patricia over the phone that both Daisy and Lucy were “underweight and dehydrated.” He said he found no fluids in the dogs and added that Lucy's gums were pale and dry.


At that point, RIVOIR “left for an unknown location”, stated the report. She and her boyfriend left their belongings in the apartment.


Meanwhile, Patricia returned on June 28, 2023, and she started checking through the recorded camera footage. According to Patricia, she saw one video where Daisy follows RIVOIR “into the bedroom without a camera, and she hears Daisy squeals in pain; then Daisy is seen limping shortly after.” Patricia believes that RIVOIR intentionally unplugged the cameras at certain times so they wouldn't record.


Patricia then checked the medicines and the food of her furbabies. She noticed that the food bags were only less than half empty, and the medicine had not been administered.


Patricia later took Daisy to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories in Gainesville where Dr. Stern performed a necropsy. Results showed that the cause of death was due to “complications of neglect and severe dehydration.”


Patricia told 7News: “The vet told us, had my cleaning lady come 12 hours later, Lucy would also be dead.”


According to the report, RIVOIR intentionally failed to provide both dogs with sufficient water which resulted in the cruel death of Daisy and the unnecessary pain and suffering of Lucy.

Police charged RIVOIR with two counts of animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill.


Patricia has created a GoFundMe account to honor Daisy’s memory and benefit the Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



RIVOIR’s mugshot shared from Miami Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation.


Additional Source:





 
 
 

TONYA LYNN GROSE arrested – Police found emaciated animals, a dog skeleton, and remains at her home

- Florida, USA -


The Altamonte Springs Police Department announced the arrest of 36-years-old TONYA LYNN GROSE (pictured).


In a media release, police said that on September 20, 2023, the Department received a request for assistance with an animal well-being check from Seminole County Animal Services.


Officers responded to a property on 818 Ballard Street and met with the resident, GROSE.

According to the release, “officers could smell the pungent odor of urine and feces coming from inside the residence.”


When officers entered the residence, they saw “multiple emaciated dogs in cages without food or water, and birds in cages filled with feces and cockroaches.”

Additionally, officers found many cats and “the floor was covered with excrement, urine, and roaches.”


In the backyard, were two sheds and more malnourished dogs in cages. Inside of one of the two sheds, officers discovered many dogs. According to police, the shed was hot and there was no ventilation.


Officers then made a gruesome discovery in a second shed where they found a dog’s skeleton and fifteen (15) large trash bags “containing animal remains in various stages of decomposition.” This shed was emanating a “powerful odor”, stated the release.


An officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was also called in to check the well-being of the birds.


According to police, over two dozen animals were removed from the property and are in the care of Seminole County Animal Services for veterinary evaluation. One dog died while officials were on the scene and another passed away while being transported to Seminole County Animal Services.


As a consequence of this large intake, Seminole County Animal Services are now over capacity. If you wish and can afford to bring a new member into your family, please, call the shelter at (407) - 665 - 5201. Thank you!


Officers placed GROSE under arrest and booked her into the Seminole County Jail on five felony counts of cruelty to animals. Police said that additional charges are pending the results of the investigation.


Court records show GROSE made her first court appearance on September 21, 2023, and at time of writing, records show she is being held at the Seminole County Jail.

GROSE’s arrangement is scheduled for November 7, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Melanie Chase.


WESH reports that “According to the county, Grose was already on Animal Services' radar. They gave her her first verbal warning in 2017 after getting a call and doing a welfare check. The county said she made improvements.


But then, in August 2022, Animal Services got another call about possible abandonment because of the odor and noise.”


Police said they don’t know where GROSE got the animals from and the case is still under investigation.


Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.



GROSE’s mugshot shared from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.


Additional Sources:







 
 
 

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